Langres

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

Langres
Subprefecture and commune
View of Langres from the southeast
Coat of arms
Location of Langres
Langres
Langres
Coordinates: 47°51′48″N 5°20′02″E
CountryFrance
RegionGrand Est
DepartmentHaute-Marne
ArrondissementLangres
CantonLangres
IntercommunalityGrand Langres
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Anne Cardinal
Area
1
22.33 km2 (8.62 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[1]
7,731
 • Density350/km2 (900/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
52269 /52200
Elevation327–475 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.

History

As the capital of the Romanized Gallic tribe known as the Lingones, it was called Andematunnum, then Lingones, and now Langres.

A hilltop town, Langres was built on a limestone promontory of the same name. This stronghold was originally occupied by people of the tribe Lingones. At a later date the Romans fortified the town they called Andemantunum, located at a strategic crossroads of twelve Roman roads. The first-century Triumphal Gate and the many artefacts exhibited in the museums are remnants of the town's Gallo-Roman history. 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 obtained the right to coin money in the ninth 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 caused the town to strengthen its defenses, which still give the old 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

Langres has a historic town center surrounded by defensive walls with 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 town was long known for its cutlery industry. Didier Diderot, father of encyclopedist Denis, was a cutler.[2]

A museum called the Denis Diderot House of Enlightenment opened in 2013. This museum, set up in a private mansion from the 16th and 18th centuries, is dedicated to the philosopher Denis Diderot .

Notable people

Langres was the birthplace of:

Climate

Langres features an oceanic climate (Cfb), closely bordering on a humid continental climate (Dfb) due to its altitude. Summers are moderately hot and sunny, winters are cold, foggy and often snowy.

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
(70.0)		 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
(66.0)		 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
(57.0)		 13.9
(57.0)		 10.6
(51.1)		 7.2
(45.0)		 2.4
(36.3)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 6.1
(43.0)
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
(3.17)		 64.9
(2.56)		 65.5
(2.58)		 59.9
(2.36)		 82.4
(3.24)		 70.0
(2.76)		 74.4
(2.93)		 67.1
(2.64)		 72.1
(2.84)		 86.8
(3.42)		 83.5
(3.29)		 88.4
(3.48)		 895.5
(35.26)
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[3][4]
Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity and snowy days, 1961–1990)[5]

International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in France

Langres is twinned with:

See also
  • Road sign announcing improvements to the Citadel of Langres
  • Saint-Mammès Cathedral
  • Saint-Mammès Cathedral
  • Saint-Mammès Cathedral
  • Saint-Mammès Cathedral
  • Saint-Mammès Cathedral Cloister
  • Saint-Mammès Cathedral Cloister
  • Bas relief at Saint-Mammès Cathedral
  • Moulins Gate
  • Moulins Gate
  • Moulins Gate
  • Ramparts of the Citadel
  • Ramparts and Funicular
  • Saint-Ferjeux Tower
  • Navarre and d'Orval Tower
  • Navarre and d'Orval Tower
  • Navarre and d'Orval Tower ceiling framework
  • Navarre and d'Orval Tower torch holder
  • Navarre and d'Orval Tower torch holder
  • Navarre and d'Orval Tower gargoyle
  • Navarre and d'Orval Tower
  • Navarre and d'Orval Tower
  • Navarre and d'Orval Tower
  • Navarre and d'Orval Tower well
  • Navarre and d'Orval Tower vaulted arch
  • Former Jesuit College
  • Renaissance cellar
  • Entrance to City Hall
  • Statue of Denis Diderot
  • Renaissance period mansion
  • Renaissance period mansion
  • Henriot Square
  • Saint-Martin Church

References
  1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. Génin, M.F. (1862). Œuvres choisies de Diderot, précédées de sa vie [Selected Works of Diderot, Prefaced with his Biography] (in French). Paris: Librairie de Firmin Didot Frères, Fils et Compagnie.
  3. "Données climatiques de la station de Langres" (in French). Meteo France. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  4. "Climat Champagne-Ardenne" (in French). Meteo France. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  5. "Normes et records 1961-1990: Langres (52) - altitude 467m" (in French). Infoclimat. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  6. "British towns twinned with French towns". Archant Community Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
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