Beauvais is a city and commune in northern France. It serves as the capital of the Oise département, in the Hauts-de-France region. Beauvais is located approximately 75 kilometres (47 miles) North of Paris. The residents of the city are called Beauvaisiens.
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Region | Hauts-de-France |
| Department | Oise |
| Mayor (2020–2026) | Caroline Cayeux |
| Area1 | 33.31 km2 (12.86 sq mi) |
| Population (2017-01-01) | 56,254 |
| Density | 1,700/km2 (4,400/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
The municipality (commune) of Beauvais has a population of 56,020 as of 2016, population estimate from the Insee, and ranks as the most populous city in the Oise department, and the third most-populous city in Picardy. Together with its suburbs and satellite towns, the metropolitan area of Beauvais has a population of 128,020.
Geography
Beauvais lies at the foot of wooded hills on the left bank of the Thérain at its confluence with the Avelon. Its ancient ramparts have been destroyed, and it is now surrounded by boulevards, outside of which run branches of the Thérain. In addition, there are spacious promenades in the north-east of the town.
Sights
Cathedral
The city’s cathedral, dedicated to Saint Peter (Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais), in some respects the most daring achievement of Gothic architecture, consists only of a transept and quire with apse and seven apse-chapels. The vaulting in the interior exceeds 46 m or 150 feet in height.
The small Romanesque church of the 10th century known as the Basse Oeuvre occupies the site destined for the nave; much of its east end was demolished to make room for the new cathedral.
Its façades, especially that on the south, exhibit all the richness of the late Gothic style. The carved wooden doors of both the north and the south portals are masterpieces respectively of Gothic and Renaissance workmanship. The church possesses an elaborate astronomical clock (1866) and tapestries of the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries; but its chief artistic treasures are stained glass windows of the thirteenth, fourteenth and sixteenth centuries.
During the Middle Ages, on 14 January, the Feast of Asses was celebrated in the Beauvais Cathedral, in commemoration of the Flight into Egypt.
Other notable sites
In the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville and in the old streets near the cathedral there are several houses dating from the 12th to the 16th centuries. The Hôtel de ville, close to which stands the statue of Jeanne Hachette, was built in 1752.
The episcopal palace, now housing the Musée départemental de l’Oise, was built in the 16th century, partly upon the Gallo-Roman fortifications. The church of Saint-Étienne is a Romanesque-Gothic building (early 12th-late 16th centuries), including, in one of its transept’s portals, a sculpture of “Wheel of Life“
Transport
Rail transport
The railway station, Gare de Beauvais, opened since 1857 is currently served by several TER lines:
- Beauvais – Persan-Beaumont – Paris Gare du Nord ;
- Beauvais – Creil ;
- Beauvais – Abancourt – Le Tréport.
Air transport
Beauvais-Tillé Airport, dating from the 1930s, lies in north of the city, in Tillé. It is used as a gateway to Paris by several low-cost carriers. The airport is mainly used for passenger traffic (only 2 to 3 flights involve freight each month) and serves 48 destinations.
Public transport
Public transport in Beauvais is provided by Corolis. The transit bus (commuter bus) network consists of 25 regular lines which serve Beauvais and its suburbs, including:
- 12 day lines
- 3 Sunday lines.
- 3 summer lines.
- 7 Demand responsive transport lines
- 3 shuttles
- Navette Aéroport (Airport Shuttle) Navette Parking (Parking Shuttle) Navette LaSalle (Polytechnic Institute of LaSalle Shuttle)
Environmentally friendly transportation
In an effort to promote cleaner urban transportation and protect the environment, the city began to develop a “Green Plan” (Plan vert). Ultimately, the goal is to have a network of 20 km (12 mi) bicycle paths.
Economy
The industry of Beauvais comprises, besides the state manufacture of tapestry, which dates from 1664, the manufacture of various kinds of cotton and woollen goods, brushes, toys, boots and shoes, and bricks and tiles. Market-gardening flourishes in the vicinity and an extensive trade is carried on in grain and wine.
The town is the seat of a bishop, a prefect and a Court of Assizes; it has Tribunals of First Instance and of commerce, together with a Chamber of Commerce, a branch of the Bank of France, a higher ecclesiastical seminary, a lycée and training colleges.
Amongst the major companies operating in the town are Nestle and Agco (Massey Ferguson).
Education
Beauvais has the following schools:
Public schools:
- 20 preschools: Four in Argentine, five in Centre-Ville, one in Marissel, one in Notre Dame du Thil, five in Saint-Jean, one in Saint Just des Marais, two in Saint Lucien, and one in Voisinlieu
- 24 public elementary schools: Five in Argentine, six in Centre-Ville, two in Marissel, two in Notre Dame du Thil, five in Saint-Jean, one in Saint Just des Marais, two in Saint-Lucien, and one in Voisinlieu
- Five junior high schools: Collège Henri Baumont, Collège Charles Fauqueux, Collège Jules Michelet, Collège Jean Baptiste Pellerin, and Collège George Sand
- Four general high schools: Lycée Félix Faure, Lycée Jeanne Hachette, Lycée Paul Langevin, and Lycée François Truffaut
- Four vocational high schools: Lycée Professionnel Paul Langevin, Lycée Professionnel Jean-Baptiste Corot, Lycée Professionnel Les Jacobins, and Lycée Agricole de l’Oise
Private schools:
- Institution du Saint-Espirit (elementary, junior high, high school, and technological high school)
- Institution Notre-Dame (elementary and junior high school)
- Elementary schools: Ecole Saint-Paul and Ecole Sainte-Bernadette
- Lycée Saint-Vincent de Paul
Sport
Beauvais is home to AS Beauvais Oise, a football club playing in the Championnat National (as of 2006), which is supported by a fine percussion band.
