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Arras

France / Nord-Pas-de-Calais / Arras /
 municipality, draw only border

Arras (French pronunciation: ​[aʁɑːs]; Dutch: Atrecht) is the capital 'chef-lieu' of the Pas-de-Calais department. It is part of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, France’s fourth most populous region. It is located in Northern France on the Scarpe river. Established during the Iron Age by the Gauls, the city of Arras was first known as Nemetocenna, which is believed to have originated from the Celtic word nemeton, meaning 'sacred space'. The first mention of the name Arras appeared in the 12th century. Some hypothesize it is a contraction of Atrebates, a Belgic tribe of Gaul and Britain that used to inhabit the area. The name Atrebates could have successively evolved to become Atrades, Atradis, Aras and finally Arras. Others believe it comes from the Celtic word Ar, meaning 'running water', as the Scarpe river flows through Arras.
Arras is Pas-de-Calais’ third most populous city after Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. The city counts 43,693 residents (2012) while the Arras metropolitan area gathers a population of 124,200. It is located 182 kilometers (113 miles) north of Paris and can be reached in 2 hours by car and 45 minutes by train/TGV. It is the historic center of the Artois region. Its local speech is characterized as a patois. The city of Arras is well known for its architecture, culture and history. It was once part of the Spanish Netherlands, a portion of the Low Countries controlled by Spain from 1556 to 1714.
Each year Arras attracts thousands of visitors, who can explore the city's architecture and historic buildings. The most famous attractions include: the visit of the Town Hall, the ascent of the Belfry (listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 15, 2005), the underground garden of the Boves (Le Jardin des Boves, a maze 10 meters beneath the city), the Squares (La Place des Héros and La Grande Place), the Art District (the Theatre of Arras and the Hôtel de Guînes), the Abbey District (The Saint-Vaast Abbey and the Cathedral of Arras), the Vauban Citadel, and the Nemetacum site (the ancient town founded by the Romans 2,000 years ago).
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   50°17'21"N   2°46'4"E

Comments

  • wisenheimer (guest)
    There are very poor chess clubs in Arras. Even after years of training pupils still remain amateurish patzers, who know nothing about Zugzwang and fianchetto.
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