Northeast France's Defeat at the Hands After the Fall of the Roman of Prussia in 1871, Alsace Was the Chateau of Haut-Koenigsbourg Near Empire
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The Northeast of Paris France Bonjour, my name is Nicolas! Follow me on a WITH ABOUT 350,000 square tour of northeastern France. miles, France is the largest coun- try in Western Europe, and roughly the size of Texas. In 2003, its population reached 62 million, of which about 12 million live in or around the capital, Paris. Dunkirk France also includes several Calais Côte Lille overseas territories: Guadeloupe d’Opalele Boulogne- Belgium and Martinique in the Caribbean; English sur-mer French Guiana just north of Le Touquet Channel Nord Pas-de-Calais Brazil; Reunion Island in the (La Manche) Arras Indian Ocean; French Polynesia, Somme Luxembourg New Caledonia, and Wallis and Estuary Charleville Futuna in the Pacific Ocean; and Amiens -Mézières the Antarctic territories. Sedan Since the European Union's Picardie Laon Champagne Germany -Ardenne inception, some 50 years ago, Verdun France has been at the forefront of Chantilly Reims the construction of a strong and Senlis Metz integrated Europe. The European Lorraine Alsace Union remains one of France's top Strasbourg foreign policy priorities. As one of Epernay Nancy Paris Châlons- the five permanent members of sur-Marne the United Nations' Security Colmar Council, and the fourth highest Troyes contributor to the U.N. budget, Vosges France is deeply involved in all sig- Nature Mulhouse nificant international affairs. Park Auxerre But France is also a country Belfort where people are strongly Franche attached to their regional roots. Bourgogne Besançon -Comté This brochure will help you Dijon Saut du understand the deep ties the Doubs Baume-les- French continue to have with Nevers Beaune Messieurs their native regions. Joux Switzer- This brochure belongs to a series of six: the Northeast, the land Northwest, the Southeast, the Southwest, Ile-de-France, and the overseas territories. Brochures are available on request, by writ- ing to [email protected]. Reaching Prosperity After a Turbulent History THE HISTORY of northeastern France, at the crossroads of After Charlemagne's death, the Empire was ruled by Louis several major cultures, is both fascinating and rather turbulent. the Pious, who eventually divided it between his three sons. The Most of the area was long inhabited by tribes of both French and Northeast was reunited with the rest of France under the reign of German origin. Nord-Pas-de-Calais used to be populated by the Philip the Bold in the latter half of the fourteenth century. Under Celts, Alsace-Lorraine by the Allamani, and Burgundy by the his rule, the region of Burgundy experienced a golden age, with Burgundii, to name just a few examples. In the early part of the the house of Burgundy owning lands that encompassed almost first century, northeastern France fell under Roman occupation, the entire northeastern region. like most of Europe at the time. The area along the Rhine and Rhone rivers, now the geographical border between France, ALSACE'S TUMULTUOUS HISTORY Germany and Switzerland, became a major center of commerce, The lands of Alsace have long with the two rivers serving as highways for trade and transporta- been a source of contention tion. Strasbourg, now the de facto capital of Alsace-Lorraine, was between Germany and one of the northeastern most outposts of the Roman Empire, and France. Originally a Germanic a major trading city between the Romans and Germanic tribes. territory, Alsace became One of the most impor- French after the Thirty Years tant moments of French history War (1618-1648). Following took place in the Northeast France's defeat at the hands after the fall of the Roman of Prussia in 1871, Alsace was The chateau of Haut-Koenigsbourg near Empire. In 499 AD, France's Sélestat, Alsace. Strongholds such as this relinquished to the Prussians, first king and the founder of one can be found throughout Alsace, and who enacted strict anti-French they attest to the region's tumultuous history. the Merovingian dynasty, policies, including the ban of Clovis, was crowned in spoken and written French. After being defeated during World War I, Rheims. Leader of the Franks, Germany ceded Alsace back to France under the Treaty of Versailles. “The Baptism of Clovis” by François Louis his dynasty ruled over much of The region remained under French rule until Germany occupied Dejuinne (1839). Clovis became the first what has become present-day France during World War II. Finally, at the conclusion of the war in Gallic ruler to convert to Christianity in 498. France (indeed, the word 1945, Alsace was once again returned to France. After such a tumul- "France" is derived from "Franks"). The area then became part of tuous history, it is no surprise that present-day Alsatians speak a the Holy Roman Empire under the rule of Emperor Germanic