Arras

Its history:
end of the IVth century: the name Atrebate (later to become Arras) supplants that of Nemetacum 
2nd December 1092: Arras again becomes the episcopal seat following the division of the diocese of Cambrai. 
1194: the brotherhood called "Carité Notre-Dame des jogleurs et borgois" is mentioned in texts for the first time. 
1290: first mention of the Saint-Luc brotherhood, an association of painters and sculptors. This association still exists today. 
1414: King Charles VI holds Arras under siege and destroys the peripheral settlements. 
1430: Joan of Arc is taken prisoner and held in Arras.
21st September: Charles VII, King of France and Philippe le Bon, Duke of Burgundy, sign the "Peace of Arras". 
1463: the construction of the belfry begins, to be completed in 1553. 
23rd May 1493: following the treaty of Senlis, Arras falls into the hands of Emperor Maximilian of Austria. 
1502: construction of the town hall begins. 
1556: Charles Quint abdicates and divides up his empire. Artois is given to Philippe II, King of Spain. 
1583: town planning regulations lead to a harmonious image. The inhabitants may only build using stone or bricks. 
16th November 1624: opening of the "mont-de-piété" (mount of piety). 
1659: at the treat of the Pyrenees, Arras once more becomes French, and forms part of conquered Artois. 
1667: Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse enter Arras. Van der Meulen the painter creates his works of art.
1668: construction of the "Citadelle". 
6th May 1758: Robespierre is born in the Parish of La Madeleine. 
1778: the Rosati - an anagram society - is created. Their name is the anagram of Artois 
1789: Robespierre is elected a member of parliament ("député") at the General Assembly.
1790: Arras is chosen as the capital of the "département" after violent quarrels with its rivals, Aire-sur-la-Lys, Saint-Omer, etc. 
January-February 1790: Ferdinand Dubois de Fosseux becomes the first mayor of Arras. 
1851: as of this year, Camille Corot visits Arras every year and develops the Artesian school around it with Dutilleux and Desavary. 
30th October 1898: a new railway station is inaugurated. 
1910: Raoul Briquet is the first socialist member of parliament elected in Arras.
1915: during the Artois combats, the squares and the Saint-Vaast palace are destroyed. 
October 1918: after bombardments and fires, 56% of the houses are destroyed or beyond repair. 
28th December 1919: the town is decorated by Raymond Poincaré, President of the Republic, receiving the War Cross and the Legion of Honour. 
1932  inauguration of the rebuilt Town Hall.
1st September 1944: the town is liberated by the English. 
1945: Guy Mollet, elected Mayor, will remain in office until his death in 1975. 
28th June 1965: creation of the urban district. 
1977: The Chamber of Economics (Junior Branch) launches the first "Rats' Festival". 
19th September 1978: inauguration of the new municipal administrative centre. 

Access: 
A1, A26, N39, N43,
Roclincourt airfield  (5 km. away),
TGV (high-speed train).

The Mayor of Arras is Jean-Marie VANLERENBERGHE.

He is also a Regional Councillor and President of the Arras Urban Community.

Other key figures in the town's history:
Adam de la Halle (called the "Bossu", or humpback): a "trouvère" from Arras, a lyrical-satyrical poet, the inventor of polyphonic music and the author of the first comic opera. 
Adam (Paul): (1862-1920) Novelist of Artesian original, his work was inspired by the Artois region (Le Lion d'Arras). 
D'Artagnan (Pierre de Montesquiou): (1640-1725) One of the King's Musketeers, Lieutenant General of Artois and Governor of the town and citadel of Arras.
Bidasse (called the "friend"): fictitious  personality who was a "native of Arras, capital of the Pas-de-Calais". The words of this song are by Louis Bousquet. 
Carnot (Lazare): (1753-1823) Lieutenant of the Royal Engineering Corps of Arras in 1781, he was elected to the Arras Academy and was a member of the "Rosati" (see "history"). 
Corot (Camille): (1796-1875) Artist.
Degeorge (Frédéric): (1797-1854): Named Commissar to the Governor in the Pas-de-Calais in February 1848. He was elected a member of Parliament at the constitutive assembly.
Dubois de Fosseux (Ferdinand): (1742-1817) First Mayor of Arras. 
Fouche (Joseph): (1759-1820) Politician.
Mollet (Guy): (1905-1975) Member of Parliament and Mayor of Arras without interruption from 1945 until 75, as well as President of the Council.
Robespierre (Maximilien de): (1758-1794) Lawyer then elected to the General Assembly in 1789.
Verlaine (Paul): (1844-1896). His mother was from Fampoux, near Arras, and he frequently visited Arras.
Foulon (Séverine): 3rd in the last French athletics championships (800 metres). 

