- Ardennes (department)
Infobox_Department_of_France
department=Ardennes
number=08
region=Champagne-Ardenne
prefecture=Charleville-Mézières
subprefectures=Rethel
SedanVouziers
population=290,130|pop_date=1999|pop_rank=75th|density=55
area=5229|area_scale=9
arrond=4|cantons=37|communes=463
president=Benoît Huré |pres_party=UMP
img_coa=Blason département fr Ardennes.svgArdennes is a department in the northeast part of
France named after theArdennes area.History
The department is one of the original 83 departments created during the
French Revolution onMarch 4 ,1790 . It was named after theArdennes hills, which are located in northeast France, southernBelgium andLuxembourg . It is constituted of parts of the former provinces of Champagne andArgonne (Celtic: "Ar Gonn", meaning "deep forest")Fact|date=August 2007, and the principality of Sedan.Origins: The name of "Ardennes" ("Ar Denn", from 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 andWorld War II , such as theBattle of the Ardennes and theBattle of the Bulge .Geography
The department is surrounded by the French departments of
Meuse ,Marne , andAisne and by Belgium on the north.Situated in the
Ardennes uplands on the border withBelgium , 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 laSorbonne , the famous French university, was born in the village ofSorbon , nearRethel
*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 inDricourt , nearVouziers ;
*Hippolyte Taine (1828-1893), philosopher and historian, member of theAcadémie française , was born inVouziers ;
*Arthur Rimbaud (1854-1891), one of the most famous poets from France, was born in Charleville.
*YVES CONGAR (April 8th, 1904-June 22,1995) [http://www.answers.com/topic/yves-congar] , A Cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church, was born in Sedan. [http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/research/theology/ejournal/aejt_4/nugent.htm]Demographics
The population of Ardennes has been in steady decrease since 1982 due to exodus to the cities. With 290,000 people (a density of 55/km²), it is one of France's least-populated regions.
See also
*
Cantons of the Ardennes department
*Communes of the Ardennes department
*Arrondissements of the Ardennes department References
External links
* [http://www.ardennes.pref.gouv.fr/ Prefecture website]
* [http://www.cg08.fr/ Conseil général website]
* ODP|Regional/Europe/France/Regions/Champagne-Ardenne/Ardennes|Ardennes* [http://www.ardennes.witb.net/ Arden'Net website]
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