Pontoise () is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris, in the "

new town New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

" of Cergy-Pontoise.

Administration

Pontoise is the official '' préfecture'' (capital) of the Val-d'Oise '' département'', although in reality the ''préfecture'' building and administration, as well as the department council (''conseil général''), are located in the neighboring commune of Cergy, which is regarded as the ''de facto'' capital of Val-d'Oise. Pontoise is also the seat of the Arrondissement of Pontoise. The ''

sous-préfecture A subprefecture is an administrative division of a country that is below prefecture or province. Albania There are twelve Albanian counties or prefectures, each of which is divided into several districts, sometimes translated as subprefecture ...

'' building and administration, unlike the ''préfecture'', are located inside the commune of Pontoise.

Sister cities

The city of Pontoise has three sister city relationships with: *

Böblingen Böblingen (; Swabian German, Swabian: ''Beblenga'') is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, seat of Böblingen (district), Böblingen District. Sindelfingen and Böblingen are Geographic contiguity, contiguous. History Böblingen was found ...

, Germany since 1956 * Sevenoaks, United Kingdom since 1964 *

Geleen Geleen (; li, Gelaen ) is a city in the southern part of the province of Limburg (Netherlands), Limburg in the Netherlands. With 31,670 inhabitants in 2020, it is part of the municipality of Sittard-Geleen. Geleen is situated along the river Gele ...

, Netherlands since 1962

Security

Known for being a violent city in the late 20th century, with a criminal rate of 137.62 incidents per 1000 inhabitants, Cergy-Pontoise has enjoyed a significant decrease in violence in the first decade of the 21st century. By 2008, the rate had declined to 99.87, although this is still considered high. That rate has continued to decline in the second decade.

History

Pontoise is the historical capital of the Vexin français. Its foundation dates from Roman times (''Pontisara''). At that time, the rock peak overhanging the river Oise supported the defense of the fort which was on the

Roman road Roman roads ( la, viae Romanae ; singular: ; meaning "Roman way") were physical infrastructure vital to the maintenance and development of the Roman state, and were built from about 300 BC through the expansion and consolidation of the Roman Re ...

, the

Chaussée Jules César Chaussée Jules César was a Roman road linking Lutetia (Paris) and Rotamagus (Rouen). The road's construction was initiated by the Roman governor Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. Linking two important cities of Roman Empire in Gaul, the road possessed inn ...

, between '' Lutetia'' ( Paris) and ''Rotomagus'' (

Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine in northern France. It is the prefecture of the Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one of ...

). The road still exists and is now part of the N14 from Paris to Rouen. It is also known to many people as the birthplace of the alchemist Nicholas Flamel. With an over 2,000 year legacy, Pontoise still has vestiges of the past, such as medieval lanes, convents, churches and museums, and was awarded the "City of Art and History Label" in 2006. The impressionist painter Camille Pissarro made it famous through many paintings which are present nowadays in the most famous art galleries in the world.

Climate

Pontoise has a

oceanic climate An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ( ...

( Köppen climate classification ''Cfb''). The average annual temperature in Pontoise is . The average annual rainfall is with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around , and lowest in January, at around . The highest temperature ever recorded in Pontoise was on 1 July 2015; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 1 January 1997.

Demographics

Immigration

Transport

Pontoise is served by Pontoise station, a terminus on Paris RER line C and an intermediate terminus for suburban trains originating from

Gare Saint-Lazare The Gare Saint-Lazare (English: St Lazarus station), officially Paris-Saint-Lazare, is one of the six large mainline railway station termini in Paris, France. It serves train services toward Normandy, northwest of Paris, along the Paris–Le Hav ...

as well as a terminus for suburban trains from

Gare du Nord The Gare du Nord (; English: ''station of the North'' or ''Northern Station''), officially Paris-Nord, is one of the six large mainline railway station termini in Paris, France. The station accommodates the trains that run between the capital ...

. Some trains originating at

continue onto Gisors. For bus services, Stivo (formerly Services des Transports de l'Agglomération Nouvelle) operates within the

of Cergy-Pontoise, and in and around Pontoise, with transport interchanges situated Place Charles de Gaulle and Parking Canrobert.

Pontoise – Cormeilles Aerodrome Pontoise Aerodrome or Pontoise – Cormeilles Aerodrome (french: Aérodrome de Pontoise - Cormeilles) is an airport located northwest of Pontoise in Boissy l'Aillerie near Cormeilles-en-Vexin, all communes of the Val-d'Oise department in the � ...

is the area airport.

