Senlis, Oise
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Commune of Senlis |
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| Location | |
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| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Picardie |
| Department | Oise (sous-préfecture) |
| Arrondissement | Senlis |
| Canton | Senlis |
| Intercommunality | Communauté de communes du Pays de Senlis |
| Mayor | Jean-Christophe Canter |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 47–140 (avg. 76) |
| Land area¹ | 24.05 km² |
| Population² (1999) |
17,192 |
| - Density | 715/km² (1999) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 60612/ 60300 |
| 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. | |
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Senlis is a town and commune located about 50 km north of central Paris, France in the Picardie région, in the Oise département.
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[edit] Geography
The town is situated on the Nonette River, which is a tributary of the Oise River.
[edit] History
Senlis was known in early Roman imperial times as Augustomagus and later as Civitas Silvanectium ("City of the Silvanectes").[1][2] During the 3rd century, a seven-meter high defensive wall, about half of which is still extant, was erected around the settlement in response to Frankish incursions. The wall remained in use into the 13th century.[1] The town also featured a Roman amphitheatre, the remains of which are still visible, about 500 m west of the walled town. The amphitheatre seated as many as 10,000 people and was used for public meetings, theatre, gladiatorial combats, and animal hunts.[3]
The monarchs of the early French dynasties lived here, attracted by the proximity of the forest (Forêt de Chantilly) and its venison, and built a castle on the foundations of the Roman settlement.[citation needed] In 987 the archbishop of Reims, Adalberon, called together an assembly, and asked them to choose Hugh Capet as king of France. However, the monarchs of France soon abandoned the city, preferring Compiègne and Fontainebleau. New life was given to the city in the twelfth century, and ramparts were built. The popularity of the city later fell, and it slipped into decline. Today it remains a draw for tourists for its long history and its ties to the monarchy.
[edit] Sights
The walled central area of the town is a picturesque medieval village, with a large Gothic cathedral, Notre-Dame de Senlis, dating from the twelfth century. The cathedral was built 1153-1191; its 256-foot tall south tower dates from the thirteenth century. Its transepts were rebuilt 1530-1556 after a fire, and the side portals and shallow east chapels date from about the same period.
An excellent museum can be found next to the cathedral, showing Celtic (pre-Roman) and Roman artefacts, as well as paintings by Thomas Couture and Séraphine de Senlis.
The Hôtel Saint-Simon (18th century, No. 12 Rue Bellon) belonged to the famous memoirist's family; Saint-Simon himself was a governor of the town.
The promenade on the walls around Senlis and alongside the Nonette river are very nice. The main draw of Senlis for tourists is its very well preserved medieval ambience and its architectural coherence.
[edit] Miscellaneous
[edit] Births
Senlis was the birthplace of:
- Thomas Couture (1815-1879), history painter and teacher.
- Jérôme Thion (born 2 December 1977), international rugby unionman playing for the Biarritz Olympique.
[edit] Twin towns
Senlis is twinned with:
[edit] External links
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b The Roman Wall of Senlis. Athena Review. Retrieved on 2007-11-16.
- ^ Everett-Heath, John (2005), “Senlis”, Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names, Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ Klee, Bruce B. (December 1975). "Three Gallo-Roman Multi-Purpose Theatres". Educational Theatre Journal 27 (4): 516-520.