The Mayors: 
Minelle (Eugène): Mayor of Arras from 1903 to 1912.
Rohart-Courtin (Emile): Mayor of Arras from 1912 to 1919.
Leroy (Victor-Louis-Joseph): Mayor of Arras from 1919 to 1922.
Lemelle (Gustave) : Mayor  of Arras from 1922 to 1929.
Delansorne (Désiré) : Mayor of Arras from 1929 to 1937.
Lobbedez (Fernand) : Mayor of Arras from 1937 to 1941.
Gaillard (Lucien) : Mayor of Arras from 1941 to 1944.
Méric (René) : Mayor of Arras from 1944 to 1945.
Mollet (Guy) : Mayor of Arras from 1945 to 1975.
Fatous (Léon) : Mayor of Arras from 1975 to 1995.
Vanlerenberghe (Jean-Marie) : Mayor of Arras since 1995. 

Clubs, associations, etc.: 
The "Racing Club d'Arras" (rugby), 
The Arras golf team, etc.

Not to be missed: 
The carnival in March
The "Bidasse braderie" (market) last weekend in August or first weekend in September). 

Specialities:
Chocolate rats from Arras
Arras hearts (gateau)
Gingerbread
L'Atrebatre (beer).
Paté from Arras and its brotherhood of artisans.
Porcelain.

Cultural attractions
The Fine Art Museum with its new room "Mays de Notre-Dame de Paris".
The barracks of the 601th Traffic Regiment. 

Major companies:
Haägen-Dazs (ice cream).
Akebono (brake linings).
Oldham France (batteries, gas detectors).
Caterpillar (mechanical transmissions).
Spie Trindel (electrical installation).

Events for the year 2000:
Firework display on New Year's Eve.
Carnival on the topic of the Gallo-Roman era, in March.
Mediaeval "Son et lumière" at Saint Nicolas Church, in June.
Festival of the rats inspired by the Renaissance, in September.
Events linked to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, within the framework of the centenary of his birth.

The Arras motto:
" Belles pierres,
bonnes tables "
(attractive architecture
and excellent cuisine)

The town's official site: 

www.ville-arras.fr

jl-info@ville-arras.fr (email)

com.arras@wanadoo.fr (Communication department's e-mail)

Tourist Office site: www.ot.arras.fr

www.tourisme.fr

The conurbation consists of: 21 communes and 100,000 inhabitants

Arras is the administrative capital of the Pas de Calais département and that of the Arras urban community.

The town has nevertheless become a resolutely modern one over the last twenty years. It has gradually turned towards the business sector.
But this move came about somewhat late, and has thus permitted it to preserve an excellent living environment since it was not effected by the unattractive face of heavy industry in the XIXth century.
Today, its vast, tree-lined industrial zones are the site of agro-food or advanced technology companies.
With an ideal geographical location and the crossroads of Europe (6 European capitals are less than 300 km away) is enjoy remarkable accessibility (highways, rail links and Lesquin airport less than 30 minutes away). Its rich, historical cultural heritage is attracting a growing number of tourists from France and abroad.
 

Maximilien de Robespierre

University of Artois
www.univ-artois.fr