Charleville-Mézières

Charleville in 1625

Charleville and Mézières were originally separate communities on opposite banks of the Meuse, about a mile (2 km) distant from one another.[2]

Charleville was founded by Charles Gonzaga, the 8th duke of Mantua, in 1606. Its inhabitants were known as Carolopolitans (Carolopolitains). It was prosperous from the 17th century, although its fortifications were dismantled under Louis XIV in 1687 and it passed into French hands in 1708. It was plundered by the Prussians in 1815. France's royal armaments factory was formerly located there and gave its name to the Charleville musket, before being relocated and divided between Tulle and Châtellerault. In the 19th century, the city continued to produce arms through private firms, as well as nails, hardware, wine, spirits, coal, iron, and slate. It boasted a spacious port, a theatre, a large public library, and a museum of natural history.[2]

The inhabitants of Mézières were known as Macerians (Macériens).

By the mid-19th century, the two towns were linked by a suspension bridge.[2] The present commune was established in 1966. Another commune, Le Theux, had already been merged into Mézières in 1965. It has a population of about 51,000.

Panorama of Place ducale

With an annual average of 9°C (48,1°F), Charleville-Mézières is generally the coolest city of France. Winters are long, cold and gloomy while summers are hot enough but sometimes, even in the middle of July, night temperatures can drop below 5°C (41°F). Under the Köppen-Geiger climate classification, Charleville-Mézières features a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb) with strong continental influences (Dfb).

Puppetry is an important part of the cultural life of Charleville-Mézières, which is called the "World Capital of Puppetry Arts". An international puppet festival has been held there every three years since 1961, and became a biennial event in 2011.[5] The town is also home to the world headquarters of UNIMA[6] as well as the International Puppetry Institute (French: Institut International de la Marionnette),[7] which is housed in a historic building featuring a giant automaton of a puppeteer who performs a puppet show every hour on the hour. The École Nationale Supérieure des Arts de la Marionnette (ESNAM), a college which offers a higher education in puppetry, is also situated in Charleville-Mézières. [8]

The poet Arthur Rimbaud (1854–1891) was born in Charleville. The Rimbaud museum is located in the old water mill (Le Vieux Moulin) to the north of the town.

City buses are run by TAC,[9] Transports de l’Agglomération de Charleville-Mézières. The Gare de Charleville-Mézières railway station offers connections to Paris (by TGV), Reims, Lille, Metz and regional destinations.

OFC Charleville represent the town at association football. Étoile de Charleville-Mézières is a basketball club.

• Louis Dufour, the abbé of Longuerue, was born in Charleville.[2]
• Arthur Rimbaud, the French poet, was born in Charleville.
• Natalis de Wailly, 19th-century historian and palaeographer was born in Charleville
• Louise Bellocq, French writer, winner of the 1960 Prix Femina, was born in Charleville

Charleville-Mézières is twinned with:[10]

• Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard
• Clément-Bayard
• Communes of the Ardennes department

•  Baynes, T. S., ed. (1878), "Charleville" , Encyclopædia Britannica, 5 (9th ed.), New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, p. 429
• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911), "Charleville" , Encyclopædia Britannica, 5 (11th ed.), Cambridge University Press, pp. 945–946
• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911), "Mézières" , Encyclopædia Britannica, 18 (11th ed.), Cambridge University Press, p. 351

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• Official website