- Draguignan
-
Draguignan
Administration Country France Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Department Var Arrondissement Draguignan Canton Draguignan Intercommunality Draguignan Mayor Max Piselli
(2008–2014)Statistics Elevation 153–603 m (502–1,978 ft)
(avg. 181 m/594 ft)Land area1 53.7 km2 (20.7 sq mi) Population2 38,258 (2006) - Density 712 /km2 (1,840 /sq mi) INSEE/Postal code 83050/ 83300 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. Coordinates: 43°32′25″N 6°28′00″E / 43.54027778°N 6.46666667°E
Draguignan is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in southeastern France.
It is a sub-prefecture of the department and self-proclaimed "capital of Artillery" and "Porte du Verdon".
The city is only 42 km (26 mi) from St. Tropez, and 80 km (50 mi) from Nice.
Contents
City's name
According to legend, the name of the city is derived from the Latin name “Draco/Draconem” (dragon) : a bishop, called Saint Hermentaire, killed a Dragon and saved people.
Motto
The Latin motto of Draguignan is : Alios nutrio, meos devoro (I feed others, I devour my children).
Geography
The elevation is 200 m, the highest hill near Draguignan being the “Malmont” (551 m). The main river near Draguignan is the “Nartuby”.
The city is set in a valley NW-SE, about 2 km (1 mi) wide.
History
- The name of Draguignan (“Dragonianum”) appeared for the first time in 909.
- During all Middle-Age, Draguignan was a small village, people living thanks to olive and grape culture.
- Draguignan became the “prefecture” of the Var in 1790, at the beginning of The French Revolution, despite the town not being the biggest city of the department (it was Toulon), and kept this function until 1974.
- In the 19th century and during a large part of the 20th century, the people of Draguignan (in French : “Dracénois”, in English : “Draceners”) voted for liberal parties (Radical-Socialist Party, Socialist Party).
- The town was occupied by the Wehrmacht in 1942-44 ; Draguignan became free in August 1944, after Operation Dragoon.
- The city welcomed the “Ecole nationale d'artillerie” (Artillery School) in 1976, then the “Ecole nationale d'infanterie” (Infantry School) in 2010. The arrival of the military involves the development of the city : the small town became a city in the second part of the 20th century : 13 400 citizens in 1954, 33 000 in 2000, 38 000 in 2010.
- On June 15, 2010, the city was flooded: torrential rain caused the death of 12 people in downtown, and 25 in the neighborhood.
Major attractions
- Museum of Artillery (Napoleonic wars, World War I, World War II, Indochina, etc.)
- Museum of "Arts et traditions populaires"
- Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial (American WWII cemetery) (see operation Dragoon)
- The Eglise St Michel
- Eglise Notre-Dame du Peuple
- The Dolmen Pierre de la fée (fairy's Stone), also known as the fruit rock.
Personalities connected to Draguignan
- Georges Clemenceau was a politician of Draguignan : deputy of the district of Draguignan (1885–1893) and senator of the same district (1902–1920), French prime minister in 1906-1909 and 1917–1920
- Émile Ollivier was a politician of Draguignan : deputy of the district of Draguignan, then prime minister in 1870
- Maximin Isnard was a politician of Draguignan
- Georges Thill, died in Draguignan
- Lily Pons, born in Draguignan
- Claude Gay, born in Draguignan
- Abel Douay, born in Draguignan
- Hippolyte Mège-Mouriès, born in Draguignan
- Alain Connes, born in Draguignan
- Michaël Fabre, born in Draguignan
- Nicolas Agnesi, born in Draguignan
- Charlotte Morel, born in Draguignan
- Michel Constantin, died in Draguignan
- Jean-Marie Auberson, died in Draguignan
- Louis Moréri studied in Draguignan
- Gustave Ferrié studied in Draguignan
- Philippe Seguin studied in Draguignan
Twin towns
Pictures
See also
- Communes of the Var department
- List of Draguignan's mayors since 1800 (in French)
- List of Draguignan's streets (in French)
References
External links
- City council website (in French)
Categories:- Communes of Var
- French Riviera
- Subprefectures in France
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.