Langres

History

As the capital of the Romanized Gallic tribe known as the Lingones, it was called Andematunnum, then Lingones, and now Langres.

A hilltop town, Langres was built on a limestone promontory of the same name. This stronghold was originally occupied by the Lingones. At a later date the Romans fortified the town, which they called Andemantunum, located at a strategic crossroads of twelve Roman roads. The first-century Triumphal Gate and the many artefacts exhibited in the museums are remnants of the town's Gallo-Roman history. After the period of invasions, the town prospered in the Middle Ages, due in part to the growing political influence of its bishops. The diocese covered Champagne, the Duchy of Burgundy, and Franche-Comté, and the bishops obtained the right to coin money in the ninth century and to name the military governor of the city in 927. The Bishop of Langres was a duke and peer of France. The troubled 14th and 15th centuries caused the town to strengthen its defenses, which still give the old city its fortified character, and Langres entered a period of royal tutelage. The Renaissance, which returned prosperity to the town, saw the construction of numerous fine civil, religious and military buildings that still stand today. In the 19th century, a "Vauban" citadel was added.

Main sights

Langres has a historic town center surrounded by defensive walls with a dozen towers and seven gates.

The cathedral of Saint-Mammès is a late 12th-century structure dedicated to Mammes of Caesarea, a 3rd-century martyr.

Culture

Langres is home to producers of an AOC-protected cheese of the same name. It is a soft, pungent cow's milk cheese that is known for its rind, which is washed.

The town was long known for its cutlery industry. Didier Diderot, father of encyclopedist Denis, was a cutler.

A museum called the Denis Diderot House of Enlightenment opened in 2013. This museum, set up in a private mansion from the 16th and 18th centuries, is dedicated to the philosopher Denis Diderot.

Housing

In August 2025, the Langres town hall announced the demolition of the Navarre building, better known as the Banane, for September 2025.

Population

|1968 |11001 |1975 |11437 |1982 |10468 |1990 |9987 |1999 |9586 |2007 |8414 |2012 |7905 |2017 |7731

Notable people

Langres was the birthplace of:

• Nicolas Ribonnier (ca.1525–1605), Renaissance architect
• Jeanne Mance (1606–1673), the co-founder of Montreal
• Claude Gillot (1673–1722), painter
• Denis Diderot (1713–1784), the philosopher of the Age of Enlightenment, and the editor-in-chief of the Encyclopédie.
• Étienne Jean Bouchu (1714–1773), metallurgist and Encyclopédiste
• Nicolas Fallet (1746–1801), playwright and journalist
• Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey (1804–1892), photographer and draughtsman
• Jules Violle (1841–1923), physicist and inventor
• Guy Fréquelin (born 1945), rally driver
• Jean Tabourot, who went by the pen name Thoinot Arbeau and wrote Orchésographie, a book on dance and music.

Climate

Located in the north-east quarter of France, Langres is under the influence of both an oceanic climate and a humid continental climate with no dry season. Winters are cold and snowy (33.4 days of snow per year on average) but interspersed with periods of light thaw and summers are mild and even pleasant with average maximum temperatures around 23 C.

|Jan record high C = 14.5 |Feb record high C = 20.4 |Mar record high C = 24.6 |Apr record high C = 26.3 |May record high C = 31.8 |Jun record high C = 35.3 |Jul record high C = 38.8 |Aug record high C = 37.6 |Sep record high C = 33.8 |Oct record high C = 29.2 |Nov record high C = 21.1 |Dec record high C = 15.5 |Jan record low C = -18.1 |Feb record low C = -21.2 |Mar record low C = -13.2 |Apr record low C = -6.6 |May record low C = -2.9 |Jun record low C = 2.5 |Jul record low C = 5.1 |Aug record low C = 5.1 |Sep record low C = 2.1 |Oct record low C = -4.5 |Nov record low C = -10.7 |Dec record low C = -16.4 |access-date=21 November 2024}} | access-date = December 31, 2015}}

International relations

Langres is twinned with:

