Cambrai

	CAMBRAI - City of art and History has been elected City of the year 99 within the network for its Juventus festival Its history: Capital of the Nervians during the Lower Roman Empire and later to become the episcopal city and then one within the Germanic Holy Roman Empire, Cambrai underwent considerable expansion as of the end of the VIth century, and on several occasions required extending the fortifications - particularly during the Hundred Years War.. As of the XVIth century, bastions were constructed in front of the mediaeval wall, which had become insufficient. At the end of the XIXth century, a major part of this imposing structure was destroyed in order to facilitate the expansion of the city. Access: By car At the intersection of the A2 (Paris-Brussels-Cologne) and the A 26 highways (Calais, Reims-Strasbourg), Cambrai is only a few hours from the major capitals: Paris (1 hr 30 mins.), Brussels ( 1 hr.) London (3 hrs.) and Amsterdam (3 hrs.). By air Air links are possible thanks to the Lille-Lesquin regional airport serving France and overseas, but also the Cambrai-Niergnies airfield for business flights. By train A rail network links the Cambrai area to the TGV (high-speed train) lines from Paris to London via the Eurotunnel and Paris-Brussels lines.

	The mayor of Cambrai is François-Xavier VILLAIN Other key figures in the town's history Monique AMGHAR, World Karate Champion in Mexico 1990, European Team Champion in 1994 and individual champion in 1996. Jean-Louis FLAMENGO, triple Olympic Olympic Champion at the Barcelona Games for the Handicapped. Loïc ATTELY (fencing). The women's field hockey team. Bronze medallists in the European Championships held in April 1999 and French champions in the 1st national league since 13th June 1999.

	Not to be missed: - Major trade fair in September - Juventus Festival for the best young soloists in European orchestras, in July - Traditional festival with carnival procession, fairground and firework display on 15th August - Large market (St-Catherine's) towards the end of November Specialities: Gastronomic specialities: - The well known "bétise de Cambrai" is a kind of mint sweet. Its origin is said to be around 1850, and an error in manufacture is said to have been behind its invention and also to have given the sweet its name. - The "andouillette" paté: Cambrai is renowned for its cold cuts made of offal, and its guild is one of the most representative of the region. - Rusks and tripe. - Liver paté with prunes. - Hare with raisins. - Hot pot of partridge lentil puree. - "Crotté" bread (type of battered, fried bread). - Balls of fresh cheese with fine herbs.

	Culture The municipal museum was recently renovated, restructured and extended. Its surface area is now 3,700 m2, spread over three levels and consisting of three departments: archaeology, heritage of Cambrai, and the fine arts. Relief plan of Cambrai. The media library. This includes approximately 110,000 items for lending plus a video library, a gramophone record library, a photo library, a university library and a media bus. An art and experimental cinema presents recent films or those by the cine club, plus plays or lectures. The National Conservatory of Music and the Graphic Arts is open to all and offers preparation for higher musical studies. The "Palais des Grottes" (Palace of the Caves), located within the magnificent public gardens, is often the site of performances by leading stars who are preparing or concluding their Parisian or international tours, such as Patrick Bruel, Alain Souchon, Muriel Robin, etc. Sport There are over 100 sports clubs or associations in the Cambrai area. The highly numerous installations cover over 50 hectares: 6 gymnasiums, 2 swimming pools, the Balagny arsenal (transformed to become a gymnastics hall), a leisure complex, a hockey stadium, a rugby stadium and numerous football grounds are just a few examples of the sports infrastructure of Cambrai.

	Higher education: - "La Forêt" University Centre. Degrees in law and history - Higher school of art.

	With 120 hectares of open spaces within its surface area, a river tourism complex, public gardens located at the heart of the town and a large number of sports and cultural facilities, we can affirm without hesitation that Cambrai is a young and dynamic town. Major companies: Cambrai is home to a manufacturing unit - INTEXAL - one of the area's largest employers and part of the RODIER group. Cambrai textilesmare still a byword for the production of household linen, as is the "Cambrai handkerchief" with lace and embroidery for Lagerfeld, Dior, Kenzo, Lacroix and Saint-Laurent. Cambrai is also an important agro-food centre.

	Current projects: - Restoration of the municipal theatre - Modernisation of the nautical stadium - Installation of the Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer for the food industry

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Location

France
Département du Nord

The Cambrai motto:
" Fière de son passé,
sûre de son avenir "
(proud of its past, sure of its future)

For more information

Site of the town:
www.villedecambrai.com

e-mail :
mairie@villedecambrai.com

Tourist Office
+33 (0)3 27 78 36 15
located in the "Maison Espagnole" (Spanish House) from the XVIth century.

www.tourisme.fr

Key figures

Cambrai has a population of 34,210 inhabitants.

It is the capital of a district uniting 115 communes within 7 cantons.

Its conurbation consists of 17 towns and 53,975 inhabitants.

Specific characteristics of the town

Cambrai stands for cultural and natural riches: it is a place that is good to live in.
Everything is provided to ensure that everyone can live according to his tastes and desires.
Cambrai has been able to preserve, throughout its centuries-long history, the prestigious marks of a turbulent past.

The XVIth-century "Maison Espagnole", that currently houses the Tourist Office