Picquigny

French commune|name= Picquigny


x = 134
y = 36
region=
departement=
arrondissement=Amiens
canton=Picquigny
insee=80622
cp=80310
maire=José Herbet
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=Communauté de communes à l'Ouest d'Amiens
alt moy=17 m
alt mini=11 m
alt maxi=107 m
hectares=1031
km²=10,31
sans=1386
date-sans=1999
dens=134|

Picquigny is a commune in the Somme "département" in the Picardie region of France.

Geography

Situated at the junction of the N235, the D141 and D3 roads, on the banks of the Somme River, some 8 miles northwest (and downstream) of Amiens. A railway station also serves the town.

Population

History

Already established as a Gallic settlement before the Romans arrived, a Gallo-Roman cemetery gallo-romain was discovered in 1895 in the area known as "Les Vignes". [L. Ledieu - « "Dictionnaire historique et archéologique de la Picardie" », Tome III, Canton de Picquigny, page 197 (1919, reprint "Editions Culture et Civilisation", Bruxelles, 1979)] .
Known through the ages by various names, in 942 as "Pinquigniacum", "Pinconii castrum" in 1066 and "Pinchiniacum" in 1110, then as "Pinkeni", "Pinkinei" and "Pecquigny" . ["Recueil des monuments inédits de l'histoire du tiers état- chartes, coutumes, actes municipaux…" Par Louandre, Charles Léopold, 1812-1882, Thierry, Augustin, 1795-1856, Augustin Thierry, États généraux, France, Tiers État]

* After the defeat of the Huns at Lihons-en-Santerre, the inhabitants of Amiens, who had helped the barbarians, took refuge in the castle of Picquigny, to hide from the vengeance of Dagobert, where they were then besieged by him. [Grandes Chroniques de France]
* On the 17th December 942, Arnulf I, Count of Flanders and William I of Normandy cam to Picquigny to sign a peace treaty. They met on a small island in the Somme, having both left their armies behind. After the meeting, William left but was then assassinated by Arnulf’s supporters.
* As early as the 14th century, the town had commune status and a county judge.
* In 1307, several Templars, were arrested and imprisoned in the dungeons of the château by order of Philip IV of France,
* On the 29th August, 1475, with the Treaty of Picquigny, Louis XI brought to an end the Hundred Years War. The French king had to pay Edward IV an annual sum of fifty thousand crowns.
* In 1547, Henri II of France established a market, on every second Monday of the month.

Places of interest

* The Château. Built around the beginning of the 11th century and rebuilt over the following centuries. It was severely damaged during World War I. The vestiges are still picturesque and imposing, nevertheless. Outside of the ramparts, there are other medieval buildings : a prison, a kitchen, two cellars, latrines and the "Pavillon Sévigné"



* The church. Originally the chapel to the château, is found behind the ruins of the old chateau, inside the ramparts. The roof was destroyed in a fire at the start of the 20th century.

ee also

Communes of the Somme department

External links

* [http://www.recensement.insee.fr/RP99/rp99/co_navigation.co_page?nivgeo=C&codgeo=80622&theme=ALL&typeprod=ALL&lang=FR&quelcas=LISTE Picquigny on the Insee website] fr
* [http://www.quid.fr/communes.html?mode=query&req=Picquigny Picquigny on the Quid website] fr

Notes

*"This article is based on the equivalent article from the French Wikipedia, consulted on March 12th 2008."