Country France Department Ardennes Intercommunality Cœur d'Ardenne Area 31.44 km² Team Flammes Carolo basket | Region Grand Est Arrondissement Charleville-Mézières Population (2009) 49,975 Local time Friday 2:08 PM | |
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Weather 12°C, Wind SE at 16 km/h, 60% Humidity Points of interest place Ducale, Musée Rimbaud, Musée de l'Ardenne, La Maison des Ailleurs, Porte de Bourgogne | ||
Charleville-Mézières ([ʃaʁ.lə.vil.me.zjɛʁ]) is a commune in northern France, capital of the Ardennes department in the Grand Est region. Charleville-Mézières is located on the banks of the Meuse River.
Contents
- Map of 08000 Charleville MC3A9ziC3A8res France
- History
- Culture
- Transport
- Sport
- Famous residents
- International relations
- References
Map of 08000 Charleville-M%C3%A9zi%C3%A8res, France
History
Charleville and Mézières were originally separate communities on opposite banks of the Meuse, about a mile (2 km) distant from one another.
Charleville was founded by Charles Gonzaga, the 8th duke of Mantua, in 1606. Its inhabitants were known as Carolopolitans (Carolopolitains). It was prosperous from the 17th century, although its fortifications were dismantled under Louis XIV in 1687 and it passed into French hands in 1708. It was plundered by the Prussians in 1815. France's royal armaments factory was formerly located there and gave its name to the Charleville musket, before being relocated and divided between Tulle and Chatellerault. In the 19th century, the city continued to produce arms through private firms, as well as nails, hardware, wine, spirits, coal, iron, and slate. It boasted a spacious port, a theater, a large public library, and a museum of natural history.
The inhabitants of Mézières were known as Macerians (Macériens).
By the mid-19th century, the two towns were linked by a suspension bridge. The present commune was established in 1966. Another commune, Le Theux, had already been merged into Mézières in 1965. It has a population of about 51,000.
Culture
Puppetry is an important part of the cultural life of Charleville-Mézières, which is called the "World Capital of Puppetry Arts". An international puppet festival has been held there every three years since 1961 and became biennial event in 2011. The town is also home to the world headquarters of UNIMA as well as the International Puppetry Institute (French: Institut International de la Marionnette), which is housed in a historic building featuring a giant automaton of a puppeteer who performs a puppet show every hour on the hour.
The poet Arthur Rimbaud (1854–1891) was born in Charleville. The Rimbaud museum is located in the old water mill (Le Vieux Moulin) to the north of the town.
Transport
City buses are run by TAC, Transports de l’Agglomération de Charleville-Mézières. The Gare de Charleville-Mézières railway station offers connections to Paris (by TGV), Reims, Lille, Metz and regional destinations.
Sport
OFC Charleville represent the town at association football. Étoile de Charleville-Mézières is a basketball club.
Famous residents
International relations
Charleville-Mézières is twinned with: