Laon
View from the railway station, with the cathedral in the background
Laon
Administration
Country	France
Region	Picardy
Department	Aisne
Arrondissement	Laon
Intercommunality	Laon
Mayor	Antoine Lefèvre (2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation	63–183 m (207–600 ft) (avg. 83 m or 272 ft)
Land area1	42.00 km2 (16.22 sq mi)
Population2	26,175  (2008)
- Density	623 /km2 (1,610 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	02408/ 02000
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: 49°33′50″N 3°37′28″E / 49.5639°N 3.6244°E / 49.5639; 3.6244

Laon (French pronunciation: [lɑ̃]) is the capital city of the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.

History[link]

Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Laon

The hilly district of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain,^[1] has always held strategic importance. In the time of Julius Caesar there was a Gallic village named Bibrax where the Remis (inhabitants of the country round Reims) had to meet the onset of the confederated Belgae^[2]. Whatever may have been the precise locality of that battlefield, Laon was fortified by the Romans, and successively checked the invasions of the Franks, Burgundians, Vandals, Alans and Huns. At that time it was known as Alaudanum or Lugdunum Clavatum.

Remigius, archbishop of Reims, who baptised Clovis, was born in the Laonnais, and it was he who, at the end of the fifth century, instituted the bishopric of Laon. Thenceforward Laon was one of the principal towns of the kingdom of the Franks, and the possession of it was often disputed. Charles the Bald had enriched its church with the gift of very numerous domains. About 847 the Irish philosopher John Scotus Eriugena appeared at the court of Charles the Bald, and was appointed head of the palace school. Eriugena spent the rest of his days in France, probably at Paris and Laon. ^[3] After the fall of the Carolingians Laon took the part of Charles of Lorraine, their heir, and Hugh Capet only succeeded in making himself master of the town by the connivance of the bishop, who, in return for this service, was made second ecclesiastical peer of the kingdom.

Early in the twelfth century the communes of France set about emancipating themselves, and the history of the commune of Laon is one of the richest and most varied. The citizens had profited by a temporary absence of Bishop Gaudry to secure from his representatives a communal charter, but he, on his return, purchased from the king of France the revocation of this document, and recommenced his oppressions. The consequence was a revolt, in which the episcopal palace was burnt and the bishop and several of his partisans were put to death on 25 April 1112 . The fire spread to the cathedral, and reduced it to ashes. Uneasy at the result of their victory, the rioters went into hiding outside the town, which was anew pillaged by the people of the neighbourhood, eager to avenge the death of their bishop.

The king alternately intervened in favour of the bishop and of the inhabitants till 1239. After that date the liberties of Laon were no more contested till 1331, when the commune was abolished. During the Hundred Years' War it was attacked and taken by the Burgundians, who gave it up to the English, to be retaken by the French after the consecration of Charles VII. Under the League, Laon took the part of the Leaguers, and was taken by Henry IV.

At the Revolution Laon permanently lost its rank as a bishopric. During the campaign of 1814, Napoleon tried in vain to dislodge Blücher and Bülow from it in the Battle of Laon.^[4]

In 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, an engineer blew up the powder magazine of the citadel at the moment when the German troops were entering the town. Many lives were lost; and the cathedral and the old episcopal palace were damaged. It surrendered to a German force on September 9, 1870.^[4]

In the fall of 1914, during World War I, German forces captured the town and held it until the Allied offensive in the summer of 1918.^[4]

Population[link]

Main sights[link]

Rue Châtelaine.

View from the upper town.

The city contains numerous medieval buildings, including the cathedral Notre-Dame of Laon, dating mostly from the 12th and 13th centuries. The chapter-house and the cloister contain specimens of the architecture of the beginning of the 13th century. The old episcopal palace, contiguous to the cathedral, is now used as a court-house. The front, flanked by turrets, is pierced by large pointed windows. There is also a Gothic cloister and an old chapel of two storeys, of a date anterior to the cathedral.

