Cherbourg-Octeville
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Categories: Coastal cities | Communes of Manche | Subprefectures in France | Port cities and towns in France | Ports and harbours of the English Channel | Amalgamated placenames
|
"Cherbourg" redirects here. For the Australian town and Aboriginal Mission, see Cherbourg, Queensland.
Image:N cherbourg.jpg
Napoléon and Marie Louise attending the parade of the squadron in Cherbourg in 1811
Cherbourg-Octeville is a town and commune in Normandy, north-west France. It was formed when the city of Cherbourg absorbed Octeville on February 28, 2000, and was officially renamed Cherbourg-Octeville. Cherbourg holds an arsenal of the French Navy.
GeographyCherbourg-Octeville is situated at the north of the Cotentin Peninsula. It is in the Manche département (of which it is the sous-préfecture) in the Basse-Normandie région. At the time of the 1999 census the city of Cherbourg had an area of 6.91 km² (2.668 sq mi), while the city of Octeville had an area of 7.35 km² (2.838 sq mi). The amalgamated city today has an area of 14.26 km² (5.506 sq mi). DemographicsThe combined population of Cherbourg and Octeville at the 1999 census was 42,318 inhabitants. (Separately, the official numbers were 25,370 for Cherbourg and 16,948 for Octeville.) The population of Cherbourg metropolitan area (the aire urbaine de Cherbourg) at the 1999 census was 117,855 inhabitants. The city is now the second largest in the Basse-Normandie region (after Caen), surpassing Alençon, which had been second before the amalgamation. Also, the city is the largest in the Manche département, although Saint-Lô is the préfecture (capital). HistoryCherbourg-OctevilleThe Cotentin was in fact the first territory conquered by the men from the North, the Vikings. For these sea people, it was logical that Cherbourg should become a port. In the Napoleonic era the harbour was fortified to prevent British naval incursions. Underwater obstructions were sunk at intervals across the harbour entrance, and then progressively replaced with piles of masonried rubble. Works began in 1784 and were not concluded intil 1850, long after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. Cherbourg was the first stop of RMS Titanic after it left Southampton, England. On 19 June 1864, the naval engagement between USS Kearsarge and CSS Alabama took place off Cherbourg. The Battle of Cherbourg, fought in June 1944 following the Normandy Invasion, ended with the capture of Cherbourg on June 30. The Norman language writer Alfred Rossel, was a native of Cherbourg, composed many songs which form part of the heritage of the region. Rossel's song Sus la mé ("on the sea") is often sung as a regional patriotic song, however this contrivutor has yet to actually hear it. The local dialect is known as Cotentinais PeripheryLa Glacerie comes from the French for glass factory. In 1655, Lucas de Néhou built a glass factory which was provided for buildings like Galerie des Glaces and Château de Versailles. The factory in La Glacerie was destroyed by Allied bombardments in 1944. Sites of interestLa Glacerie has a race track. The Cité de la mer is a large museum devoted to scientific and historical aspects of maritime subjects. Cherbourg Basilica:[1] Public Transport and InfrastructureCherbourg-Octeville is a port on the English Channel. Current services
Former services
The city's station is at the end of a railway line built by the Chemins de Fer de l'Ouest from Paris. As well as a main line station there was also the Gare Maritime Transatlantique station. This now forms part of the Cité de la mer. Cherbourg is also at the end of the N13 road from Paris and Caen. The nearest airport is in Maupertus-sur-Mer which is named Cherbourg Maupertus (IATA code: CER, IACO code: LFRC). Cherbourg is twinned with Poole in Dorset, England. See also
ReferencesExternal links
 Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
da:Cherbourg de:Cherbourg-Octeville et:Cherbourg eo:Cherbourg-Octeville fr:Cherbourg-Octeville hi:शैर्बूर it:Cherbourg nl:Cherbourg-Octeville ja:シェルブール no:Cherbourg-Octeville nn:Cherbourg-Octeville nrm:Tchidbouo pl:Cherbourg pt:Cherbourg-Octeville ro:Cherbourg-Octeville ru:Шербур-Октевиль sl:Cherbourg-Octeville fi:Cherbourg-Octeville sv:Cherbourg vi:Cherbourg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![[1]](http://mk37.image.pbase.com/u45/dannyc/large/29336106.IMG_1560.jpg){kind=link}