Ardennes (département)

Ardennes is a département in the northeast of France named after the Ardennes area.

History

The department was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was built after the ardennes massif that lays on north east of France, south Belgium and Luxemburg. It is constituted of parts of the former provinces of Champagne and Argonne (celtic: "Ar Gonn", tansl: "deep forest"), and the principality of Sedan.

Origins: The name of "Ardennes" ("Ar Denn", from old celtic : "the forest") was first mentioned by Julius Caesar who talked in his "War of Gaules" about a celtic female god, who was named "Arduinna" (warrior god usually painted as riding a wild boar).

The area has been the location of much fighting, both in World War I and World War II, such as the Battle of the Ardennes and the Battle of the Bulge.

Geography

The department is surrounded by the French departments of Meuse, Marne, and Aisne and by Belgium on the north.

Situated in the Ardennes uplands on the border with Belgium, the department of Ardennes includes many areas of very dense woodland.

The principal river is the Meuse River.

Famous "Ardennais"

Robert de Sorbon (1201-1274), who created in Paris la Sorbonne, the famous French university, was born in the village of Sorbon, near Rethel
Guillaume de Machaut (1284-1370), poet/composer and author of Le Voir Dit, was born in Machault;
Turenne (1611-1675), maréchal de France, was born in Sedan;
Jean-Nicolas Corvisart (1755-1821), famous doctor and scientist, was born in Dricourt, near Vouziers;
Hippolyte Taine (1828-1893), philosopher and historian, member of the Académie française, was born in Vouziers;
Arthur Rimbaud (1854-1891), one of the most famous poets from France, was born in Charleville.

Demographics

The population of Ardennes has been in steady decrease since 1982 due to exodus to the cities. With 1.3 million people and a density of 52/km², it is one of France's least populated regions.

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