The church of St Martin dates from the middle of the 12th century. The old abbey buildings of the same foundation are now used as the hospital. The museum of Laon had collections of sculpture and painting. In its garden there is a chapel of the Templars belonging to the 12th century. The church of the suburb of Vaux near the railway station dates from the 11th and 12th centuries.

Transportation[link]

Laon station from the upper town

The town has the only fully automated municipal cable car system in the world, called the Poma 2000. It links the upper town (the historical centre, located on a plateau) with the lower town, has three stations and runs on rubber tyres. In contrast, the San Francisco cable car system is manually operated, and all the other automated cable car systems have restricted operations within airports and hospitals.

TUL operates the local bus routes.

International relations[link]

Laon is twinned with:

• Soltau, Germany (since 1972)
• Winchester, United Kingdom^[5]

Personalities[link]

Laon was the birthplace of:

• Bertrada of Laon (690–721 CE), mother of Charlemagne
• Anselm of Laon (d. 1117), theologian
• Jacques Marquette, (1636–1675), Jesuit missionary
• Pierre Méchain (1744–1804), French astronomer
• Jules François Felix Fleury-Husson (1820–1889) Author and art and literary critic (Known as Champfleury)
• Florent Raimy, footballer

Media[link]

Laon is featured in the book Pursuit of Passy by D. M. Crook.

References[link]

