La Capelle

La Capelle is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Its inhabitants are called Capellois (plural Capelloises).

La Capelle
The church of La Capelle
Coat of arms
Location of La Capelle
La Capelle
La Capelle
Coordinates: 49°58′41″N 3°55′02″E
CountryFrance
RegionHauts-de-France
DepartmentAisne
ArrondissementVervins
CantonVervins
IntercommunalityThiérache du Centre
Government
  Mayor (20082014) Guy Meresse
Area
1
12.26 km2 (4.73 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[1]
1,788
  Density150/km2 (380/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
02141 /02260
Elevation174–231 m (571–758 ft)
(avg. 228 m or 748 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

It was served by Busigny-Hirson, a railway line which operated from 1885 to 1959 (and 1977 for freight traffic between Le Nouvion and La Capelle).

Toponymy

The name of La Capelle comes from the Picard term designating a chapel, and designates that it is dedicated to Saint Grimony.

History

The village was founded by Saint Grimony, a saint of Scottish origin of the 4th century. The village was of strategic importance, defending the French border against Avesnes-sur-Helpe, which was Spanish. It is 16 km from the Belgian border.

On November 7, 1918, at the end of World War I, it was at La Capelle that the German plenipotentiaries (headed by Matthias Erzberger), who had come to negotiate the armistice, crossed the front lines and met the commander Bourbon Busset. They were taken by car to Homblières, then to Tergnier where a special train was waiting to bring them to the clearing of Rethondes in the forest of Compiègne where on the morning of the 8th Marshal Foch, with the allied delegation, was awaiting them in his command train.

During World War II in 1940, during the Phoney War, General Paul Barbe installed at La Capelle the command post of his division, the 4th Light Cavalry Division.

Heraldry

The top half of the coat of arms is azure with a silver crenelated wall, flanked by two towers of the same, with two gold lions facing away from each other, holding silver swords. The bottom half is in gules, with four gold bezants (coins).

Politics and Administration

List of successive mayors

Period Identity Label Quality
Before 1875 - After 1876 Mamburg
N/A N/A N/A N/A
1957-1997 Louis Hennebelle UDR - RPR Doctor, General Counselor
March 2001- Guy Méresse DVD - LR Retired Public Service.

Reelected for the 2014–2020 term.

Places and monuments

Sainte-Grimonie Church of La Capelle

Miliary bollard, on the roadside of Avesnes-sur-Helpe, a Roman road marker. It is made of limestone and is cylindrical in shape.

Renowned racecourse: the racecourse of La Capelle, created in 1874.

The Villa Pasques 10, which was the place where the German plenipotarians made contact with the allies to negotiate the armistice of 1918. Since 1992, the Villa Pasques has been the seat of the Community of Communes of the Thiérache Center.

Flower City

Two flowers awarded in 2009 by the Council of Towns and Villages Fleuris of France in the Contest of the towns and villages in bloom.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19622,019    
19682,065+2.3%
19752,196+6.3%
19822,123−3.3%
19902,149+1.2%
19992,007−6.6%
20081,877−6.5%
20121,823−2.9%

See also

References

  1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.


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