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Charleville-Mézières

Charleville-Mézières
Place Ducale
Place Ducale
Coat of arms of Charleville-Mézières
Coat of arms
Charleville-Mézières is located in France
Charleville-Mézières
Charleville-Mézières
Coordinates: 49°46′19″N 4°42′58″E / 49.7719°N 4.7161°E / 49.7719; 4.7161Coordinates: 49°46′19″N 4°42′58″E / 49.7719°N 4.7161°E / 49.7719; 4.7161
Country France
Region Grand Est
Department Ardennes
Arrondissement Charleville-Mézières
Intercommunality Cœur d'Ardenne
Government
 • Mayor (2014–2020) Boris Ravignon
Area1 31.44 km2 (12.14 sq mi)
Population (2009)2 49,975
 • Density 1,600/km2 (4,100/sq mi)
Demonym(s) French: Carolomacérien
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 08105 / 08000
Elevation 133–323 m (436–1,060 ft)
(avg. 148 m or 486 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Charleville-Mézières (French pronunciation: ​[ʃaʁ.lə.vil.me.zjɛʁ]) is a commune in northern France, capital of the Ardennes department in the Grand Est region. Charleville-Mézières is located on the banks of the Meuse River.

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

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 Chatellerault. 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 theater, a large public library, and a museum of natural history.

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


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