• INSEE

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Laon

• (English) Unofficial site
• Official site

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Chamouille Champs Chaourse La Chapelle-Monthodon La Chapelle-sur-Chézy Charly-sur-Marne Le Charmel Charmes Chartèves Chassemy Château-Thierry Châtillon-lès-Sons Châtillon-sur-Oise Chaudardes Chaudun Chauny Chavignon Chavigny Chavonne Chérêt Chermizy-Ailles Chéry-Chartreuve Chéry-lès-Pouilly Chéry-lès-Rozoy Chevennes Chevregny Chevresis-Monceau Chézy-en-Orxois Chézy-sur-Marne Chierry Chigny Chivres-en-Laonnois Chivres-Val Chivy-lès-Étouvelles Chouy Cierges Cilly Ciry-Salsogne Clacy-et-Thierret Clairfontaine Clamecy Clastres Clermont-les-Fermes Cœuvres-et-Valsery Coincy Coingt Colligis-Crandelain Colonfay Commenchon Concevreux Condé-en-Brie Condé-sur-Aisne Condé-sur-Suippe Condren Connigis Contescourt Corbeny Corcy Coucy-la-Ville Coucy-le-Château-Auffrique Coucy-lès-Eppes Coulonges-Cohan Coupru Courbes Courboin Courcelles-sur-Vesle Courchamps Courmelles Courmont Courtemont-Varennes Courtrizy-et-Fussigny Couvrelles Couvron-et-Aumencourt Coyolles Cramaille Craonne Craonnelle Crécy-au-Mont 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Fossoy Fourdrain Francilly-Selency Franqueville Fresnes Fresnes-en-Tardenois Fresnoy-le-Grand Fressancourt Frières-Faillouël Froidestrées Froidmont-Cohartille Gandelu Gauchy Gercy Gergny Germaine Gernicourt Gibercourt Gizy Gland Glennes Goudelancourt-lès-Berrieux Goudelancourt-lès-Pierrepont Goussancourt Gouy Grandlup-et-Fay Grandrieux Grand-Rozoy Grand-Verly Gricourt Grisolles Gronard Grougis Grugies Guignicourt Guise Guivry Guny Guyencourt Hannapes Happencourt Haramont Harcigny Hargicourt Harly Hartennes-et-Taux Hary Hautevesnes Hauteville Haution La Hérie Le Hérie-la-Viéville Hinacourt Hirson Holnon Homblières Houry Housset Iron Itancourt Iviers Jaulgonne Jeancourt Jeantes Joncourt Jouaignes Jumencourt Jumigny Jussy Juvigny Juvincourt-et-Damary Laffaux Laigny Lanchy Landifay-et-Bertaignemont Landouzy-la-Cour Landouzy-la-Ville Landricourt Laniscourt Laon Lappion Largny-sur-Automne Latilly Launoy Laval-en-Laonnois Lavaqueresse Laversine Lehaucourt Lemé Lempire Lerzy Leschelle Lesdins Lesges Lesquielles-Saint-Germain Leuilly-sous-Coucy Leury Leuze Levergies Lhuys Licy-Clignon Lierval Liesse-Notre-Dame Liez Limé Lislet Lizy Logny-lès-Aubenton Longpont Longueval-Barbonval Lor Louâtre Loupeigne Lucy-le-Bocage Lugny Luzoir Ly-Fontaine Maast-et-Violaine Mâchecourt Macogny Macquigny Magny-la-Fosse Maissemy Maizy La Malmaison Malzy Manicamp Marchais Marchais-en-Brie Marcy Marcy-sous-Marle Marest-Dampcourt Mareuil-en-Dôle Marfontaine Margival Marigny-en-Orxois Marizy-Sainte-Geneviève Marizy-Saint-Mard Marle Marly-Gomont Martigny Martigny-Courpierre Mauregny-en-Haye Mayot Mennessis Menneville Mennevret Mercin-et-Vaux Merlieux-et-Fouquerolles Merval Mesbrecourt-Richecourt Mesnil-Saint-Laurent Meurival Mézières-sur-Oise Mézy-Moulins Missy-aux-Bois Missy-lès-Pierrepont Missy-sur-Aisne Molain Molinchart Monampteuil Monceau-le-Neuf-et-Faucouzy Monceau-lès-Leups Monceau-le-Waast Monceau-sur-Oise Mondrepuis Monnes Mons-en-Laonnois Montaigu Montbavin Montbrehain Montchâlons Montcornet Mont-d'Origny Montescourt-Lizerolles Montfaucon Montgobert Montgru-Saint-Hilaire Monthenault Monthiers Monthurel Montigny-en-Arrouaise Montigny-l'Allier Montigny-le-Franc Montigny-Lengrain Montigny-lès-Condé Montigny-sous-Marle Montigny-sur-Crécy Montlevon Montloué Mont-Notre-Dame Montreuil-aux-Lions Mont-Saint-Jean Mont-Saint-Martin Mont-Saint-Père Morcourt Morgny-en-Thiérache Morsain Mortefontaine Mortiers Moulins Moussy-Verneuil Moÿ-de-l'Aisne Muret-et-Crouttes Muscourt Nampcelles-la-Cour Nampteuil-sous-Muret