Amiens

Amiens
Amiens quartier saint leu canaux 200503.jpg
Saint Leu area in Amiens
Coat of arms of Amiens
Amiens is located in France
Amiens
Administration
Country France
Region Picardy
Department Somme
Arrondissement Amiens
Intercommunality Communauté d'agglomération Amiens Métropole
Mayor Gilles Demailly
(2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation 14–106 m (46–348 ft)
(avg. 33 m/108 ft)
Land area1 49.46 km2 (19.10 sq mi)
Population2 139,271  (2006)
 - Density 2,816 /km2 (7,290 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 80021/ 80000
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.

Amiens (French pronunciation: [amjɛ̃]) is a city and commune in northern France, 120 km (75 mi) north of Paris and 100 km (62 mi) south-west of Lille . It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy. The city had a population of 136,105 according to the 2006 census.

Contents

Etymology

Originally called Samarobriva ("Somme bridge"), the name of the local celtic tribe "Ambiani" has given its name to the city "Amiens" during the 4th century.

History

Prehistory

The Paleolithic culture named Acheulean was named for its first identified site, in Saint-Acheul, a neighbourhood of Amiens.

Antiquity

Amiens, the Roman Samarobriva, was the central settlement of the Ambiani, one of the principal tribes of Gaul, who were issuing coinage, probably from Amiens, in the first century BC. By tradition, it was at the gates of Amiens that Saint Martin of Tours, at the time still a Roman soldier, shared his cloak with a naked beggar. The prosperity of the city made it a target for barbarian tribes such as the Alans, the Burgundians or the Vandals. They conquered the city several times.

Middle Ages

During the 5th century, Chlodio rose to power among the Franks, and Merovech was elected in Amiens by his comrades in arms. Saint Honorius (Honoré) (d. 600 AD) became the seventh bishop of the city.

Normans sacked the city 859 and again in 882. During the second sacking, the city's cathedral was burned.

During the early part of the 10th century, Count Herbert de Vermandois united the regions of Amiens, Vexin, Laon, and Reims.[1]

In 1095, the people of Amiens began to form a rough municipal organization. In 1113 the city was recognized by the King of France; the city was joined to the Crown of France in 1185.

In 1264, Amiens was chosen as the seat of arbitrations when King Louis IX of France settled the conflict between King Henry III of England and his rebellious barons, led by Simon de Montfort. The arbitrations led to Louis deciding on the Mise of Amiens - a one-sided settlement in favor of Henry. This decision almost immediately led to the outbreak of the Barons' War.[2]

In 1435 the city was among the possessions granted to Philip the Good of Burgundy by the Congress of Arras. It was re-acquired again by King Louis XI in 1477 after the death of Charles the Bold.[1]

Rennaissance and Industrial Era

In 1597, the Spanish soldiers disguised as peasants entered the city and mounted a surprise attack. After six months of siege, the forces of Henry IV regained control of the city and put an end to its autonomous gestion.

During the 18th and 19th century, the textile tradition of Amiens became famous for its velours. The Cosserat family rose to prominence as one of the wealthiest of Amiens' textile manufacturing families.

In 1789 the Provinces of France were dismantled and the territory was organised into departments. Much of Picardy became the newly-created department of Somme, with Amiens as the departmental capital.

In November 1801, British and French delegates began discussing terms of peace in the Amiens Congress. On March 25, 1802, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the First French Republic signed the Treaty of Amiens, putting an end to the Second Coalition against France.

During the 19th century, Amiens began to feel the effects of the industrial revolution. The city walls were demolished, opening up space for large boulevards around the town center. The Henriville neighborhood in the south of the city was developed around this time.

In 1848, the first railway arrived in Amiens, linking the city to Boulogne-sur-Mer. After this time, the city began to grow beyond the river and into the surrounding hills.

During the 1870 Franco-Prussian War, Somme was invaded by Prussian forces and Amiens was occupied.

Early science fiction author Jules Verne took up residence in Amiens in 1871, having met his wife there at a wedding in 1856. He was later elected city councilman in 1888.[3]

In 1889, Jules Verne officiates the opening of the Amiens circus, including a courthouse, a police station and a museum dedicated to the history of Picardy.[1]

The 20th century

Beginning in 1905, Victor Commont, called "the founding father of modern Prehistoric science,"[4] performed important archaeological work in the Picardy area.[1]

The First World War

After earlier bombardment of the city, the Battle of Amiens was the opening phase of the Hundred Days Offensive. This offensive led to the armistice which ended the war.

The Second World War

The Picardy region was occupied by Nazi troops and several towns, Amiens included, suffered at least partial destruction by bombardment before being liberated.

On 18 February 1944, British airplanes bombed the prison in Amiens as part of Operation Jericho. The raid was intended to aid the escape of members of the French Resistance and political prisoners being held there. In all, 258 prisoners escaped.[5]

Post-War Amiens and the French cultural revolution

The city was rebuilt according to Pierre Dufau's plans, with a focus on enlarging the streets to ease traffic congestion. These newer structures were primarily built of brick, concrete, and white stone with slate roofs. The architect Auguste Perret designed the Gare d'Amiens train station and nearby Tour Perret.

On June 2, 1960, the new region of Picardy was formed from the departments of Aisne, Oise and Somme.[1]

In May 1968, students in Amiens joined in a large-scale strike that began in Paris. Factory and the railway workers in the city joined them a few days later. Amiens was paralyzed by fighting between conservatives and leftist groups. After President De Gaulle's radio address on May 31, his supporters demonstrated in the streets.

The following October, the University of Amiens (Université d'Amiens) was founded on a campus in the southwestern suburbs of the city.

