Chauny
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name = Chauny
|commune status = Commune
|image = Hôtel de ville de Chauny.jpg
|caption = Town hall
|image coat of arms = Blason Chauny 02.svg
|arrondissement = Laon
|canton = Chauny
|INSEE = 02173
|postal code = 02300
|party = DVC
|term = 2020–2026
|intercommunality = CA Chauny Tergnier La Fère
|coordinates = {{coord|49.6164|3.22|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m = 69
|elevation min m = 42
|elevation max m = 96
|area km2 = 13.28
|population = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
}}
Chauny ({{IPA|fr|ʃoni}}) is a commune in the Aisne department{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Chauny|volume=6|page=19}} in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
History
There has been a settlement on the site, more or less continuously, since at least the Carolingian era. Known variously as Calgny, Cauny, Canni, Calni or as Chaulni. In Latin, contemporary chroniclers and historians such as Flodoard, Guibert de Noyon/Nogent used at least 13 different names when referring to it; such as Calnacum, Calniacum, Cauniacum, Calviniacum and Channiacum.
Chauny, then a mere castle, served as a refuge for those fleeing the Vandal and Hunnic invasions of 407 and 451 respectively.
The town was occupied by German forces for part of World War I, and was close to the front lines for much of the war. It was extensively destroyed during the process of its recapture by Allied forces in 1917. It is disputed whether, or to what degree, the destruction was caused by Allied bombardments, aerial and artillery, versus demolition by retreating Germans.
The community was rebuilt after that war, largely in a traditional French "châteaux" style; in particular the municipal buildings, done in red brick with stonework. Most of the existing structures date from this time, or later; especially those in the town centre.
During World War II, a chemical factory in the town was bombed by Allied aircraft, on 8 August 1944. This was completed as part of an attack on industrial infrastructure. The town was liberated by American forces on 2 September 1944.
Geography
Built on the banks of the Oise and the Saint-Quentin canal, the town still retains its port to this day. Chauny is roughly equal distances from Soissons (34 km), Laon (36 km) and Saint-Quentin, Aisne (30 km) and is right at the heart of Picardy.
Chauny is well linked to the rest of the region by road : close to the A26 and A29 motorways which head towards Saint Quentin. The national airports in Paris are an hour by car.
The town is served by an important railway network and the railway line has passed through the town since 1849. The railway station in Chauny is part of the Paris - St Quentin - Maubeuge line, and is well serviced by Corail and TER trains towards Paris, Compiègne and Saint Quentin. The station was re built after the war to plans by Urbain Cassan.
The Saint-Quentin canal was built as a junction between the Somme and the Oise in 1738, is popular with barges.
A very modern theatre often shows cultural exhibitions and performances. Close by are the forests of Saint-Gobain and Coucy Basse.
Schools
The town today has three collèges and four lycées: there is a scientific, technical and professional lycée, Jean Macé, a general and technical lycée, Gay-Lussac, a private lycée, Saint-Charles, and a private agricultural lycée, Robert Schuman.
Population
{{Historical populations
|source = INSEE[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-02173#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE
|percentages = pagr
|align = none
|graph-pos = right
|1968 |13920
|1975 |14405
|1982 |13435
|1990 |12926
|1999 |12523
|2007 |12518
|2012 |11832
|2017 |11878
}}
Twin towns – sister cities
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in France}}
Chauny is twinned with:{{cite web |title=Le jumelage Andenne, Bergheim, Chauny a 50 ans|url=https://www.aisnenouvelle.fr/id15212/article/2019-06-02/le-jumelage-andenne-bergheim-chauny-50-ans|publisher=L'Aisne nouvelle|language=fr|date=2019-06-02|access-date=2022-04-05}}
Gallery
Chauny, Aisne. Ruines de l'Hotel de Ville et du Palais de Justice.Comité des Étudiants Américains de l'École des Beaux-Arts Paris.post card numbered 31504. Wittig collection.item 55.obverse.scan.01 (cropped).jpg|A view of the downtown in ruins on 20 August 1917 showing the destroyed Hôtel de Ville and Palais de Justice, among other core buildings; as shown on a war-charity art postcard painted by A. B. Denvil.
