Langres

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This article is about the French commune. For the cheese, see Langres cheese.

Template:Infobox French commune

Langres (fr) is a commune in northeastern France. It is a subprefecture of the department of Haute-Marne, in the region of Grand Est.

History

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As the capital of the Romanized Gallic tribe known as the Lingones, it was called Andematunnum, then Lingones, and now Langres.

A hilltop town, Langres was built on a limestone promontory of the same name. This stronghold was originally occupied by the Lingones. At a later date the Romans fortified the town, which they called Andemantunum, located at a strategic crossroads of twelve Roman roads.[citation needed] The first-century Triumphal Gate and the many artefacts exhibited in the museums are remnants of the town's Gallo-Roman history. After the period of invasions, the town prospered in the Middle Ages, due in part to the growing political influence of its bishops. The diocese covered Champagne, the Duchy of Burgundy, and Franche-Comté, and the bishops obtained the right to coin money in the ninth century and to name the military governor of the city in 927. The Bishop of Langres was a duke and peer of France. The troubled 14th and 15th centuries caused the town to strengthen its defenses, which still give the old city its fortified character, and Langres entered a period of royal tutelage. The Renaissance, which returned prosperity to the town, saw the construction of numerous fine civil, religious and military buildings that still stand today. In the 19th century, a "Vauban" citadel was added.

Main sights

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Langres has a historic town center surrounded by defensive walls with a dozen towers and seven gates.

The cathedral of Saint-Mammès is a late 12th-century structure dedicated to Mammes of Caesarea, a 3rd-century martyr.

Culture

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Langres is home to producers of an AOC-protected cheese of the same name. It is a soft, pungent cow's milk cheese that is known for its rind, which is washed.

The town was long known for its cutlery industry. Didier Diderot, father of encyclopedist Denis, was a cutler.[1]

A museum called the Denis Diderot House of Enlightenment opened in 2013. This museum, set up in a private mansion from the 16th and 18th centuries, is dedicated to the philosopher Denis Diderot.[2]

Housing

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In August 2025, the Langres town hall announced the demolition of the Navarre building, better known as the Banane, for September 2025.[3]

Population

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Template:Historical populations

Notable people

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Langres was the birthplace of:

Climate

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Located in the north-east quarter of France, Langres is under the influence of both an oceanic climate and a humid continental climate with no dry season. Winters are cold and snowy (33.4 days of snow per year on average) but interspersed with periods of light thaw and summers are mild and even pleasant with average maximum temperatures around 23 °C (73 °F).

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International relations

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See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in France

Langres is twinned with:

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Génin, M.F. (1862). Œuvres choisies de Diderot, précédées de sa vie [Selected Works of Diderot, Prefaced with his Biography] (in French). Paris: Librairie de Firmin Didot Frères, Fils et Compagnie.
  2. ↑ "Maison des Lumières Denis Diderot | Musées de Langres - Maison des Lumières Denis Diderot - Musée d'Art et d'Histoire". www.musees-langres.fr. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  3. ↑ "The nibbling of the Banane will begin in September". jhm.fr (in French). 1 August 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "British towns twinned with French towns". Archant Community Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 5 July 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
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Template:Haute-Marne communes

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