• UK Beaconsfield, United Kingdom - since 1995
• GER Ellwangen, Germany - since 1964
• ITA Abbiategrasso, Italy

Gallery

File:Langres entry.jpg|Road sign announcing improvements to the Citadel of Langres File:Langres_-cathédrale_Saint-Mammès-façade_2.jpg|Saint-Mammès Cathedral File:Langres-cathédrale_Saint-Mammès-2.jpg|Saint-Mammès Cathedral File:Langres-cathédrale_Saint-Mammès-7.jpg|Saint-Mammès Cathedral File:Langres-cathédrale_Saint-Mammès-8.jpg|Saint-Mammès Cathedral File:Langres-cathédrale_Saint-Mammès-cloitre.jpg|Saint-Mammès Cathedral Cloister File:Cloitre.Langres.png|Saint-Mammès Cathedral Cloister File:Langres-cathédrale_Saint-Mammès-12.jpg|Bas relief at Saint-Mammès Cathedral File:Langres-la_porte_des_Moulins_1.jpg|Moulins Gate File:Langres-la_porte_des_Moulins_2.jpg|Moulins Gate File:Langres-la_porte_des_Moulins_3.jpg|Moulins Gate File:Langres-Remparts_2.jpg|Ramparts of the Citadel File:Langres-Rempats_et_panoramics.jpg|Ramparts and Funicular File:Langres-Tour_Saint-Ferjeux.jpg|Saint-Ferjeux Tower File:Langres-tour_de_Navarre_et_d'Orval.jpg|Navarre and d'Orval Tower File:Langres-tour_de_Navarre_et_d'Orval-30.jpg|Navarre and d'Orval Tower File:Langres-tour_de_Navarre_et_d'Orval-charpente_2.jpg|Navarre and d'Orval Tower ceiling framework File:Langres-tour_de_Navarre_et_d'Orval-cul_de_lampe.jpg|Navarre and d'Orval Tower torch holder File:Langres-tour_de_Navarre_et_d'Orval-cule_de_lampe2.jpg|Navarre and d'Orval Tower torch holder File:Langres-tour_de_Navarre_et_d'Orval-gargouille.jpg|Navarre and d'Orval Tower gargoyle File:Langres-tour_de_Navarre_et_d'Orval-mur_7_metres.jpg|Navarre and d'Orval Tower File:Langres-tour_de_Navarre_et_d'Orval-niveau_inferieur.jpg|Navarre and d'Orval Tower File:Langres-tour_de_Navarre_et_d'Orval-niveau_intermediaire_2.jpg|Navarre and d'Orval Tower File:Langres-tour_de_Navarre_et_d'Orval-puits.jpg|Navarre and d'Orval Tower well File:Langres-tour_de_Navarre_et_d'Orval-voute_3_4.jpg|Navarre and d'Orval Tower vaulted arch File:Langres-Ancien_collège_Jésuite.jpg|Former Jesuit College File:Langres-cave_Maison_Renaissance.jpg|Renaissance cellar File:Ln portehoteldeville 2308.jpg|Entrance to City Hall File:Langres-Denis_Diderot.jpg|Statue of Denis Diderot File:Langres-Maison_Renaissance_2.jpg|Renaissance period mansion File:Langres-maison_renaissance_rue_Saint_Didier.jpg|Renaissance period mansion File:Langres-Square_Claude-Henriot_2.jpg|Henriot Square File:Langres-_église_Saint-Martin_2.jpg|Saint-Martin Church

References

References

1. (13 September 2022). "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises.
2. Génin, M.F.. (1862). "Œuvres choisies de Diderot, précédées de sa vie". Librairie de Firmin Didot Frères, Fils et Compagnie.
3. "Maison des Lumières Denis Diderot {{!}} Musées de Langres - Maison des Lumières Denis Diderot - Musée d'Art et d'Histoire".
4. (2025-08-01). "The nibbling of the Banane will begin in September".
5. [https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-52269#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE
6. "British towns twinned with French towns". Archant Community Media Ltd.