Meaux

For other uses, see Meaux (disambiguation).

Meaux
Meaux
Location within Île-de-France region  Meaux
Administration
Country	France
Region	Île-de-France
Department	Seine-et-Marne
Arrondissement	Meaux
Canton	Meaux-Nord and Meaux-Sud
Intercommunality	Pays de Meaux
Mayor	Jean-François Copé (2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation	39–107 m (128–351 ft)
Land area1	14.95 km2 (5.77 sq mi)
Population2	50,673  (2006)
- Density	3,389 /km2 (8,780 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	77284/ 77284
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Meaux (French pronunciation: ​[mo]) is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located 41.1 km (25.5 mi) east-northeast from the center of Paris. Meaux is a sub-prefecture of the department and the seat of an arondissement. Although it is the most populous commune in the Seine-et-Marne, it is not the capital, which is Melun.

Demographics

Inhabitants of Meaux are called Meldois.

Culture

Meaux is known for Brie de Meaux (a variety of Brie cheese) and the local variety of mustard.

A couple of good festivals, venues for live music and exhibitions:"Musée Bossuet", Music Festival "Musik'elles", recording studios/Concert hall/Alternative culture exhibitions: "Eightball Society Studios").

The bishop's palace. Behind the palace can be seen the Meaux Cathedral

Sport

The town is represented by the CS Meaux association football club.

Transport

Meaux is served by Meaux station on the Transilien Paris – Est suburban rail line and on several national rail lines.

People

• Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette French Congresseman (député) and Mayor of Meaux. One of the most trusted aides of George Washington during the US Revolution : he was a General based in Virginia and led French and American troops against British.
• Joop Zoetemelk -cyclist. Zoetemelk and his French wife owned and operated a hotel in Meaux.
• L'aigle de Meaux - fictional character. L'aigle (sometimes known as Bossuet) was a character in Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. In the book, he petitioned for a post office to be created in Meaux.
• Olivier N'Siabamfumu footballer
• Chris Mavinga footballer
• Eric Judor,actor and comedien

• John de Cheam, died and buried here
• Alexis Soyer, celebrated chef in Victorian London, was born here

History

Meaux was the capital of the ancient Gaulish tribe of the Meldi.

Siege of Meaux

The Siege of Meaux was fought in 1422 between the English, under Henry V, and the French during the Hundred Years' War. The town's defence was led by the Bastard of Vaurus, by all accounts cruel and evil, but a brave commander all the same. The siege commenced in October and mining and bombardment soon brought down the walls. Casualties began to mount in the English army, including John Clifford, 7th Baron de Clifford who had been at the siege of Harfleur, the Battle of Agincourt, and received the surrender of Cherbourg. The English also began to fall sick rather early into the siege, and it is estimated that one sixteenth of the besiegers died from dysentery and smallpox. On 9 March 1422, the town surrendered, although the garrison held out. Under continued bombardment, the garrison gave in as well on 10 March, following a siege of 8 months. The Bastard of Vaurus was decapitated, as was a trumpeter named Orace, who had once mocked King Henry. Sir John Fortescue was then installed as English Captain of Meaux Castle.

See also

• Count of Meaux
• Diocese of Meaux
• Meaux Abbey (UK) (map)
• Battle of Mello
• Brie (cheese)
• Communes of the Seine-et-Marne department

References

• INSEE

External links

• Official website (French)
• Pictures of Meaux Cathedral:[1], [2], [3]
• 2003 Land Use, from IAU ÎdF (Institute for Urban Planning and Development of the Paris-Île-de-France région (French)
• French Ministry of Culture list for Meaux (French)

Bibliography

• Patrice CROISY : Bibliographie de Meaux (Meaux, 2006–2009). This database includes over 8 000 articles and books on Meaux and neighbourhood. Some of them are in English.