Belfort
Belfort | |
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![]() An aerial view of Belfort with theCathedral of Saint-Christophein the foreground | |
Coordinates:47°38′N6°51′E/ 47.64°N 6.85°E | |
Country | France |
Region | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté |
Department | Territoire de Belfort |
Arrondissement | Belfort |
Canton | 3 cantons |
Intercommunality | CAGrand Belfort |
Government | |
• Mayor(2020–2026) | Damien Meslot[1] |
Area 1 | 17.10 km2(6.60 sq mi) |
• Urban | 106.8 km2(41.2 sq mi) |
• Metro | 633.2 km2(244.5 sq mi) |
Population (2021)[2] | 45,155 |
• Density | 2,600/km2(6,800/sq mi) |
•Urban (2018[3]) | 79,364 |
• Urban density | 740/km2(1,900/sq mi) |
•Metro (2018[3]) | 133,597 |
• Metro density | 210/km2(550/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00(CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00(CEST) |
INSEE/Postal code | 90010/90000 |
Dialling codes | 0384 |
Elevation | 354–650 m (1,161–2,133 ft) (avg. 358 m or 1,175 ft) |
1French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2(0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
Belfort(French pronunciation:[bɛlfɔʁ] ;archaicGerman:Beffert,Beffort) is a city in northeastern France, situated approximately 25 km (16 mi) from the Swiss border. It is theprefectureof theTerritoire de Belfort.[4]
Belfort is 400 km (250 mi) from Paris and 55 km (34 mi) from Basel. The residents of the city are called "Belfortains". The city is located on the riverSavoureuse,on a strategically important natural route between theRhineand theRhône– theBelfort Gap(Trouée de Belfort) orBurgundian Gate(Porte de Bourgogne). It is located approximately 16 km (10 mi) south from the base of theBallon d'Alsacemountain range, source of theSavoureuse.The city of Belfort has 46,443 inhabitants (2019).[5]Belfort is the centre of a largerfunctional area(metropolitan area) with 133,597 inhabitants (2018),[3]between the larger metropolitan areas ofMulhouseandMontbéliard.
History[edit]
Belfort's strategic location, in a natural gap between theVosgesand theJura,on a route linking the Rhine and the Rhône, has attracted human settlement since Roman times, and has also made it a frequent target for invading armies many times in its history.
The site of Belfort was inhabited inGallo-Romantimes. Later, it was heavily settled byGermanic peoplesduring theGermanic migrations,most notably theBurgundians,who settled in the region after the Gallo-Roman inhabitants had been displaced. It was subsequently recorded in the 13th century as a possession of the counts ofMontbéliard,who granted it a charter in 1307.
Previously an Austrian possession, Belfort was transferred to France by theTreaty of Westphalia(1648), which ended theThirty Years' War.The town's fortifications were extended and developed by the military architectVaubanforLouis XIV.
Franco-Prussian War[edit]
Until 1871, Belfort was part of thedépartementofHaut-Rhin,inAlsace.TheSiege of Belfort(between 3 November 1870 and 18 February 1871) during theFranco Prussian warwas successfully resisted by the French until the garrison was ordered to surrender 21 days after the armistice between France andPrussiaended the war. The region was not annexed by Prussia like the rest of Alsace was. It was exchanged for territories in the vicinity of Metz. It formed, as it still does, theTerritoire de Belfort.The siege is commemorated by a huge statue, theLion of Belfort,byFrédéric Bartholdi.Alsatians not wanting to live under German rule in annexed Alsace and who wanted a French life and home in Belfort made a significant contribution to Belfort and French industry (seeSociété Alsacienne de Constructions Mécaniques) after 1872.
