Aisne
Aisne ( , ; ; pcd, Ainne) is a French department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It is named after the river Aisne. In 2019, it had a population of 531,345.department in
Hauts-de-France
Hauts-de-France (; pcd, Heuts-d'Franche; , also ''Upper France'') is the northernmost region of France, created by the territorial reform of French regions in 2014, from a merger of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy. Its prefecture is Lille. The ...
in northern
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
.
History
There has been a settlement on the site, more or less continuously, since at least the Carolingian era. Known variously as Calgny, Cauny, Canni, Calni or as Chaulni. In Latin, contemporary chroniclers and historians such as Flodoard, Guibert de Noyon/Nogent used at least 13 different names when referring to it; such as Calnacum, Calniacum, Cauniacum, Calviniacum and Channiacum.
The town was occupied by German forces for part of World War I, and was close to the front lines for much of the war. It was extensively destroyed during the process of its recapture by Allied forces in 1917. It is disputed whether, or to what degree, the destruction was caused by Allied bombardments, aerial and artillery, versus demolition by retreating Germans.
The community was rebuilt after that war, largely in a traditional French "châteaux" style; in particular the municipal buildings, done in red brick with stonework. Most of the existing structures date from this time, or later; especially those in the town centre.
During World War II, a chemical factory in the town was bombed by Allied aircraft, on 8 August 1944. This was completed as part of an attack on industrial infrastructure. The town was liberated by American forces on 2 September 1944.
Geography
Built on the banks of the
Oise
Oise ( ; ; pcd, Oése) is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise. Inhabitants of the department are called ''Oisiens'' () or ''Isariens'', after the Latin name for the river, Isara. It had a population of 829,41 ...
and the Saint-Quentin canal, the town still retains its port to this day. Chauny is roughly equal distances from
Soissons
Soissons () is a commune in the northern French department of Aisne, in the region of Hauts-de-France. Located on the river Aisne, about northeast of Paris, it is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital o ...
(34 km),
Laon
Laon () is a city in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
History
Early history
The holy district of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held strategic importance. ...
(36 km) and
Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin (; pcd, Saint-Kintin; nl, label=older Dutch, Sint-Kwintens ) is a city in the Aisne department, Hauts-de-France, northern France. It has been identified as the ''Augusta Veromanduorum'' of antiquity. It is named after Saint ...
(30 km) and is right at the heart of Picardy.
Chauny is well linked to the rest of the region by road : close to the A26 and A29 motorways which head towards Saint Quentin. The national airports in Paris are an hour by car.
The town is served by an important railway network and the railway line has passed through the town since 1849. The railway station in Chauny is part of the Paris - St Quentin -
Maubeuge
Maubeuge (; historical nl, Mabuse or nl, Malbode; pcd, Maubeuche) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.
It is situated on both banks of the Sambre (here canalized), east of Valenciennes and about from the Belgian bord ...
line, and is well serviced by Corail and TER trains towards Paris, Compiègne and Saint Quentin. The station was re built after the war to plans by
Urbain Cassan
Urbain is a name of French origin which may refer to:
;Family name
* Achille Urbain (1884–1957), French biologist
* Georges Urbain (1872–1938), French chemist
* Ismael Urbain (1812–1884), French journalist and interpreter
* Jacques Urbain, ...
.
The Saint-Quentin canal was built as a junction between the Somme and the Oise in 1738, is popular with barges.
A very modern theatre often shows cultural exhibitions and performances. Close by are the forests of Saint-Gobain and Coucy Basse.
Schools
The town today has three collèges and four lycées: there is a scientific, technical and professional lycée,
Jean Macé
Jean François Macé (22 August 1815 in Paris – 13 December 1894 in Monthiers) was a French educator, journalist, active freemason and politician. He was perhaps best known as the founder of Ligue de l'enseignement to promote free, univers ...
, a general and technical lycée, Gay-Lussac, a private lycée, Saint-Charles, and a private agricultural lycée,
Robert Schuman
Jean-Baptiste Nicolas Robert Schuman (; 29 June 18864 September 1963) was a Luxembourg-born French statesman. Schuman was a Christian Democrat ( Popular Republican Movement) political thinker and activist. Twice Prime Minister of France, a re ...
Andenne
Andenne (; wa, Andene) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Namur, Belgium.
On January 1, 2006, Andenne had a total population of 25,240. The total area is 86.17 km² which gives a population density of 292 ...
Chauny, Aisne. Ruines de l'Hotel de Ville et du Palais de Justice.Comité des Étudiants Américains de l'École des Beaux-Arts Paris.post card numbered 31504. Wittig collection.item 55.obverse.scan.01 (cropped).jpg, A view of the downtown in ruins on 20 August 1917 showing the destroyed Hôtel de Ville and Palais de Justice, among other core buildings; as shown on a war-charity art postcard painted by A. B. Denvil.
CAP 10 pour Lacour - CHAUNY - Boulevard Gambetta.jpg, The rebuilt downtown including the new Palais de Justice, circa 1930s
Chauny - Rue de la Chaussée.jpg, View of downtown in the 1930s
Chauny Hôtel de Ville.JPG, The town square during a festival, with the "new" Hôtel de Ville
Chauny (Aisne) la gare (01).JPG, Train station
Chauny (Aisne) église Notre-Dame.JPG, Église Notre-Dame de Chauny
Chauny (Aisne) église Saint-Martin (01).JPG, Église Saint-Martin de Chauny
Map commune FR insee code 02173.png, A basic map of Chauny and the surrounding area