Pontoise (pôNtwäz'), city (1990 pop. 28,463), capital of Val-d'Oise dept., N central France. It is the site of a technical school. The metallurgy and chemical industries are important. A "new town" called Cergy is south of the city.
Pontoise
| 5min Related Video: Pontoise |
| Wikipedia: Pontoise |
Coordinates: 49°03′06″N 2°06′06″E / 49.0516°N 02.1017°E
|
Commune of Pontoise |
|
 A 19th century street in the center of Pontoise |
|
| Location | |
 |
|
| Location (in red) within Paris inner and outer suburbs | |
| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Île-de-France |
| Department | Val-d'Oise (préfecture) |
| Arrondissement | Pontoise |
| Canton | Pontoise (chief town) |
| Intercommunality | Cergy-Pontoise |
| Mayor | Philippe Houillon (2001–2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 22–87 m (72–290 ft) (avg. 27 m/89 ft) |
| Land area1 | 7.15 km2 (2.76 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 27,700 (2005 [1]) |
| - Density | 3,874 /km2 (10,030 /sq mi) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 95500/ 95300 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Pontoise is a commune in the north-western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 28.4 km (17.6 miles) from the centre of Paris, in the "new town" of Cergy-Pontoise.
Contents |
Administration
Pontoise is the official préfecture (capital) of the Val-d'Oise département, although in reality the préfecture building and administration, as well as the department council (conseil général), are located inside the neighboring commune of Cergy, which is regarded as the de facto capital of Val-d'Oise.
Pontoise is also the seat of the Arrondissement of Pontoise. The sous-préfecture building and administration, unlike the préfecture, are located inside the commune of Pontoise.
History
Pontoise is the historical capital of the Vexin français. Its foundation dates from the Roman times (Pontisara). At that time, the rock piton overhanging the river Oise supported the defense of the ford which was on the Roman road, the Chaussée Jules César, between Lutetia (Paris) and Rotomagus (Rouen). The road still exists and is now part of the N14 from Paris to Rouen.
Demographics
As of the census of 1999, the population was 27,494.
The estimate for 2005 was 28,500.
Transport
Pontoise is served by Pontoise station, a terminus on Paris RER line C and an intermediate terminus for suburban trains originating from Gare Saint-Lazare as well as a terminus for suburban trains from Gare du Nord. Some trains originating at Gare Saint-Lazare continue onto Gisors. Bus services[2] operate in and around Pontoise with transport interchanges situated Place Charles de Gaulle and Parking Canrobert.
Culture
Pontoise is one of the capitals of the impressionist movement. Many painters took as a starting point the city and its area for the creation of landscapes. Camille Pissarro lived there for seventeen years. Other artists lived or worked in the area such as Vincent van Gogh (Auvers-sur-Oise), Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Charles-François Daubigny, Gustave Caillebotte, etc.
Sites of interest
- Cathédrale Saint-Maclou de Pontoise. It was built in the 12th century and reconstructed and enlarged in the 15th and 16th centuries. The tower as well as the central portal is in flamboyant style .The central body is flanked by Renaissance additions. The remaining 12th century part of the cathedral is to the back. To the North of the building is a Renaissance portal.
- Musée de Pontoise (Musée Tavet-Delacour). The museum houses sculptures from the Middle Ages, manuscripts from the seventeenth century and paintings from the twentieth century
- Musée Pissarro (impressionist collections) and garden of the five directions. The Museum is situated in a bourgeoise house at the entrance of the old castle.
See also
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pontoise |
Notes
- ^ 2005 estimate, 27,494 at the 1999 census
- ^ Stivo (formerly StAN) operates bus services within the new town of Cergy-Pontoise
|
|||||||||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Learn More
 | Val-d'Oise (department, France) |
| Oise (river, Belgium and France) |
| Vexin (region, France) |
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
 |
 | Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/. Read more |
 |
| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Pontoise". Read more |
ADVERTISEMENT
Mentioned in
- Val-d'Oise (department, France)
- Oise (river, Belgium and France)
- Vexin (region, France)
- Louis Hayet (art)
- Charles-Henri Plantade (music)
- Otto Freundlich (art)
- Dani Karavan (architecture)
- Pierre Lemercier (architecture)
- Boyfriends and Girlfriends (1987 Comedy Film)
- Water Lilies (2007 Drama Film)
- John Jones
- Berthe-Marie-Pauline Morisot (art)
- P?pin Jean de Huy (art)
- Anis (Rock Artist, '90s, 2000s)
