Country France Department Haute-Marne Canton Langres Area 22.33 km² Mayor Sophie Delong | Region Grand Est Arrondissement Langres Intercommunality Étoile de Langres Local time Sunday 2:38 PM | |
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Weather 14°C, Wind E at 8 km/h, 53% Humidity Points of interest Langres Cathedral, Musée d'art et d'histoire de Langres, Denis Diderot House of, Maison Renaissance, Société Historique Archéolo | ||
Langres ([lɑ̃ɡʁ]) is a commune in northeastern France. It is a subprefecture of the department of Haute-Marne, in the region of Grand Est.
Contents
- Map of 52200 Langres France
- History
- Main sights
- Culture
- Notable people
- Twin towns Sister cities
- References
Map of 52200 Langres, France
History
As the capital of the Romanized Gallic tribe the Lingones, it was called Andematunnum, then Lingones, and now Langres.
The town is built on a limestone promontory of the same name. This stronghold was originally occupied by the Gauls, and, at a later date the Romans fortified the town belonging to the Celtic tribe the Lingones; Andemantunum the strategic cross-roads of twelve Roman roads. The 1st century Triumphal Gate and the many artefacts exhibited in the museums are witnesses to the Gallo-Roman town.
After the period of invasions, the town prospered in the Middle Ages due, in part, to the growing political influence of its bishops. The diocese covered Champagne, the Duchy of Burgundy and Franche-Comté, and the bishops gained the right to coin money in the 9th century and to name the military governor of the city in 927. The Bishop of Langres was a duke and peer of France. The troubled 14th and 15th centuries were reason enough for the town to strengthen its fortifications, which still give the old part of the city its fortified character, and Langres entered a period of royal tutelage. The Renaissance, which returned prosperity to the town, saw the construction of numerous fine civil, religious and military buildings that still stand today. In the 19th century, a "Vauban" citadel was added.
Main sights
Today Langres is a historical town with numerous art treasures within the ancient defensive walls surrounding the old city (3.5 km), including a dozen towers and seven gates.
The cathedral of Saint-Mammès is a late 12th-century structure dedicated to Mammes of Caesarea, a 3rd-century martyr.
Culture
Langres is home to producers of an AOC-protected cheese of the same name. It is a soft, pungent cow's milk cheese that is known for its rind, which is washed.
The museum Denis Diderot´s House of Enlightenment. With it Langres pays homage to Denis Diderot. This museum, set up in a private mansion from the 16th and 18th centuries, is dedicated to the philosopher and to his most famous work, the Encyclopédie, as well as to the “Age of French Enlightenment”.
Notable people
Langres was the birthplace of:
Langres was also a town where Jehan Tabourot (known as Thoinot Arbeau) wrote his famous book on dance and music Orchésographie.
Twin towns – Sister cities
Langres is twinned with: