Bray-sur-Somme

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Coordinates: 49°56′28″N 2°43′06″E / 49.9411111111, 2.71833333333

Commune of Bray-sur-Somme
Location
Administration
Country	France
Region	Picardie
Department	Somme
Arrondissement	Péronne
Canton	Bray-sur-Somme
Intercommunality	Communauté de communes du Pays du Coquelicot
Mayor	Daniel Lagache (2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation	32 m–122 m (avg. 45 m)
Land area¹	16,81 km²
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code	80136/ 80340
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Bray-sur-Somme is a commune in the Somme département in the Picardie region of France.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Population 3 History 3.1 Coat of Arms 3.2 Etymology 3.3 Early times 3.4 The town in the Middle Ages 3.5 World War I 3.6 Second World War 4 Places of interest 4.1 The Museum 4.2 Saint-Nicolas church 4.3 Public wash houses 4.4 Lakes 4.5 Peat 5 See also 6 External links 7 Notes

[edit] Geography

Situated on the D1 and D329 road junction, some 20 miles east-northeast of Amiens. The commune is surrounded by hills to the east and to the west. To the south, the marshes are crossed by the Somme. The town has been a strategic location over the centuries thanks to the four fords crossing the river here, the old boundary between Artois and Picardy.

[edit] Population

Population Growth

1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999
1185	1226	1242	1220	1320	1316
Census count starting from 1962 : Population without double counting

[edit] History

[edit] Coat of Arms

An azure field surmounted by 3 gold fleurs-de-Lys.

[edit] Etymology

Bray is a place name of Celtic origin meaning "marshy land”. The name Braium has been documented since about 630.

[edit] Early times

Archeological searches have established that the area had Gallic and Roman occupation, confirmed by the weapons and various domestic objects found in and around Bray. In 630, Braium was under the domain of the abbey of St-Riquier. In 868, under the reign of Charles the Bald, a fortress controlled this part of the Somme upstream to Corbie and Amiens. Hugh Capet placed the town under the control of the neighbouring town of Péronne. In 1210, King Philip II Augustus granted the commune a "community charter".

[edit] The town in the Middle Ages

The city was strengthened to the west and north by walls and deep ditches. To the east, an earthen embankment and palisade, surrounded by marsh and small watercourses, provided the protection. Four gates, each with a portcullis, guarded entry to the town,

As with many fortified towns in this part of France, Bray suffered fire, bombardment and destruction over the centuries, as French kings fought to expand their lands against the Norman English and the Spanish-led Holy Roman Empire.

[edit] World War I

Bray was occupied in 1914 by the German Army. Apart from requisitioning some wagons, the town was not too badly disturbed. The place later became a rest and recuperation centre. The 329th Infantry Regiment, from Le Havre, were reservists based at Bray for a year. They lost 2,086 soldiers during action in the area.

Bray was liberated on the 12th Aug 1918 by the Australians. The town was awarded the Croix de guerre in 1920. Reconstruction took place over many years.

[edit] Second World War

Bray was occupied by the Germans throughout the years of 1940-1944. On the 1st of September, 1944, Bray-sur-Somme was liberated by units of the United states army.

[edit] Places of interest

[edit] The Museum

Exhibition of memories of the ‘Great War’, including cannons. Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron and his squadron, the ‘Flying Circus’ are commorated in a display.

[edit] Saint-Nicolas church

The church was built over the ruins of a monastery, from local limestone. The 35m bell-tower was added in 1745.

[edit] Public wash houses

Bray has two 18th century wash houses, still accessible to the public.

[edit] Lakes

The region abounds with lakes and is a paradise for anglers. Pike, sander, bream, carp, roach and eels are among the different species found in the waters.

[edit] Peat

Peat is still cut, dried and used in the region.

[edit] See also

Communes of the Somme department

[edit] External links

• Official website of Bray sur Somme (French)
• Bray-sur-Somme on the Insee website(French)
• Bray-sur-Somme on the Quid website(French)
• Bray sur Somme in the snow(French)
• Bray sur Somme in pictures…(French)
• Clochers.org Website specialising in photos of bell-towers(French)

[edit] Notes

• This article is based on the equivalent article from the French Wikipedia, consulted on January 28th, 2008.