Education

Public preschool through elementary schools include:Les établissements scolaires
" Pontoise. Retrieved on6 September 2016. *Seven preschools (maternelles''): des Cordeliers, Eugène-Ducher, de l'Hermitage, Laris, Ludovic-Piette, Jean-Moulin, Parc-aux-Charettes *Two primary schools: École primaire Gustave-Loiseau and École primaire des Maradas *Seven elementary schools (''élémentaires''): Paul-Cézanne, Eugène-Ducher, de l'Hermitage, des Larris, Jean-Moulin, Ludovic-Piette, Parc-aux-Charrettes Public senior high schools/sixth-form colleges: *

Lycée Camille Pissarro Pontoise In France, secondary education is in two stages: * ''Collèges'' () cater for the first four years of secondary education from the ages of 11 to 15. * ''Lycées'' () provide a three-year course of further secondary education for children between ...

Lycée Alfred Kastler de Cergy-Pontoise Lycée Alfred Kastler de Cergy-Pontoise is a senior high school located in Pontoise, Val-d'Oise, France, in the Paris metropolitan area, serving both Pontoise and Cergy.CergyCollèges et lycées
" Cergy. Retrieved 6 September 2016. "Lycée polyvalent A. Kastler ..6 avenue de la Palette, sur la commune de Pontoise " There are also six private schools:

École Saint-Martin-de-France École may refer to: * an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée) * École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France * École, Savoi ...

(up to senior high school), École "Ella", École Saint-Louis, Établissement Vauban, Notre-Dame-de-la-Compassion (junior and senior high school)

Culture

Pontoise is one of the capitals of the

impressionist Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...

movement. Many painters took as a starting point the city and its area for the creation of landscapes.

Camille Pissarro Jacob Abraham Camille Pissarro ( , ; 10 July 1830 – 13 November 1903) was a Danish-French Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist painter born on the island of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, St Thomas (now in the US Virgin Islands, but t ...

lived there for seventeen years. Other artists lived or worked in the area such as Vincent van Gogh (

Auvers-sur-Oise Auvers-sur-Oise (, literally ''Auvers on Oise'') is a commune in the department of Val-d'Oise, on the northwestern outskirts of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. It is associated with several famous artists, the most promine ...

Paul Cézanne Paul Cézanne ( , , ; ; 19 January 1839 – 22 October 1906) was a French artist and Post-Impressionism, Post-Impressionist painter whose work laid the foundations of the transition from the 19th-century conception of artistic endeavour to a ...

, Paul Gauguin,

Charles-François Daubigny Charles-François Daubigny ( , , ; 15 February 181719 February 1878) was a French painter, one of the members of the Barbizon school, and is considered an important precursor of impressionism. He was also a prolific printmaker, mostly in etchin ...

Gustave Caillebotte Gustave Caillebotte (; 19 August 1848 – 21 February 1894) was a French painter who was a member and patron of the Impressionists, although he painted in a more realistic manner than many others in the group. Caillebotte was known for his early ...

Gustave Loiseau Gustave Loiseau (3 October 1865 – 10 October 1935) was a French Post-Impressionist painter, remembered above all for his landscapes and scenes of Paris streets.

, etc.

Main sights

Cathédrale Saint-Maclou de Pontoise Pontoise Cathedral (french: Cathédrale Saint-Maclou de Pontoise) is a Roman Catholic Church (building), church located in the town of Pontoise, on the outskirts of Val d'Oise in Paris, France. The cathedral, dedicated to Saint Maclovius otherwise ...

. It was built in the 12th century and reconstructed and enlarged in the 15th and 16th centuries. The tower, as well as the central portal, is in flamboyant style. The central body is flanked by Renaissance additions. The remaining 12th century part of the cathedral is to the back. To the North of the building is a Renaissance portal. * Musée de Pontoise (Musée Tavet-Delacour). The museum houses sculptures from the Middle Ages, manuscripts from the seventeenth century and paintings from the twentieth century * Musée Pissarro (

Impressionist Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...

collections) and garden of the five senses. The Museum is situated in a

bourgeoise The bourgeoisie ( , ) is a social class, equivalent to the middle or upper middle class. They are distinguished from, and traditionally contrasted with, the proletariat by their affluence, and their great cultural and financial capital. T ...

house at the entrance of the old castle.