Nanteuil-la-Fosse Nanteuil-Notre-Dame Nauroy Nesles-la-Montagne Neufchâtel-sur-Aisne Neuflieux Neuilly-Saint-Front Neuve-Maison La Neuville-Bosmont La Neuville-en-Beine La Neuville-Housset La Neuville-lès-Dorengt Neuville-Saint-Amand Neuville-sur-Ailette Neuville-sur-Margival Neuvillette Nizy-le-Comte Nogentel Nogent-l'Artaud Noircourt Noroy-sur-Ourcq Le Nouvion-en-Thiérache Nouvion-et-Catillon Nouvion-le-Comte Nouvion-le-Vineux Nouvron-Vingré Noyales Noyant-et-Aconin Œuilly Ognes Ohis Oigny-en-Valois Oisy Ollezy Omissy Orainville Orgeval Origny-en-Thiérache Origny-Sainte-Benoite Osly-Courtil Ostel Oulches-la-Vallée-Foulon Oulchy-la-Ville Oulchy-le-Château Paars Paissy Pancy-Courtecon Papleux Parcy-et-Tigny Parfondeval Parfondru Pargnan Pargny-Filain Pargny-la-Dhuys Pargny-les-Bois Parpeville Pasly Passy-en-Valois Passy-sur-Marne Pavant Perles Pernant Petit-Verly Pierremande Pierrepont Pignicourt Pinon Pithon Pleine-Selve Le Plessier-Huleu Ploisy Plomion Ployart-et-Vaurseine Pommiers Pont-Arcy Pontavert Pontru Pontruet Pont-Saint-Mard Pouilly-sur-Serre Prémont Prémontré Presles-et-Boves Presles-et-Thierny Priez Prisces Proisy Proix Prouvais Proviseux-et-Plesnoy Puiseux-en-Retz Puisieux-et-Clanlieu Quierzy Quincy-Basse Quincy-sous-le-Mont Raillimont Ramicourt Regny Remaucourt Remies Remigny Renansart Renneval Résigny Ressons-le-Long Retheuil Reuilly-Sauvigny Révillon Ribeauville Ribemont Rocourt-Saint-Martin Rocquigny Rogécourt Rogny Romeny-sur-Marne Romery Ronchères Roucy Rougeries Roupy Rouvroy Rouvroy-sur-Serre Royaucourt-et-Chailvet Rozet-Saint-Albin Rozières-sur-Crise Rozoy-Bellevalle Rozoy-sur-Serre Saconin-et-Breuil Sains-Richaumont Saint-Agnan Saint-Algis Saint-Aubin Saint-Bandry Saint-Christophe-à-Berry Saint-Clément Sainte-Croix Sainte-Geneviève Sainte-Preuve Saint-Erme-Outre-et-Ramecourt Saint-Eugène Saint-Gengoulph Saint-Gobain Saint-Gobert Saint-Mard Saint-Martin-Rivière Saint-Michel Saint-Nicolas-aux-Bois Saint-Paul-aux-Bois Saint-Pierre-Aigle Saint-Pierre-lès-Franqueville Saint-Pierremont Saint-Quentin Saint-Rémy-Blanzy Saint-Simon Saint-Thibaut Saint-Thomas Samoussy Sancy-les-Cheminots Saponay Saulchery Savy Seboncourt Selens La Selve Septmonts Septvaux Sequehart Serain Seraucourt-le-Grand Serches Sergy Seringes-et-Nesles Sermoise Servais Serval Séry-lès-Mézières Silly-la-Poterie Sinceny Sissonne Sissy Soissons Soize Sommelans Sommeron Sommette-Eaucourt Sons-et-Ronchères Sorbais Soucy Soupir Le Sourd Surfontaine Suzy Taillefontaine Tannières Tartiers Tavaux-et-Pontséricourt Tergnier Terny-Sorny Thenailles Thenelles Thiernu Le Thuel Torcy-en-Valois Toulis-et-Attencourt Travecy Trefcon Trélou-sur-Marne Troësnes Trosly-Loire Trucy Tugny-et-Pont Tupigny Ugny-le-Gay Urcel Urvillers Vadencourt Vailly-sur-Aisne La Vallée-au-Blé La Vallée-Mulâtre Variscourt Vassens Vasseny Vassogne Vaucelles-et-Beffecourt Vaudesson Vauxaillon Vaux-Andigny Vauxbuin Vauxcéré Vaux-en-Vermandois Vauxrezis Vauxtin Vendelles Vendeuil Vendhuile Vendières Vendresse-Beaulne Vénérolles Venizel Verdilly Le Verguier Vermand Verneuil-sous-Coucy Verneuil-sur-Serre Versigny Vervins Vesles-et-Caumont Veslud Veuilly-la-Poterie Vézaponin Vézilly Vichel-Nanteuil Vic-sur-Aisne Viel-Arcy Viels-Maisons Vierzy Viffort Vigneux-Hocquet La Ville-aux-Bois-lès-Dizy La Ville-aux-Bois-lès-Pontavert Villemontoire Villeneuve-Saint-Germain Villeneuve-sur-Fère Villequier-Aumont Villeret Villers-Agron-Aiguizy Villers-Cotterêts Villers-en-Prayères Villers-Hélon Villers-le-Sec Villers-lès-Guise Villers-Saint-Christophe Villers-sur-Fère Ville-Savoye Villiers-Saint-Denis Vincy-Reuil-et-Magny Viry-Noureuil Vivaise Vivières Voharies Vorges Voulpaix Voyenne Vregny Vuillery Wassigny Watigny Wiège-Faty Wimy Wissignicourt