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Toul is a
communeThe commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. The French word commune appeared in the 12th century, from Medieval Latin communia, meaning a small gathering of people sharing a common life; from Latin communis, things held in common.French communes are roughly...
in the
Meurthe-et-MoselleMeurthe-et-Moselle is a department in the Lorraine region of France, named after the Meurthe and Moselle rivers.- History :Meurthe-et-Moselle was created in 1871 at the end of the Franco-Prussian War from the parts of the former departments of Moselle and Meurthe which remained French...
department in north-eastern
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
.
It is a sub-prefecture of the department.
Geography
Toul is located between
CommercyCommercy is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is the home of the madeleines referred to by Marcel Proust in A la Recherche du Temps Perdu.-History:...
and
NancyNancy is a city in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France, and formerly the capital of the Duchy of Lorraine, and then the French province of the same name.The city is the head of the department...
, and situated between the
Moselle RiverThe Moselle is a river flowing through France, Luxembourg and Germany. It is a left tributary of the Rhine, joining it at Koblenz. A small part of Belgium is also drained by the Mosel through the Our....
and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin.
History
Toul was known to the
RomansAncient Rome was a civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea, it became one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
as
Tullum Leucorum, and was the capital of the
GaulishThe Gaulish language is the Celtic language that was spoken in Gaul, Switzerland, eastern Belgium and western Germany before being supplanted by Vulgar Latin, Dutch and German from around the 4th century A.D onwards. Gaulish is paraphyletically grouped with Celtiberian, Lepontic, and Galatian as...
tribe of the
LeuciThe Leuci were an ancient Gallic tribe, traditionally considered to have lived the southern part of what is now Lorraine. They are mentioned by Julius Caesar as forming part of the people supplying wheat to the Roman army in 58 BC.- Articles connexes :...
.
In 612, King
Theudebert IITheudebert II , King of Austrasia , was the son and heir of Childebert II. He received the kingdom of Austrasia plus the cities of Poitiers, Tours, Vellay, Bordeaux, and Châteaudun, as well as the Champagne, the Auvergne, and Transjurane Alemannia, on the death of his father in 595, but was...
of
AustrasiaAustrasia formed the north-eastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising parts of the territory of present-day eastern France, western Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Metz served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier, and...
was defeated by King
Theuderic IITheuderic II , king of Burgundy and Austrasia , was the second son of Childebert II...
of Burgundy near Toul. By the
Treaty of MeerssenThe Treaty of Meerssen or Mersen was a partition treaty of the Carolingian Empire concluded on 8 August 870 by the two surviving sons of Emperor Louis the Pious, King Charles the Bald of West Francia and Louis the German of East Francia, at Meerssen north of Maastricht, in the present-day...
of 870, Toul became part of East Francia, the later Holy Roman Empire. During the High Middle Ages, it became a
Free Imperial CityIn the Holy Roman Empire, a free imperial city was a city formally ruled by the emperor only — as opposed to the majority of cities in the Empire, which were governed by one of the many princes of the Empire, such as dukes or prince-bishops...
. Toul was annexed to France by King
Henry IIHenry II of the House of Valois and son and successor of Francis I was King of France from 31 March 1547, until his death in 1559.-Early years:...
in 1552; this was recognized by the Holy Roman Empire in the
Peace of WestphaliaThe term Peace of Westphalia refers to the two peace treaties of Osnabrück and Münster, signed on May 15 and October 24, 1648, respectively, and written in French, that ended both the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Republic of the Seven...
of 1648. It then was a part of the French province of the
Three BishopricsThe Three Bishoprics constituted a province of pre-Revolutionary France consisting of the bishoprics of Verdun, Metz, and Toul in the Lorraine region. These were territories of the Holy Roman Empire until they were seized by French King Henry II between April and June of 1552...
.
During the
siegeThe Siege of Toul was the siege of the French town of Toul from 16 August to 23 September 1870 by Prussian, Bavarian and Württemberg forces during the Franco-Prussian War. 64 guns opened fire at 6am on September 23, and the fortress surrendered at 3pm after 2,433 shells had been fired....
of 1870 during the
Franco-Prussian WarThe Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between France and Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and Bavaria...
, the last time that Toul's defenses were used as a classical fortress, 64 guns opened fire at 6am on 23 September, and the fortress surrendered at 3pm after 2,433 shells had been fired.
Toul was the seat of the bishops of Toul; the diocese was founded around 365 and existed until 1807.
The city was also the primary base of the United States Air Service - predecessor to the United States Air Force - during World War I. As such, it was a base for many of the 45 war time squadrons including the squadrons of the 1st Pursuit Group, 1st Observation Group and others. The Americans referred to the area around Toul as the Toul Sector. Two large operations were launched from this area: the St. Mihiel offensive and the Meuse-Argonne offensive, both in September.
Sights
The most striking features are the impressive stone
rampartA defensive wall is a fortification used to defend a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
s. It is not known precisely when they were first built, but there appears to have been a fortified town at this location since the earliest recorded history. Today, the ramparts encircle and define the old town. They are built of dressed white stone, and topped with grass, and in places are over five metres high.
There is a great deal of
RomanAncient Rome was a civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea, it became one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
archæology in the area and allegedly some in the town. The Roman fortified town of
GrandGrand is a village and commune in the French département of Vosges. Grand is famous for its Roman amphitheatre, mosaics and aqueduct.-External links:*...
is some 30 km away, with its great
amphitheatreAn amphitheatre is an open-air venue for spectator sports, concerts, rallies, or theatrical performances. There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word 'amphitheatre' is used: Ancient amphitheatres, built by the ancient Romans, were large central performance spaces...
and temple to the Cult of Apollo.
