Saint-Dizier

Saint-Dizier

Saint-Dizier
Administration
Country France
Region Champagne-Ardenne
Department Haute-Marne
Arrondissement Saint-Dizier
Mayor François Cornut-Gentille
(2001–2008)
Statistics
Elevation 146 m (479 ft) avg.
Land area1 47.69 km2 (18.41 sq mi)
Population2 30,900  (1999)
 - Density 648 /km2 (1,680 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 52448/ 52100
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Saint-Dizier is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France.

It has a population of 31,000 (2003 figure) and is a subprefecture of the department. Although Saint-Dizier is marginally the most populous commune in Haute-Marne, the préfecture (capital) resides in the somewhat smaller commune of Chaumont.

Contents

Geography

Located approximately 120 miles (193 km) east of Paris, halfway to Strasbourg, it is five miles from Western Europe's largest man-made lake, Lake Der-Chantecoq.

History

The town originated as a fortified settlement around a thirteenth century château, eventually becoming a royal fortress to guard the French kingdom's eastern approaches. The town was besieged and captured by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, in the summer of 1544. A fire in 1775 destroyed two-thirds of the town centre. The château was owned by the Orléans family until the French Revolution, was a base for German troops during World War II, and currently houses the Municipal Museum.

Notable people

Saint-Dizier is the birthplace of

See also

References

External links