The city suffered the loss of many jobs as manufacturing plants in the region closed during the late 1970s and 1980s. Despite the hardships, the city made an effort to renovate the degraded area of St-Leu during this time.

End of the 20th Century to Present Day

The 1990s saw a great period of rebirth in the city. The St-Leu renovations were completed, and parts of the University were moved to the city center. The Vallée des Vignes neighborhood was developed in the south of the city, and large parts of the city center were converted to pedestrian areas.

The Gare du Nord was renovated with a controversial new glass roof. The Tour Perret was renovated as well and a new cinema complex was built. The area around the train station began a reorganization.

Geography

Site

Amiens lies on the basin of the Somme more or less where the rivers Selle, Avre and the Somme meet. The old town is situated in a swampy area at the bottom of the valley. The river Somme is usually calm but exceptional floods have already occurred such as in 2001.

Climate

The town has a typical oceanic climate of northern France. It is characterised by regular rainfalls, rather fresh winters and mild summers. However sporadic cold waves can occur, usually in January or February, as well as heat waves in summer.

Situation

Amiens is a hub between:

However the major European traffic ways that represent the A1 motorway and the Paris-Lille TGV line do not serve the town directly.

Twin towns — sister cities

Amiens is twinned with:

Quartiers&Villages

Amiens comprises a certain number of neighbourhood ("quartiers" in French) with their own characteristics, among which St-Leu, St-Maurice, Henriville or Saint-Acheul.

Saint Leu

St-Leu remains the most famous area. It lies at the north of the town-centre at the feet of the cathedral. Numerous canals run through its typical wooden and bricken houses. It used to be a poor part of the town which has been renovated during the 1990s. Nowadays, it is one of the most touristic areas of Amiens gathering various cafés restaurants and discothèques. It is also the place for the local culture, with Chés Cabotans theatre(puppet shows in Picard language) and La Lune des Pirate, a famous concert room. It has also become home for lots of students bringing night life to the town. This is also where the Faculty of Sciences as well as the Faculty of Law & Economics are.

Saint Maurice

Situated in between the east of the citadel and the Madeleine cimetary, St-Maurice is one of the industrial parts of Amiens. It is a working-class area which is being currently renovated and rearranged. The walls of the town's former dying manufacture are now those of the École Supérieure d'Art et de Design (ESAD) as well as those of the Faculty of Arts. The École supérieure d'ingénieurs en électronique et électrotechnique (ESIEE) is in the same neighbourhood.

Henriville

The Henriville neighbourhood was mostly built during the 19th century after the demolition of the city wall. It lies at the south of the town-centre and gathers numerous bourgeois houses and a certain number of town houses such as Jules Verne's house. Several examples of the architectural styles of the times like néoclassique, troubadour and néogothique, can be found there.

Saint Acheul

This is where archeologic excavations have enabled to discover prehistorical rests, which have given the name of the area to a prehistorical era "Acheulean" (also spelled Acheulian, pronounced /əˈʃuːliən/). In St-Acheul also lies a famous 1914–1918 military cimetary. It comprises the so called "English neighbourhood" with typical English style houses. At the feet of this area lies the hortillonnages.

Other Neighbourhoods

There are also other famous working-class areas in Amiens, such as the Pigeonnier famous for its weekend market in the north, Etouvie in the east, and Victorine Autier in the south-east. These areas know lots of social troubles and have regularly been the place for riots.

Transportation

Motorways

Amiens is served by several motorways

Railways

Amiens has two stations: the Gare d'Amiens (the former Gare du Nord) and the Gare de Saint-Roch (Somme), with connections:

The station Gare TGV Haute-Picardie on the TGV line Lille-Paris is reachable by bus from Amiens.

Airports

In addition to the aerodrome of Glisy in the east of the town, Amiens is located nearby several airports

Waterways

The Somme canal runs through the town to the English Channel. This canal is linked to the Canal du Nord (Paris to Lille metropolitan area)

Urban transportation

The town's public transport network is managed by Ametis. It links most of Amiens Metropole's communes. The project of building a tramway network is currently in debate. In 2008 the municipality has set the Vélam, a system of public bikes similar to those of other European cities.

Main sights

The cathedral in Amiens

Amiens is also known for the hortillonnages, gardens on small islands in the marshland along the Somme River, surrounded by a grid network of man-made canals.

Culture

Cinemas

Museums

Theatres

Concert halls

The city counts a certain number of concert rooms, mostly small alternative ones but not only. Numerous concerts happen in pubs along the year.

Exhibition halls

Education

The city gathers a large range of schools and faculties

Notable people associated with Amiens

Medias

Newspapers

Radio

TV Channels

Gastonomy

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 http://www.picardie.fr/en/applis/frise_en/frise_en.swf
  2. ↑ Maddicott, John (1994). Simon de Montfort. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 257–8. ISBN 0521374936. 
  3. ↑ http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jules-verne.net%2F&lp=fr_en&.intl=us&fr=moz35
  4. ↑ http://uk.somme-tourisme.com/uk/decouvrir/avisiter/archeologie/archeologie_saint-acheul.asp
  5. ↑ http://spitfiresite.com/2010/03/operation-jericho.html
  6. ↑ "List of Twin Towns in the Ruhr Destrict". © 2009 Twins2010.com. http://www.twins2010.com/fileadmin/user_upload/pic/Dokumente/List_of_Twin_Towns_01.pdf?PHPSESSID=2edd34819db21e450d3bb625549ce4fd. Retrieved 2009-10-28. 

Notes

External links

Prefectures of the regions of France
Metropolitan France
Overseas regions