Épinal

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For the Épinal meteorite of 1822, see meteorite falls.
Épinal from the ruins of the castle
Épinal from the ruins of the castle

Épinal is a commune of northeastern France, préfecture (capital) of the Vosges département. The 1999 census population was 35,794 residents, who are known as Spinaliens.

Contents

[edit] Geography

The River Moselle in Épinal
The River Moselle in Épinal

The commune has a land area of 59.24 km² (22.873 sq mi). It is situated on the Moselle river, 60 km south of Nancy.

[edit] Sights

The old town centre features the Place des Vosges, the Chapitre district, Saint-Maurice's Basilica, medieval castle remains and the Roman House (11th and 13th centuries). It is also known for its parks and gardens.

There are major fortifications, extended and maintained until the early 20th century. There is a legend, among the populace of Épinal, that Napoleon's ghost strolls the wall ramparts on the 9th of September of each year at 5:00 A.M. It was on this day and at this time that, in 1811, Napoleon gave his first and last oration to the city of Épinal, wherein he addressed the challenges posed by northern expansion.

[edit] Economy

Épinal is best known for the "Images d'Épinal" - which is now a common expression in French language - the popular prints created by a local company, the Imagerie d'Épinal, formerly known as the Imagerie Pellerin. These stencil-colored woodcuts of military subjects, Napoleonic history, storybook characters and other folk themes were widely distributed throughout the 19th century. The company still exists today, and still uses its hand-operated presses to produce the antique images. Other local industries include textiles, metals, morocco leather, precision instruments, and bicycles. There is a school of textile weaving.

[edit] Twin towns

Épinal participates in town twinning to foster good international relations. Its current partners include:

[edit] External links

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Coordinates: 48°10′28″N, 6°27′09″E