Langres

Langres

Coat of arms
Langres

Coordinates: 47°51′48″N 5°20′02″E / 47.8633°N 5.3339°E / 47.8633; 5.3339Coordinates: 47°51′48″N 5°20′02″E / 47.8633°N 5.3339°E / 47.8633; 5.3339
Country France
Region Grand Est
Department Haute-Marne
Arrondissement Langres
Canton Langres
Intercommunality Étoile de Langres
Government
 • Mayor (2014–2020) Sophie Delong
Area1 22.33 km2 (8.62 sq mi)
Population (1999)2 9,586
 • Density 430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 52269 / 52200
Elevation 327–475 m (1,073–1,558 ft)
(avg. 475 m or 1,558 ft)

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.

Langres (French pronunciation: ​[lɑ̃ɡʁ]) is a commune in northeastern France. It is a subprefecture of the department of Haute-Marne, in the region of Grand Est.

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.

Climate

Climate data for Langres (1981–2010 averages)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 14.5
(58.1)		 17.7
(63.9)		 21.9
(71.4)		 26.2
(79.2)		 29.8
(85.6)		 34.1
(93.4)		 35.9
(96.6)		 37.6
(99.7)		 31.6
(88.9)		 25.7
(78.3)		 21.1
(70)		 15.5
(59.9)		 37.6
(99.7)
Average high °C (°F) 3.4
(38.1)		 5.1
(41.2)		 9.4
(48.9)		 13.1
(55.6)		 17.4
(63.3)		 20.8
(69.4)		 23.5
(74.3)		 23.2
(73.8)		 18.9
(66)		 13.8
(56.8)		 7.6
(45.7)		 4.1
(39.4)		 13.4
(56.1)
Average low °C (°F) −1.3
(29.7)		 −0.7
(30.7)		 2.1
(35.8)		 4.6
(40.3)		 8.7
(47.7)		 11.7
(53.1)		 13.9
(57)		 13.9
(57)		 10.6
(51.1)		 7.2
(45)		 2.4
(36.3)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 6.1
(43)
Record low °C (°F) −18.1
(−0.6)		 −21.2
(−6.2)		 −13.2
(8.2)		 −6.6
(20.1)		 −2.9
(26.8)		 2.5
(36.5)		 5.1
(41.2)		 5.1
(41.2)		 2.1
(35.8)		 −4.5
(23.9)		 −10.7
(12.7)		 −16.4
(2.5)		 −21.2
(−6.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 80.5
(3.169)		 64.9
(2.555)		 65.5
(2.579)		 59.9
(2.358)		 82.4
(3.244)		 70.0
(2.756)		 74.4
(2.929)		 67.1
(2.642)		 72.1
(2.839)		 86.8
(3.417)		 83.5
(3.287)		 88.4
(3.48)		 895.5
(35.256)
Average precipitation days 12.4 10.6 11.4 10.4 12.6 10.3 9.5 8.9 9.4 11.9 11.9 12.9 132.0
Average snowy days 7.6 6.9 5.4 3.2 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 3.5 6.2 33.4
Average relative humidity (%) 90 84 78 72 74 73 71 74 79 86 89 91 80.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 61.7 86.3 139.1 171.9 194.0 213.9 225.8 219.6 169.6 111.9 60.7 48.4 1,702.8
Source #1: Météo France[1][2]
Source #2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity and snowy days, 1961–1990)[3]

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.

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Langres is twinned with:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Données climatiques de la station de Langres" (in French). Meteo France. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Climat Champagne-Ardenne" (in French). Meteo France. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Normes et records 1961-1990: Langres (52) - altitude 467m" (in French). Infoclimat. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  4. ↑ "British towns twinned with French towns". Archant Community Media Ltd. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
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