Doullens

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Coordinates: 50°09′27″N 2°20′29″E / 50.1575, 2.34138888889

Commune of Doullens

The Hôtel de Ville

Location

Administration

Communauté de communes du Doullennais

Mayor

Christian Vlaeminck
(2001-2008)

Statistics

Elevation

52 m–152 m
(avg. 64 m)

Land area^¹

33.4 km²

Population^²
(1999)

6,279

- Density

187/km² (1999)

Miscellaneous

INSEE/Postal code

80253/ 80600

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

² Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.

Doullens is a commune in the Somme département in the Picardie region of France. The final ‘s’ of the name is not pronounced.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Sites and monuments
- 3.1 The town motto
4 Photographs
5 Population
6 See also
7 Notes
8 External links

[edit] Geography

Situated on the N25 road, in the northern part of the departement, straddling the river Authie, the border with the Pas-de-Calais, Doullens is practically mid-way on the intersection of these axes :

[edit] History

Doullens, the ancient Dulincum, was seat of a viscountship and an important stronghold in the Middle Ages.
In 1225, the town became part of France.
In 1475 it was burnt by Louis XI for openly siding with the Duke of Burgundy. In 1595 it was besieged and occupied by the Spaniards, but was restored to France by the Peace of Vervins (1598).
1837 and Victor Hugo arrives in town. He stayed at the “Grand Turc” and visited the citadelle.
1918 On the 26th March, orders giving General Foch overall command of the allied forces on the western front.are signed in a room in the town hall.

[edit] Sites and monuments

The ruins of Saint-Pierre, the 13th century church.
Notre-Dame church.
The 17th century belfry
The Citadelle, built by Vauban, which has often served as a state prison, and later, a reformatory for girls. When Victor Hugo saw the Citadel in August 1837, the famous writer said, "I don't like citadels!"

[edit] The town motto

Infinita decus lilia mihi prestant

[edit] Photographs

Church of St-Pierre	Notre-Dame church	Bellfry and Tourist ofice	The Citadelle
Notre-Dame church seen from the Citadelle	Doullens belfry, in the 19th century]	Information placard of the Citadelle