1892 Paris-Belfort running race[edit]
On 5 June 1892,Le Petit Journalorganised a foot-race from Paris to Belfort, a course of over 380 km (240 mi), the first large-scale long-distance running race on record. Over 1,100 competitors registered for the event and over 800 started from the offices ofLe Petit Journal,atParis Opera.This had also been the start point for the inaugural Paris–Brest–Paris cycle-race the previous year. The newspaper's circulation dramatically increased as the French public followed the progress of race participants, 380 of whom completed the course in under ten days. InLe Petit Journalon 18 June 1892,Pierre Giffardpraised the event as a model for the physical training of a nation faced by hostile neighbours. The event was won by Constant Ramoge in 100 hours, 5 minutes.[6][7]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Frenchwoman_exclaims_to_neighbor_and_to_American_soldier%2C_%22Tout_Belfort_Est_Libre%22_%28All_Belfort_is_liberated%29._-_NARA_-_531223.tif/lossy-page1-220px-Frenchwoman_exclaims_to_neighbor_and_to_American_soldier%2C_%22Tout_Belfort_Est_Libre%22_%28All_Belfort_is_liberated%29._-_NARA_-_531223.tif.jpg)
World War One[edit]
The town was bombarded by the German Army during World War I.[8]Before the war, theSeptember Programmeof German Imperial ChancellorTheobald von Bethmann Hollweg,pressed for expansionist aims of French territory, specifically advocated the annexation of the Belfort region along with the western side of theVosges Mountains.[9]
World War Two[edit]
After the 1940Battle of Francewith the German victory, Belfort fell within theNazi German occupation zone.In November 1944, the retreatingWehrmachtheld off theFrench First Armyoutside the town until French Commandos made a successful night attack on the Salbert Fort. Belfort was liberated on 22 November 1944. It is believed thatAdolf Hitlerintended to annex Belfort into theGermanGau Baden–Alsace,but it never took place.
Geography[edit]
Climate[edit]
Belfort has anoceanic climate(Köppen climate classificationCfb). The average annual temperature in Belfort is 10.1 °C (50.2 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,122.3 mm (44.19 in) with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around 19.2 °C (66.6 °F), and lowest in January, at around 1.2 °C (34.2 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Belfort was 38.0 °C (100.4 °F) on 13 July 1949; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −21.4 °C (−6.5 °F) on 10 February 1956.
Town | Sunshine![]() (hours/yr) |
Rain![]() (mm/yr) |
Snow![]() (days/yr) |
Storm![]() (days/yr) |
Fog![]() (days/yr) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
National average | 1,973 | 770 | 14 | 22 | 40 |
Belfort | N/A | 1,121.2 | 30.6 | 25.9 | 41.8[11] |
Paris | 1,661 | 637 | 12 | 18 | 10 |
Nice | 2,724 | 767 | 1 | 29 | 1 |
Strasbourg | 1,693 | 665 | 29 | 29 | 56 |
Brest | 1,605 | 1,211 | 7 | 12 | 75 |
Climate data for Belfort (1981–2010 averages, extremes 1946−2013) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 16.9 (62.4) |
20.4 (68.7) |
25.2 (77.4) |
29.0 (84.2) |
32.1 (89.8) |
35.0 (95.0) |
38.0 (100.4) |
37.5 (99.5) |
34.0 (93.2) |
27.5 (81.5) |
20.3 (68.5) |
18.2 (64.8) |
38.0 (100.4) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 3.8 (38.8) |
5.7 (42.3) |
10.3 (50.5) |
14.3 (57.7) |
18.8 (65.8) |
22.1 (71.8) |
24.5 (76.1) |
24.2 (75.6) |
19.6 (67.3) |
14.6 (58.3) |
8.1 (46.6) |
4.5 (40.1) |
14.3 (57.7) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.2 (34.2) |
2.3 (36.1) |
6.1 (43.0) |
9.4 (48.9) |
13.8 (56.8) |
16.9 (62.4) |
19.2 (66.6) |
18.9 (66.0) |
15.0 (59.0) |
10.7 (51.3) |
5.2 (41.4) |
2.1 (35.8) |
10.1 (50.2) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.5 (29.3) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
1.9 (35.4) |
4.6 (40.3) |
8.7 (47.7) |
11.7 (53.1) |
13.8 (56.8) |
13.6 (56.5) |
10.3 (50.5) |
6.9 (44.4) |
2.3 (36.1) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
5.9 (42.6) |
Record low °C (°F) | −20.6 (−5.1) |
−21.4 (−6.5) |
−14.1 (6.6) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
1.7 (35.1) |
4.6 (40.3) |
4.4 (39.9) |
0.3 (32.5) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−10.1 (13.8) |
−16.7 (1.9) |
−21.4 (−6.5) |
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 97.6 (3.84) |
86.6 (3.41) |
88.7 (3.49) |
71.8 (2.83) |
100.9 (3.97) |
85.7 (3.37) |
81.4 (3.20) |
88.1 (3.47) |
96.0 (3.78) |
106.0 (4.17) |
99.4 (3.91) |
120.1 (4.73) |
1,122.3 (44.19) |
Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 12.3 | 11.1 | 12.3 | 10.8 | 13.0 | 11.0 | 10.4 | 10.6 | 9.8 | 11.9 | 12.2 | 13.4 | 138.9 |
Source:Météo France[12] |
Population[edit]
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Source: EHESS[13]and INSEE (1968-2017)[14] |
Economy[edit]
Belfort is a centre for heavy engineering industries, mostly dedicated to railways and turbines. Belfort is the hometown ofAlstomwhere the first TGVs (Trains à Grande Vitesse, High Speed Trains) were produced, as well as hosting theGE PowerEuropean headquarters and a centre of excellence for the manufacturing of gas turbines.