dialect, Alsatian, as well as French! Charlemagne, or Charles the Great (768-814). During his reign, a centralized administration was created, and the arts The House of Burgundy aligned with the English during the experienced a renaissance. Hundred Years War (1337-1453), creating a deep rift between the Northeast and the rest of France. The region was also ravaged by ECONOMIC PROSPERITY IN THE MIDDLE AGES the Thirty Years War (1618-1648), during which two major bat- The northeastern region of tles took place in the Northeast. At one point, Burgundy and France experienced great Franche-Comté were part of the Hapsburg Empire, then the economic prosperity dur- Spanish Empire, only to finally return to France in 1678. ing the Middle Ages, espe- The Northeast's history unfortunately continued to be cially in the regions of plagued by conflict and war well into the modern era. Its Nord-Pas-de-Calais and strategic location at the heart of Europe made it a recurrent Champagne-Ardenne. The battleground, during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871, vibrant Flemish textile World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945). industry, located in Nord- Regions such as Picardie, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Pas-de-Calais and Belgium, Champagne-Ardenne were particularly hard hit by the first brought prosperity to large World War, with its deadly and prolonged trench warfare. The parts of the Northeast. As Battles of the Marne (1914 and 1918), the Battle of the for Champagne-Ardenne, Ardennes (1914), the Battle of the Bulge (1944-45)… all it served as an important these epic clashes took place in northeastern France. Since economic location during World War II, however, the region has reaped the rewards of the Middle Ages by hosting major trade fairs. Indeed, because of peace and prosperity, and one of its main cities, Strasbourg, its location near several major European trade routes, is now home to the Council of Europe, the European Court of Champagne-Ardenne proved to be one of the best locations for Human Rights, and the European Union's Parliament—all merchants from all over Europe to meet. symbols of Europe's newfound unity and peace. Lovely Coastlines and Dense Forests STRETCHING FROM the English Channel to the German border, forests that are part of a remarkable envi- the Northeast is one of the most varied regions in France. Here visitors ronment including thermal springs, water- can find everything from beaches and rolling farmland to forests and falls, mountain lakes and rivers. snowy mountains. Like the landscape, the climate varies dramatically, As the meeting point for three river sys- with mild maritime conditions along the coast and colder winters and tems, Burgundy is rightly named a water- hotter summers in the more continental interior. shed. The Yonne river runs north through it The northernmost region— to join the Seine on its route to the English Nord Pas-de-Calais—is defined Channel whereas the Sâone River flows by its coastline that stretches south to the Rhône, and eventually to the from the Somme estuary to the Mediterranean. Finally, the Loire, France's Belgian border, including the last undeveloped river, flows west across the Le Saut de Doubs in busy commercial ports of Calais, region to the Atlantic Ocean. Franche-Comté Dunkirk and Boulogne. Visitors Over 1,200 kilometers of are treated to dramatic scenery manmade canals connect the along the Côte d'Opale (Opal region’s cities to these rivers. A Le Touquet, "the pearl" Coast), named by the impres- boat may be the best way to visit in the Cote d'Opale sionists for the iridescent light this region! This abundance of that reflects off its contours. The pebble and sand beaches are water has left its mark on the popular among many vacationers. landscape and environment, The fertile plains of the Northeast have long been centers of agri- View of the port of Saint-Florentin which features a profusion of culture, with wine-making especially widespread. Burgundy is per- on a Burgundy canal waterfowl. haps the area best known for its wine, which is produced throughout The Jura mountains provide what is perhaps the most dramat- the region, but particularly on the vine-covered hills of the Côte d'Or ic landscape in the northeastern region. This range in the southern por- department. Bordered by the Rhine river, Alsace is a fertile watershed tion of Franche-Comté boasts an unspoiled countryside that is accessi- between the Vosges mountains and Germany's Black Forest. It too ble to all. Blanketed boasts well-known wines. with alpine forest, the CAVES OF FRANCHE COMTÉ Finally, the unique climate and Jura range is a haven for landscape of Champagne outdoor sports-lovers make the area ideal for the pro- seeking an alternative duction of its eponymous drink. to the Alps. The famous Throughout the Northeast, "Grand Traversée du dense forests are havens for Jura" in the Haut-Jura nature-lovers.