Toul

Toul

Toul

Coordinates: 48°40′30″N 5°53′30″E / 48.675°N 5.8917°E / 48.675; 5.8917Coordinates: 48°40′30″N 5°53′30″E / 48.675°N 5.8917°E / 48.675; 5.8917
Country France
Region Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine
Department Meurthe-et-Moselle
Arrondissement Toul
Intercommunality Toulois
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Nicole Feidt
Area1 30.59 km2 (11.81 sq mi)
Population (2012)2 16,271
 • Density 530/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 54528 / 54200
Elevation 200–400 m (660–1,310 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.

Toul (French pronunciation: ​[tul]) is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.

It is a sub-prefecture of the department.

Geography

Toul is located between Commercy and Nancy, and situated between the Moselle River and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin.

History

Toul was known to the Romans as Tullum Leucorum, and was the capital of the Gaulish tribe of the Leuci.

In 612, King Theudebert II of Austrasia was defeated by King Theuderic II of Burgundy near Toul. By the Treaty of Meerssen of 870, Toul became part of East Francia, the later Holy Roman Empire. During the High Middle Ages, it became a Free Imperial City. Toul was annexed to France by King Henry II in 1552; this was recognized by the Holy Roman Empire in the Peace of Westphalia of 1648. It then was a part of the French province of the Three Bishoprics.

Toul was the seat of the bishops of Toul; the diocese was founded around 365 and existed until 1807.

During the siege of 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War, the last time that Toul's defenses were used as a classic fortress, 64 guns opened fire at 6:00 a.m. on 23 September, and the fortress surrendered at 3:00 p.m. after 2,433 shells had been fired.

The city was also the primary base of the Air Service, United States Army, a predecessor organization of the United States Air Force during World War I. As such, it was a base for many of the 45 wartime squadrons of the First Army Air Service, including the squadrons of the 1st Pursuit Group, First Army Observation Group and others. The Americans referred to the area around Toul as the Toul Sector. Two large operations were launched from this area: the St. Mihiel Offensive and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, both in September 1918. During World War II, the American 358th Fighter Group used Toul-Croix De Metz Airfield (A-90) during the fall of 1944 and spring of 1945, and Toul-Rosières Air Base (BA 136) was an American NATO air base during the 1950s and 1960s.

Imperial City of Toul
Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire
←
? – 1552 →
Capital Toul
Government Republic
Historical era Middle Ages
 •  Gained Reichsfreiheit Uncertain Enter start year
 •  Three Bishoprics
    annexed by France
1552 1552
 • Treaty of Westphalia
    recognises annexation
1648

Sights

The most striking features are the impressive stone ramparts. Those that exist today are the work of Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, Louis XIV's military engineer. In 1698 he designed a new enclosure and work began in 1699-1700. Several of Vauban's fortifications in France are listed as a combined UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although the fortifications at Toul are not in that list they do follow the general defiladed fortification pattern for which Vauban is known.[1] There appears to have been a fortified town at this location since the earliest recorded history. Today, the ramparts encircle and define the old town. They are built of dressed white stone, and topped with grass, and in places are over five metres high.

There is a great deal of Roman archæology in the area and allegedly some in the town. The Roman fortified town of Grand is some 30 km away, with its great amphitheatre and temple to the Cult of Apollo.

Facade

The old town's architecture is dominated by past glories in various states of decay, including a major Gothic cathedral, which is in a poor condition and is being slowly restored. Many of the houses were built as canonical residences in the Late Middle Ages and bear vestiges in the form of ornamental stonework.

There is no trace of the monastery, however its wine-cellars still exist, under the shops on the north side of the Rue Gambetta. (Access is possible via the Camera Shop).

Transportation

Toul is at the intersection of the Moselle River (which divides into the river proper and the Moselle Canalisée just outside the town) with the Canal de la Marne au Rhin, and was once, consequently, an important port. The barges known as péniches still navigate these watercourses commercially, typically carrying steel, though in the summer much more of the water traffic is for pleasure.

There is a main-line railway station at Toul, the last major station before the (once vast, and still very large) marshalling yards at Nancy. However, the Paris-Strasbourg TGV line, now under construction, will pass about 20 km north of Toul, approximately mid-way between Metz and Nancy. Its completion will likely reduce Toul's importance as a station.

Economy

The surrounding countryside is a wine-growing region, in which the AOC Côtes de Toul vintage is produced. Particularly notable is the Gris de Toul.

Administration

Toul is the seat of two cantons: Toul-Nord with a population of 27,102, and Toul-Sud with a population of 13,215. The following table shows the communes in each canton:

Toul-Nord Toul-Sud
Aingeray Bicqueley
Boucq Blénod-lès-Toul
Bouvron Bulligny
Bruley Charmes-la-Côte
Dommartin-lès-Toul Chaudeney-sur-Moselle
Écrouves Choloy-Ménillot
Fontenoy-sur-Moselle Crézilles
Foug Domgermain
Gondreville Gye
Lagney Mont-le-Vignoble
Laneuveville-derrière-Foug Moutrot
Lay-Saint-Remy Ochey
Lucey Pierre-la-Treiche
Ménil-la-Tour Sexey-aux-Forges
Pagney-derrière-Barine Villey-le-Sec
Sanzey
Sexey-les-Bois
Trondes

Twin towns

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ Griffith, Paddy (2006). The Vauban fortifications of France (1. publ. ed.). Oxford [u.a.]: Osprey. ISBN 1841768758.

External links

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