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Senlis is a French commune located in the province of l'Oise near Paris. It has a long and rich heritage, having traversed centuries of history. This medieval town has welcomed some of the most renowned figures in French history, including Hugh Capet, Louis IX, the Marshall of France, Anne of Kiev and the Seraphine de Senlis. The monarchs of the early French dynasties lived here, attracted by the proximity of the Chantilly Forest. It is renowned for the gothic Senlis Cathedral and its vast historical monuments.Its habitants are called Senlisien(ne).[1]
Geography[edit]
Senlis is part of the province of l'Oise in the region of Picardie in the north of France. It is situated on the river Nonette, between the forests of Chantilly and d'Ermenonville in the South and d'Halatte on the North. It is located forty kilometers from the north of Paris, 44km from Beauvais and 79km from Amiens. The highest point of the town (140m) lies at the heart of the forest Halatte and the lowest point is located on the banks of the Nonet, west of the city. Geologically, the area is occupied by a vast limestone plateau of the Lutetian covered mostly in silt.
History[edit]
Senlis was known in early Roman imperial times as Augustomagus and later as Civitas Silvanectium ("City of the Silvanectes").[2] During the 3rd century, a seven-meter high defensive wall, about half of which still exists, was erected around the settlement in response to Frankish incursions.[3] The wall remained in use into the 13th century. The town also featured a Roman amphitheatre, the remains of which are still visible, about 500 m west of the walled town. The amphitheatre seated as many as 10,000 people and was used for public meetings, theatre, gladiatorial combats, and animal hunts.[4] The monarchs of the early French dynasties lived here, attracted by the proximity of the Chantilly Forest and its venison, and built a castle on the foundations of the Roman settlement. In 987 the archbishop of Reims, Alberon called together an assembly, and asked them to choose Hugh Capet as king of France. However, the monarchs of France soon abandoned the city, preferring Compiegne and Fontainebleau. New life was given to the city in the twelfth century, and ramparts were built. The popularity of the city later fell, and it slipped into decline. Today it remains an attraction for tourists for its long history and its links to the French monarchy.
Royal City[edit]
Senlis fell under the ownership of Hugh Capet in 981. He was elected king by his barons in 987 before being crowned at Noyon. Under the Capetian rule, Senlis became a royal city and remained so until the reign of Charles X. A castle was built during this period whose remains still lie today. The city reached its apogee in the XII and XIII centuries as trade of wool and leather increased, while vineyards began to grow. With an increasing population, the city expanded and required the construction of new ramparts: a second chamber was erected under Phillip II that was larger and higher than the ramparts of the Gallo-Romans. A municipal charter was granted to the town in 1173 by the King Louis VII. The bishop of Senlis and the Chancellor Guerin became close advisors to the King, strengthening Senlis' ties to the French royalty. In 1265, the Bailiwick of Senlis was created with its vast territory covering the Beauvais and the French Vexin. In 1319, the town crippled by debt, was removed and passed to the control of the royalty. Senlis became devastated by the Hundred Years War, but managed to escape destruction, despite being besieged by the Armagnacs. Senlis' economy was heavily damaged and would have to wait until the XV century to observe another boom, during which many buildings were built or restored. In 1493, the King Charles VII of France, son of Louis XI signed the Treaty of Senlis with the Duke of Burgundy, Maximilian I of Austria.[5]
Monuments and Historical Sights[edit]
Senlis Cathedral
The Senlis Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Gothic church and a national monument of France. The Cathedral was the ancient seat of the Bishopric of Senlis, abolished by the Concordat of 1801, when its territory was passed to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Beauvais. The southern portal of the XVI century, the works of Martin and Chambiges, marked the evolution of Gothic art. The cathedral was built between 1153 and 119; its 256-foot-tall (78 m) tall spire dates from the 13th century and is visible acrss the plain of Valois. Its transepts were rebuilt between 1530 and 1556 after a fire and the side portals and shallow east chapels date from about the same period.
- The Ancient Royal Castle- priory Saint Maurice. The site is occupied since the Roman era. In the course of the 4th century, the site was visited by the Carolingian Kings. The actual castle dates back from the 12th century under Louis VII of France .
- Hotel de Ville Senlis has a plaque attached to honor the loyalty of Henry IV of France.
- The Saint Vincent Abbey was founded in 1065 by the queen Anne de Kiev and entrusted to the monks of Genovefains. The monument was transformed into a boys boarding school by the Fathers of Maristes and still exists today.
- The Museum of Art and Archeology contains notably rings found in a Roman- Gaul temple in the forest of d'Halatte. It is currently closed for renovation.
- The Museum of the Hunts
- The Museum of the Spahis
Culture[edit]
Festivals and Events
In 1972, the September meetings were created as cultural manifestation making Senlis a pedestrian town for a weekend in September. The event allows the public to discover the gardens and particular hotel hidden behind doorways. The last gathering took place in 2007.[6] The Garden Lounge takes place around April, along with the Christmas march that take place around the Church of Saint Peter. Senlis in Litterature
In A Writer at War 14-18, Edouard Coeurdevey describes the Ge[7]rman destruction that he witnesses when visiting Senlis on the 6th June 1915. On June 8th he wrote 'Senlis bonde d'Annamites'.
Senlis in Cinema
The historical framework of Senlis, with its ancient cobbled alleys and its proximity to Paris made it a major destination for cinema.[8] Among many are the following:
- Coeurs du monde (1918) by D.W Griffith
- Ces dames aux chapeaux verts (1929) d'Andre Berthomieu
- Le Dialogue des carmelites (1960) d'Andre Berthomieu
- Seraphine (2008) by Martin Provost won seven Cesars awards, Best foreign film of 2009 at the Women Film Critics Circle and Best Actress of 2009 for Yolande Moreau by LA Film Critics
Famous people from Senlis[edit]
Thomas Couture (history painter) and Seraphine de Senlis
Twin towns[edit]
Langenfeld, Rhineland in Germany, Montale in Italy, Kiev-Petchersk in Ukraine
Notes[edit]
- ^ "David Malescourt et Olivier Andrieu-habitants.fr".
- ^ Athena Review, Vol.4, No.2. "The Roman Wall of Senlis".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Athena Review, Vol.4,No.2. "The Roman Wall of Senlis".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Bruce Klee (December 1975). "Three Gallo-Roman Multi-Purpose Theatres". JSTOR. pp. 516–520.
- ^ "Publication de la paix de Senlis". Manuscrits de l'Institut de France. 23 May 1493.
- ^ [hhttp://www.leparisien.fr/senlis-60300/polemique-autour-des-rendez-vous-de-septembre-14-01-2009-372317.php "Polemique autour des Rendez-Vouz de septembre"]. Le Parisien. 14 January 2009.
- ^ Edouard Coeurdevey. Carnets de guerre. p. 14-18.
- ^ Michel Lalande (1997). "Liste de tournages sur le site". p. 125.
External links[edit]
