Saint-Riquier

Saint-Riquier

Hôtel-Dieu
Saint-Riquier

Coordinates: 50°08′01″N 1°56′53″E / 50.1336°N 1.9481°E / 50.1336; 1.9481Coordinates: 50°08′01″N 1°56′53″E / 50.1336°N 1.9481°E / 50.1336; 1.9481
Country France
Region Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie
Department Somme
Arrondissement Abbeville
Canton Ailly-le-Haut-Clocher
Intercommunality Haut Clocher
Government
  Mayor (20012008) Yves Monin
Area1 14.48 km2 (5.59 sq mi)
Population (2006)2 1,267
  Density 88/km2 (230/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 80716 / 80135
Elevation 19–97 m (62–318 ft)
(avg. 22 m or 72 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Saint-Riquier is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.

Geography

The commune is situated 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Abbeville, on the D925 and D32 crossroads.

Abbey

Saint-Riquier (originally Centula or Centulum ) was famous for its abbey, founded about 625 by Riquier (Richarius), son of the governor of the town. It was enriched by King Dagobert I and prospered under the abbacy of Angilbert, son-in-law of Charlemagne. The 18th century buildings are occupied by an ecclesiastical seminary. The church is a magnificent example of Flamboyant Gothic architecture of the 15th and 16th centuries, and has a richly sculptured front on the west, surmounted by a square tower. In the interior the fine vaulting, the Renaissance font and carved stalls, and the frescoes in the treasury are especially noteworthy. Among other valuable relics, the treasury possesses a copper cross said to be the work of Saint Eloi (Eligius).

The abbey was part of the diocese of Amiens in Ponthieu. The early counts of Ponthieu originally were styled advocatus of the abbey of Saint Riquier and "castellan" of Abbeville. The counts of Ponthieu enrolled their sons, who were going into religion at the abbey. Count Enguerrand I placed his sons, Fulk, later abbot of Forest-l'Abbaye, and Guy, later the bishop of Amiens, in Saint Riquier for their education. Their teacher was abbot Enguerrand "the Wise" (d. 9 December 1045), under whose rule Saint Riquier enjoyed its "golden age." The abbey held estates in Norfolk, England.

In 1536 Saint-Riquier repulsed an attack by the Germans, during its defense the women especially distinguishing themselves. In 1544 it was burned by the English, an event that marks the beginning of its decline.

Abbey church, Saint-Riquier

Population

Historical population of Saint-Riquier
Year1962196819751982199019992006
Population1129117612051165116611861246
From the year 1962 on: No double countingresidents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) are counted only once.

Twin towns

See also

References

    External links

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