Laon

The French city of Laon [ lɑ ] is the capital ( préfecture ) of the department of Aisne with 25 745 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011). The city has many medieval buildings, including the famous Cathedral of Laon. With the historic walled city on a mesa Laon has the largest contiguous under a preservation area of France.

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Geography

Laon is located in northern France, 130 km north-east of Paris and 45 kilometers north-west of Reims.

The upper town on a nearly two -kilometer-long limestone cliffs towering above the lower town by about 100 m and is visible from afar.

History

In 500 Bishop Remigius of Reims founded the diocese of Laon.

Laons prosperity was based in the Middle Ages on Viticulture and trading.

A popular uprising in Laon in 1112 did not only cost the Bishop Gaudry life, but also put the Romanesque church in flames. This was followed from 1155 to start construction of the Gothic cathedral, which was completed after 80 years.

In the Battle of Laon on March 9th and 10th 1814, the French troops were defeated by the Prussians and forced to retreat.

During the First World War was Laon 1914-1918 seat of the German military command, while the front line of the "Chemin des Dames " was.

During World War II strong Air Force units were concentrated on the airfields at Laon.

Demographics

Twin Cities

Attractions

  • Notre Dame Cathedral: The Cathedral of Laon is one of the most important early Gothic cathedrals of France. The far-reaching influence of its architecture is demonstrated not only in the English Gothic style, but also at the Bamberg and Naumburg Cathedral.
  • Former Bishop, now the Palace of Justice next to the Cathedral
  • Templar chapel from the 12th century
  • Monastery Church of St. Martin Church from the 12th century and monastic buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries.
  • Fortification: 7 km town wall with the gates Porte d' Ardon, Porte des Cheminzelles and Porte de Soissons

City Gate Porte d' Ardon

Templar chapel

Economy

Traffic

Laon is located on the A26 motorway ( E17) and national road N 44 from Saint -Quentin to Reims and the N2 of Vervins to Soissons.

There are train connections to Vervins, Soissons, Gare du Nord (Paris) and Saint- Quentin.

Public transport is handled by the transport company of the city, the transportation Urbains Laonnois, short TUL. They operate in addition to various bus routes also have a fully automated funicular, the Mini Metro POMA 2000, between the railway station and the town hall in the old town. A previous train of 1899 was decommissioned in 1971.

Twin Cities

  • Soltau in Germany
  • Winchester in the United Kingdom

Sons and daughters of the town

  • Bertrada the Elder, the founder of the Abbey of Prüm
  • Bertrada the Younger, also called Bertrada of Laon, granddaughter of Bertrada the Elder. , Wife of Pippin the Younger and mother of Charlemagne
  • Nicolas Antoine Le Begue, French organist, harpsichordist and composer
  • Désiré Dondeyne, French composer and conductor
  • Heribert of Laon, Count of Laon in the first half of the 8th century, and his wife
  • Jacques Marquette, a monk and discoverer of the Mississippi River (1637-1674)
  • Pierre Méchain, French astronomer
  • The brothers Antoine Le Nain, Louis Le Nain and Mathieu Le Nain, French painter
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