The cathedral is a magnificent example of
Gothic architectureGothic architecture is a style of architecture which flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
.
The old town's architecture is dominated by past glories in various states of decay, including a major gothic
cathedralToul Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Toul, Lorraine, France, and a fine example of Gothic architecture....
, which is in a poor condition and is being slowly restored. Many of the houses were built as canonical residences in the
Late Middle AgesThe Late Middle Ages is a term used by historians to describe European history in the period of the 14th and 15th centuries . The Late Middle Ages were preceded by the High Middle Ages, and followed by the Early Modern era ....
and bear vestiges in the form of ornamental stonework.
There is no trace of the monastery, however its wine-cellars still exist, under the shops on the North side of the Rue Gambetta. (Access is possible via the Camera Shop).
Transportation
Toul is at the intersection of the
Moselle RiverThe Moselle is a river flowing through France, Luxembourg and Germany. It is a left tributary of the Rhine, joining it at Koblenz. A small part of Belgium is also drained by the Mosel through the Our....
(which divides into the river proper and the
Moselle Canalisée just outside the town) with the Canal de la Marne au Rhin, and was once, consequently, an important port. The barges known as
péniches still navigate these watercourses commercially, typically carrying steel, though in the summer much more of the water traffic is for pleasure.
There is a main-line railway station at Toul, the last major station before the (once vast, and still very large) marshalling yards at
NancyNancy is a city in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France, and formerly the capital of the Duchy of Lorraine, and then the French province of the same name.The city is the head of the department...
. However, the Paris-Strasbourg
TGVThe TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by VFE, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator. It was developed during the 1970s by GEC-Alsthom and SNCF, and is now operated primarily by SNCF...
line, now under construction, will pass about 20 km north of Toul, approximately mid-way between
MetzMetz is a city in the northeast of France, capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. It is located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers....
and Nancy. Its completion will likely reduce Toul's importance as a station.
Economy
The surrounding countryside is a wine-growing region, in which the
AOCAppellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled term of origin" is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National des...
Côtes de ToulCôtes de Toul is a French wine produced in the département of Meurthe-et-Moselle in the Lorraine région. with vineyards covering 110 hectares in an area close to Toul, to the west of the city of Nancy....
vintage is produced. Particularly notable is the
Gris de Toul.
Administration
Toul is the seat of two cantons: Toul-Nord with a population of 27,102, and Toul-Sud with a population of 13,215. The following table shows the communes in each canton:
| Toul-Nord |
Toul-Sud |
| Aingeray Aingeray is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.As of 1999 the population of is 638; inhabitants are called Aingerois....
|
Bicqueley Bicqueley is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France....
|
| Boucq Boucq is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France....
|
Blénod-lès-Toul Blénod-lès-Toul is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
| Bouvron Bouvron is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-Demographics:-External links:*...
|
Bulligny Bulligny is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France....
|
Bruley Bruley is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.Bruley is notable for its wine production.-Demography:-Notable people:*Claude Manet -Mayor of Bruley*Marcel Laroppe Ex manager of the Société Vinicole du Toulois...
|
Charmes-la-Côte Charmes-la-Côte is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
| Dommartin-lès-Toul Dommartin-lès-Toul is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
Chaudeney-sur-Moselle Chaudeney-sur-Moselle is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
| Écrouves Écrouves is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
Choloy-Ménillot Choloy-Ménillot is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.It is located 28 kilometres west of Nancy and 5 kilometres west of Toul....
|
| Fontenoy-sur-Moselle Fontenoy-sur-Moselle is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
Crézilles Crézilles is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
| Foug Foug is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France....
|
Domgermain Domgermain is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
| Gondreville Gondreville is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.It was a base for the United States Air Service during World War I.-External links:*...
|
Gye Gye is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France....
|
| Lagney Lagney is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France....
|
Mont-le-Vignoble Mont-le-Vignoble is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
| Laneuveville-derrière-Foug Laneuveville-derrière-Foug is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
Moutrot Moutrot is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France....
|
| Lay-Saint-Remy Lay-Saint-Remy is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France....
|
Ochey Ochey is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France....
|
| Lucey Lucey is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
Pierre-la-Treiche Pierre-la-Treiche is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
| Ménil-la-Tour Ménil-la-Tour is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
Sexey-aux-Forges Sexey-aux-Forges is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
| Pagney-derrière-Barine Pagney-derrière-Barine is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
Villey-le-Sec Villey-le-Sec is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
| Sanzey Sanzey is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France....
|
|
| Sexey-les-Bois Sexey-les-Bois is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
|
|
| Trondes Trondes is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France....
|
|
Twin towns
HammHamm is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany. It is located in the northeastern part of the Ruhr area. As of December 2003 its population was 180,849. The city is situated between the A1 motorway and A2 motorway...
(GER)
, since 1987
Notable people
- Saint Gerard of Toul
Saint Gerard of Toul, also Saint Gerald of Toul was a German priest who was appointed bishop of Toul in 963....
, bishop
- Antoine Augustin Calmet
Antoine Augustin Calmet , French Benedictine, was born at Ménil-la-Horgne in Lorraine.He was educated at the Benedictine priory of Breuil, and in 1688 joined the same order in the abbey of St-Mansuy at Toul, where he was admitted to profession 23 October of the following year...
, monk
- Marcel Bigeard
Marcel Bigeard is a French military officer who fought in World War II, Indochina and Algeria. He was one of the commanders in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu and is thought by many to have been a dominating influence on French 'unconventional' warfare thinking from that time onward...
, military leader
- Laurent Gouvion Saint-Cyr, military leader
- Louis Majorelle
Louis Majorelle was a French decorator and furniture designer who manufactured his own designs, in the French tradition of the ébéniste...
, furniture designer and manufacturer
External links