Transport[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/2016-09-24_14-50-28_manif-belfort.jpg/220px-2016-09-24_14-50-28_manif-belfort.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/FRANCHE_COMTE_TRANSPORT_2.jpg/260px-FRANCHE_COMTE_TRANSPORT_2.jpg)
Road[edit]
Belfort is located at a busy hub in the region's local and long-distance road network. Its proximity to the commercial port of Mulhouse-Rhin facilitates international trade. The motorwayA36from Beaune to Mulhouse follows a route to the south and east of the city, and forms the main axis linking Belfort to other French and European cities. Passing just south of town,N19connectsLangres(and thereby Paris and Troyes) to the Swiss canton ofJura.[15]
Air[edit]
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburgis located about 60 km (37 mi) east of Belfort (1 hour drive).
Rail links[edit]
Belfort is well connected with the rest of France, with direct connections by train to major destinations such asParis,Dijon,Besançon,Mulhouse,Strasbourg,Lyon,Marseille,MontpellierandLille,includinghigh-speed trains.Some trains operate into Switzerland, such asBaselandZürichstations. There is also a train service toFrankfurt am Mainin Germany.
Regional services connect Belfort toMontbéliard,Besançon,Mulhouse,Vesoul,ÉpinalandNancy.
- Belfort stationis the main railway station in the centre of the city.
- Belfort – Montbéliard TGV stationis the high speed railway station, located 9 km (6 mi) south of the city.
From 2017, regional trains will connect Belfort with Belfort-Montbéliard TGV station using the new Belfort–Delle railway link. This service links Belfort and the surrounding area to Switzerland, and the high-speed train link will connect Swiss towns such asDelémont,Bern,FribourgandLausanneto Paris and other cities.[16]Before 2020, the serviceÉpinal-Belfort will be electrified and modernized. This will allow a link betweenLGV EstandLGV Rhin-RhôneinBelfort-Montbéliard TGV station,opening new destinations like Nancy,MetzandLuxembourg.[17]
Local transport[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a9/Piste_cyclable-Cycling_tracks%2C_Belfort.jpg/170px-Piste_cyclable-Cycling_tracks%2C_Belfort.jpg)
A local bus network Optymo operates within Belfort (www.optymo.fr). Tickets can be bought from any newsagent in the city, or a bus passenger can send a sms 'BUS' to 84100 and show the confirmation sms as a ticket.
Cycling tracks[edit]
The region of Belfort already offers around 70 km (43 mi) of cycling tracks with more under construction. Visit the local tourist office for information on the latest additions including the 'Coulée verte' to the west, malsaucy-giromany to the north and the Euro Velo 6 about 20 km (12 mi) to the south. There are many organised cycling events, offering the opportunity for people to explore the area in the company of an official guide.
Sights[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/LionBelfortEtChateau.jpg/220px-LionBelfortEtChateau.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/2011-09-06_14-09-55-synagogue-belfort.jpg/220px-2011-09-06_14-09-55-synagogue-belfort.jpg)
- Belfort is the home of theLion of Belfort,a sculpture (that expressed people's resistance against the siege in theFranco-Prussian War(1870)) byFrédéric Bartholdi– who shortly afterwards built theStatue of Libertyin New York.
- The Belfort Citadel – A unique example ofVaubanpentagonal fortifications
- TheBelfort Cathedral,18th century
- TheBelfort Synagogueerected in 1857
- The old town
- The Belfort city museums feature three main areas:
- History (from archeology to military) in the old barracks on the top of the citadel.
- Art (mainly from 16th to 19th century) in the Tour 41
- Modern Art in theDonation Jardot
- Since July 2007, the site of "La Citadelle de la Liberté",the citadel of Liberty has been open to the public – with ason et lumièreanimated trail in the moats and its big underground passage.
- From the top of a tall building or going up the nearby mountains on a clear day, the ice-capped mountains of the Alps in Switzerland can be seen.