CAP 10 pour Lacour - CHAUNY - Boulevard Gambetta.jpg|The rebuilt downtown including the new Palais de Justice, circa 1930s
Chauny - Rue de la Chaussée.jpg|View of downtown in the 1930s
Chauny Hôtel de Ville.JPG|The town square during a festival, with the "new" Hôtel de Ville
Chauny (Aisne) la gare (01).JPG|Train station
Chauny (Aisne) église Notre-Dame.JPG|Église Notre-Dame de Chauny
Chauny (Aisne) église Saint-Martin (01).JPG|Église Saint-Martin de Chauny
Map commune FR insee code 02173.png|A basic map of Chauny and the surrounding area
Climate
{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|collapsed = Y
|location = Chauny (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1988–present)
|Jan record high C = 15.3
|Feb record high C = 19.3
|Mar record high C = 25.0
|Apr record high C = 27.6
|May record high C = 31.1
|Jun record high C = 35.1
|Jul record high C = 41.5
|Aug record high C = 38.6
|Sep record high C = 34.4
|Oct record high C = 27.7
|Nov record high C = 20.1
|Dec record high C = 17.0
|Jan record low C = -14.0
|Feb record low C = -13.0
|Mar record low C = -11.5
|Apr record low C = -3.6
|May record low C = -0.7
|Jun record low C = 2.4
|Jul record low C = 5.6
|Aug record low C = 5.4
|Sep record low C = 0.0
|Oct record low C = -4.0
|Nov record low C = -9.3
|Dec record low C = -11.7
|Jan high C = 6.3
|Feb high C = 7.4
|Mar high C = 11.5
|Apr high C = 15.5
|May high C = 18.9
|Jun high C = 22.1
|Jul high C = 24.9
|Aug high C = 24.6
|Sep high C = 20.6
|Oct high C = 15.6
|Nov high C = 10.0
|Dec high C = 6.7
| year high C = 15.3
|Jan mean C = 3.9
|Feb mean C = 4.5
|Mar mean C = 7.5
|Apr mean C = 10.4
|May mean C = 13.7
|Jun mean C = 16.7
|Jul mean C = 19.1
|Aug mean C = 18.9
|Sep mean C = 15.6
|Oct mean C = 11.8
|Nov mean C = 7.2
|Dec mean C = 4.4
| year mean C = 11.1
|Jan low C = 1.5
|Feb low C = 1.6
|Mar low C = 3.4
|Apr low C = 5.2
|May low C = 8.5
|Jun low C = 11.3
|Jul low C = 13.4
|Aug low C = 13.3
|Sep low C = 10.6
|Oct low C = 8.0
|Nov low C = 4.5
|Dec low C = 2.1
| year low C = 7.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 56.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 54.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 55.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 44.2
|May precipitation mm = 61.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 60.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 60.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 68.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 51.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 63.9
|Nov precipitation mm = 58.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 74.8
|year precipitation mm = 709.9
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 11.1
| Feb precipitation days = 10.5
| Mar precipitation days = 10.4
| Apr precipitation days = 9.1
| May precipitation days = 9.6
| Jun precipitation days = 8.7
| Jul precipitation days = 9.2
| Aug precipitation days = 9.5
| Sep precipitation days = 9.2
| Oct precipitation days = 10.7
| Nov precipitation days = 10.6
| Dec precipitation days = 12.8
| year precipitation days =121.4
|source 1 = Meteociel{{cite web
|url=https://www.meteociel.fr/obs/clim/normales_records.php?code=2173002
|title=Normales et records pour Chauny (02)
|publisher=Meteociel
|access-date=21 November 2024}}}}
See also
References
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110720204634/http://www.cita.asso.fr/Plan_reseaux_et_lignes/plan_tac2009.pdf Local Bus Route Map]
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{{commons category}}
{{Aisne communes}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Expand French|topic=geo|date=December 2008|Chauny}}
Category:Aisne communes articles needing translation from French Wikipedia