Épinal
The River Moselle
Épinal
Location within Lorraine region  Épinal
Administration
Country	France
Region	Lorraine
Department	Vosges
Arrondissement	Épinal
Canton	Épinal-Est and Épinal-Ouest
Intercommunality	Épinal-Golbey
Mayor	Michel Heinrich (2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation	315–492 m (1,033–1,614 ft) (avg. 340 m or 1,120 ft)
Land area1	59.24 km2 (22.87 sq mi)
Population2	35,814  (2006)
- Density	605 /km2 (1,570 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	88160/ 88000
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.

Coordinates: 48°10′28″N 6°27′04″E / 48.1744°N 6.4512°E / 48.1744; 6.4512

Épinal is a commune in northeastern France and the capital (prefecture) of the Vosges department. Inhabitants are known as Spinaliens.

Geography[link]

The commune has a land area of 59.24 km² (22.873 sq mi). It is situated on the Moselle River, 60 km (37 mi) south of Nancy.

Main sights[link]

The old town centre features the Place des Vosges, the Chapitre district, Saint-Maurice's Basilica, medieval castle remains and the Roman House (11th and 13th centuries). It is also known for its parks and gardens, as well as a large communal forest with arboretum (the Arboretum de la Forêt d'Épinal).

There are major fortifications, extended and maintained until the early 20th century. There is a legend, among the populace of Épinal, that Napoleon's ghost strolls the wall ramparts on 9 September of each year at 5:00 am It was on this day and at this time that, in 1811, Napoleon gave his first and last oration to the city of Épinal, wherein he addressed the challenges posed by northern expansion.

There is an American military cemetery on the outskirts of the town holding the remains of United States service members killed in World War II.

Economy[link]

Épinal is best known for the "Images d'Épinal" – which is now a common expression in French language – the popular prints created by a local company, the Imagerie d'Épinal, formerly known as the Imagerie Pellerin. These stencil-colored woodcuts of military subjects, Napoleonic history, storybook characters and other folk themes were widely distributed throughout the 19th century. The company still exists today, and still uses its hand-operated presses to produce the antique images. Other local industries include textiles, metals, morocco leather, precision instruments, and bicycles. There is a school of textile weaving.

Twin towns[link]

Épinal participates in town twinning to foster good international relations. Its current partners include:

• Bitola, Macedonia
• Chieri, Italy
• Gembloux, Belgium
• La Crosse, United States
• Loughborough, United Kingdom
• Schwäbisch Hall, Germany

See also[link]

• Communes of the Vosges department

References[link]

• INSEE

Épinal from the ruins of the castle

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Épinal

• La place forte d'Epinal 1870 – 1914
• Epinal at LoveToKnow
• Epinal-Tribu Informations about Epinal (in French)
• Epinal-info (in French)
• City council website (in French)
• HoloGuides : Epinal – photos
• Picture of Épinal Basilica

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