Épinal

Épinal (French pronunciation: ​[epinal]); (German: Spinal) is a commune in northeastern France and the capital (prefecture) of the Vosges department. Inhabitants are known as Spinaliens.

For the Épinal meteorite of 1822, see meteorite falls.

Épinal
Prefecture and commune
The river Moselle
Coat of arms
Location of Épinal
Épinal
Épinal
Coordinates: 48°10′28″N 6°27′04″E
CountryFrance
RegionGrand Est
DepartmentVosges
ArrondissementÉpinal
CantonÉpinal-1 and 2
IntercommunalityCA Épinal
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Patrick Nardin[1]
Area
1
59.24 km2 (22.87 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[2]
31,740
 • Density540/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
 • Metro
93,184
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
88160 /88000
Elevation315–492 m (1,033–1,614 ft)
(avg. 340 m or 1,120 ft)
Websitewww.epinal.fr
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
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Geography

The commune has a land area of 59.24 square kilometres (22.87 sq mi). It is situated on the Moselle River, 60 kilometres (37 miles) south of Nancy.

Main sights

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 05:00. 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 where United States service members killed in World War II are buried.

Notable residents

Sportspeople

Economy

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.

Politics

Épinal is contained within Vosges' 1st constituency for elections to the National Assembly.

Sport

SAS Épinal is based in the commune.

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

Épinal is twinned with:[5]

See also

References
  1. "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  2. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  3. Jeanne Cressanges: installed in Épinal since 1968, novelist, essayist, screenwriter originally from Noyant in the Allier, who dedicated two of his works to his adopted region: "Je vous écris d’Épinal" and "Je vous écris des Vosges" éditions Serge Domini, respectively in 2009 and 2014.
  4. Nicolas Mathieu a le spleen des Vosges on lemonde.fr.
  5. "Villes jumelles". epinal.fr (in French). Épinal. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
Épinal from the ruins of the castle
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