Parks and recreation

Parks: *Le Jardin de la Ville *Le Parc des Larris *Le jardin partagé de Marcouville *Le Jardin des Cinq Sens *Le Parc du Château de Marcouville *Les jardins et la terrasse basse du Dôme *Le Jardin des Lavandières *Plaines de jeux

Notable people

* Sébastien Carole (b. 1982), footballer *

Yarouba Cissako Yarouba Cissako (born 8 January 1995) is a French professional footballer who plays as a right-back. Club career Cissako is a product of AS Monaco's academy. During the 2014–15 season, he played on loan for Belgian side Zulte Waregem in the B ...

, footballer *

Koumba Cisse Koumba is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Jean Koumba (born 1983), basketball player from the Republic of the Congo *Justin Koumba (born 1947), Congolese politician See also *Tales of Amadou Koumba ''Tales of Amadou Koumba' ...

handball player *

Nicolas Flamel Nicolas Flamel (; 1330 – 22 March 1418) was a French scribe and manuscript-seller. After his death, Flamel developed a reputation as an alchemist believed to have created and discovered the philosopher's stone and to have thereby achieved im ...

(c. 1340-1418), reputed alchemist, probably born here * Jérémy Labor (b. 1992), footballer *

Christophe Lebon Christophe Lebon (born 8 November 1982) is a French swimmer who specialises in the 100 meter butterfly and the 200 meter butterfly. Lebon competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olym ...

(b. 1982), swimmer *

Luc Loubaki Luc Arnaud Loubaki (born January 20, 1997 in Pontoise) is a French professional basketball player for Lille Métropole of the LNB Pro B. Professional career Having come through the youth ranks of Entente Cergy-Osny-Pontoise, Loubaki joined the ...

, basketball player *

Édouard-Alfred Martel Édouard-Alfred Martel (1 July 1859, Pontoise, Val-d'Oise – 3 June 1938, Montbrison), the 'father of modern speleology', was a world pioneer of cave exploration, study, and documentation. Martel explored thousands of caves in his native Franc ...

(1859-1938), Father of modern speleology *

Guiday Mendy Guiday Mendy (born May 18, 1986 in Pontoise, 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 Americ ...

(b. 1986), basketball player *

Aly Ndom Aly Ndom (born 30 May 1996) is a French professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Canadian Premier League club Pacific FC. Career Reims Ndom helped Reims win the 2017–18 Ligue 2, helping promote them to the Ligue 1 for the 2018– ...

, footballer *

, painter *

Yoann Rapinier Yoann Rapinier (born 29 September 1989 in Pontoise, France) is a French triple jumper of Martiniquan Martinique ( , ; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and an overseas department/region and single ...

, athlete *

Jacques Vallée Jacques Fabrice Vallée (; born September 24, 1939) is an Internet pioneer, computer scientist, venture capitalist, author, ufologist and astronomer currently residing in San Francisco, California and Paris, France. His scientific career began ...

, author, ufologist and former astronomer * Jean-Éric Vergne, former Formula One driver currently competing in Formula E * St

William of Pontoise William of Pontoise was a Benedictine hermit. He lived at Pontoise, France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and t ...

, hermit * Rabbi Moses of Pontoise, 12th-century disciple of Rabbeinu Tam and mentioned in several Tosafot. * Moussa Dembélé (French footballer), footballer *

Liza del Sierra Liza del Sierra (also spelled Del Sierra, born 30 August 1985) is a French pornographic actress, film director and producer. Biography Del Sierra was born Émilie Delaunay in Pontoise, in the Parisian region. She later grew up mostly in Bordeau ...

, pornographic actress. * A famous religious sister, Blessed Marie de l'Incarnation (1566-1618), formerly known as Madame Acarie, the foundress of the Reformed Carmelites in France, lived, died and was buried here in the Carmelite Monastery. *

(d. 1192), medieval Benedictine *

Yacine Qasmi Yacine Qasmi ( ar, ياسين قاسمي; born 3 January 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Spanish club CD Leganés. Born in France, he represented Morocco at youth international level. After one substitute appeara ...

, moroccan footballer

References

External links

Pontoise official websiteTourism in Pontoise
{{Authority control Communes of Val-d'Oise Subprefectures in France Cergy-Pontoise Val-d'Oise communes articles needing translation from French Wikipedia