- Grand souterrain de la citadelle de Belfort- the underground passage of Belfort Citadel.[18]
Culture[edit]
Eurockéennes[edit]
Belfort's best known cultural event is the annualEurockéennes,one of France's largest rock music festivals.
FIMU[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/FIMU_2013.jpg/220px-FIMU_2013.jpg)
Belfort is also well known for hosting the annualFestival International de Musique Universitaire(FIMU)held in May each year.[19]FIMU usually involves over 250 concerts at different locations around the city and around 2500 musicians, most of them students or amateur groups from countries across Europe and the rest of the world. Music styles performed are extremely diverse and include traditional, folk, rock, jazz, classical and experimental.
Notable people[edit]
Births[edit]
Belfort was the birthplace of:
- Joseph de La Porte(1714–1779), 18th-century Jesuit, literary critic, poet and playwright.
- Marie-Anne Françoise Brideau (1751–1794), Carmelite nun (Sœur Saint Louis), one of the sixteenMartyrs of Compiègne
- François Sébastien Christophe Laporte(1760–1823), French Revolutionary politician
- François Joseph Heim(1787–1865), painter
- Marie-Anne Leroudier(1838-1908), embroiderer
- Jules Brunet(1838–1911), a member of the firstFrench Military Mission to Japanin order to help modernize the armies of theshogunate
- Alexander Toponce(1839–1923),American pioneer
- Louis-Gabriel-Charles Vicaire(1848–1900), poet
- Paul Faivre(1886–1973), actor
- Pierre Macherey(1938– ), literary critic
- Jean-Pierre Chevènement(1939– ), politician
- Raymond Forni(1941–2008), politician
- Gérard Grisey(born 1946–1998), composer
- Tahar Rahim(1981– ), actor
- Thomas Holbein(1983– ), professional footballer
- Frederic Duplus,footballer
- John Glele,footballer
- Catherine Joly,classical pianist
- Fabrice Balanche,geographer
International relations[edit]
Delémont,Switzerland
Leonberg,Germany
Zaporizhzhia,Ukraine
Stafford,England, United Kingdom
Tanghin-Dassouri,Burkina Faso
See also[edit]
- Communes of the Territoire de Belfort department
- Fortified region of Belfort
- The works of Antonin Mercié
References[edit]
- ^"Répertoire national des élus: les maires"(in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
- ^"Populations légales 2021"(in French).The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies.28 December 2023.
- ^abcComparateur de territoire,INSEE, retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^Commune de Belfort (90010),INSEE
- ^Téléchargement du fichier d'ensemble des populations légales en 2019,INSEE
- ^Randonneurs Ontario, Profile of Pierre Giffard
- ^"La Marcha De Gran Fondo: Entre La Competicion Y El desafio, By Bernardo José Mora".Archived fromthe originalon 26 September 2017.Retrieved14 April2018.
- ^Catastrophe 1914, Europe Goes to War, Max Hastings, chapter 5, "Death with Flags and Trumpets", Knopf, New York, 2013.
- ^"Bethmann Hollweg, Germany's War Aims".wwnorton.com.Retrieved18 December2019.
- ^Paris,Nice,Strasbourg,Brest
- ^"Normales climatiques 1981-2010: Belfort".www.lameteo.org.Retrieved14 June2022.
- ^"Climate of Belfort 1981-2010"(PDF)(in French).Météo-France.Retrieved14 June2022.
- ^Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui:Commune data sheet Belfort,EHESS(in French).
- ^Population en historique depuis 1968,INSEE
- ^"Mobilité et transports"(PDF).Agence d'Urbanisme du Territoire de Belfort(in French). 2010. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 3 March 2016.Retrieved28 December2011.
- ^"La liaison Belfort-Delle"(in French). Facs. 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 18 June 2013.Retrieved11 December2011.
- ^"La liaison Épinal-Belfort"(in French). Facs. 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 29 December 2010.Retrieved11 December2011.
- ^La Citadelle de la Liberté, a new way of visiting Belfort's magnificent citadelArchived2 November 2007 at theWayback Machine(in French)
- ^FIMU Music festival website(in French)
- ^"Villes jumelées".belfort.fr(in French). Belfort.Retrieved21 November2019.
External links[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- City council websiteArchived2 October 2011 at theWayback Machine(in French)
- La place forte de Belfort 1870–1914(in French)
- Tourist office website
- Visiting Belfort
- Webpage about the fortificationsArchived9 March 2021 at theWayback Machine
- Léon Delarbre(in French)
- Georges Vérez.Sculptor of Belfort War Memorial.
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