Argenteuil
Encyclopedia
Argenteuil is a commune
in the northwestern suburbs of Paris
, France
. It is located 12.3 km (7.6 mi) from the center of Paris
. Argenteuil is a sub-prefecture of the Val-d'Oise
department, the seat of the arrondissement of Argenteuil
.
Argenteuil is the second most populous commune in the suburbs of Paris (after Boulogne-Billancourt
) and the most populous one in the Val-d'Oise department, although it is not its prefecture, which is shared between the communes of Cergy
and Pontoise
.
of 697 as Argentoialum, from a Latin
/Gaulish root argento meaning "silver", "silvery", "shiny", perhaps in reference to the gleaming surface of the river Seine
, on the banks of which Argenteuil is located, and from a Celtic suffix -ialo meaning "clearing, glade" or "place of".
that arose from the convent was destroyed during the French Revolution
.
A rural escape for Parisians, it is now a suburb of Paris. Painters made Argenteuil famous, including Claude Monet
, Jean-Étienne Delacroix, Auguste Renoir and Georges Braque
.
suburban rail line: Argenteuil and Val d'Argenteuil.
is one of its former students.
"Autumn at Argenteuil", "Regatta at Argenteuil", "Red Boats, Argenteuil", "The Bridge at Argenteuil", "The Port at Argenteuil", "The Seine at Argenteuil"
"Argenteuil" and "Seine near Argenteuil" by Édouard Manet
; "Regatta at Argenteuil", by Auguste Renoir; "The Bridge in Argenteuil", by Gustave Caillebotte
department (88.15 per 1000). Argenteuil is the most dangerous city of the Val-d'Oise
département.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the northwestern suburbs of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is located 12.3 km (7.6 mi) from the center of Paris
Kilometre Zero
In many countries, Kilometre Zero or similar terms in other languages, is a particular location , from which distances are traditionally measured...
. Argenteuil is a sub-prefecture of the Val-d'Oise
Val-d'Oise
Val-d'Oise is a French department, created in 1968 after the split of the Seine-et-Oise department and located in the Île-de-France region. In local slang, it is known as "quatre-vingt quinze" or "neuf cinq"...
department, the seat of the arrondissement of Argenteuil
Arrondissement of Argenteuil
The arrondissement of Argenteuil is an arrondissement of France, located in the Val-d'Oise département, in the Île-de-France région. It has 7 cantons and 7 communes.-Cantons:The cantons of the arrondissement of Argenteuil are:# Argenteuil-Est...
.
Argenteuil is the second most populous commune in the suburbs of Paris (after Boulogne-Billancourt
Boulogne-Billancourt
Boulogne-Billancourt is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Boulogne-Billancourt is a sub-prefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department and the seat of the Arrondissement of Boulogne-Billancourt....
) and the most populous one in the Val-d'Oise department, although it is not its prefecture, which is shared between the communes of Cergy
Cergy
Cergy is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris, in the "new town" of Cergy-Pontoise, created in the 1960s, of which it is the central and most populated commune....
and Pontoise
Pontoise
Pontoise is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris, in the "new town" of Cergy-Pontoise.-Administration:...
.
Name
The name Argenteuil is recorded for the first time in a royal charterCharter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
of 697 as Argentoialum, from a Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
/Gaulish root argento meaning "silver", "silvery", "shiny", perhaps in reference to the gleaming surface of the river Seine
Seine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
, on the banks of which Argenteuil is located, and from a Celtic suffix -ialo meaning "clearing, glade" or "place of".
History
Argenteuil was founded as a convent in the 7th century (→ Pierre Abélard, Convent of Argenteuil). The monasteryMonastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
that arose from the convent was destroyed during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.
A rural escape for Parisians, it is now a suburb of Paris. Painters made Argenteuil famous, including Claude Monet
Claude Monet
Claude Monet was a founder of French impressionist painting, and the most consistent and prolific practitioner of the movement's philosophy of expressing one's perceptions before nature, especially as applied to plein-air landscape painting. . Retrieved 6 January 2007...
, Jean-Étienne Delacroix, Auguste Renoir and Georges Braque
Georges Braque
Georges Braque[p] was a major 20th century French painter and sculptor who, along with Pablo Picasso, developed the art style known as Cubism.-Early Life:...
.
Personalities
- Georges BraqueGeorges BraqueGeorges Braque[p] was a major 20th century French painter and sculptor who, along with Pablo Picasso, developed the art style known as Cubism.-Early Life:...
, 3 May 1882, Co-founder of cubismCubismCubism was a 20th century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture...
and sculptor - Ingrid ChauvinIngrid ChauvinIngrid Chauvin is a French actress known for her roles in the miniseries Méditerranée, Dolmen, and the series Femmes de loi.-Early life:...
, (b. 3 October 1971), French actress - Chevalier d'Argenteuil, (fl. in Newfoundland, Canada 1709-13), French soldier; he captured Fort William at St. John's, Newfoundland in 1709
- Sidney DuteilSidney DuteilSidney Duteil , better known as Sidney, is a French musician, rapper, DJ, television and radio host, and occasional actor. He is well known in France for his connection with the beginnings of the French hip hop scene. In 1984, he was the host of the popular weekly French Rap television show...
television host
Transport
Argenteuil is served by two stations on the Transilien Paris – Saint-LazareTransilien Paris – Saint-Lazare
Transilien Paris – Saint-Lazare is one of the sectors in the Paris Transilien suburban rail network. The trains on this sector depart from Gare Saint-Lazare in central Paris, as well as from Noisy-le-Roi station in the suburbs. Transilien services from Paris – Saint-Lazare are part of the SNCF...
suburban rail line: Argenteuil and Val d'Argenteuil.
Education
The Conservatoire à rayonnement départemental de Musique, Danse et Théâtre is located in Argenteuil. André BonAndré Bon
André Bon is a French composer. A student of Olivier Messiaen, he has composed over fifty works including several chamber operas. He is Professor of Composition at the Argenteuil Conservatory.-Biography:...
is one of its former students.
Population
Immigration
Famous paintings of Argenteuil
- By Claude Monet
"Autumn at Argenteuil", "Regatta at Argenteuil", "Red Boats, Argenteuil", "The Bridge at Argenteuil", "The Port at Argenteuil", "The Seine at Argenteuil"
- By other painters
"Argenteuil" and "Seine near Argenteuil" by Édouard Manet
Édouard Manet
Édouard Manet was a French painter. One of the first 19th-century artists to approach modern-life subjects, he was a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism....
; "Regatta at Argenteuil", by Auguste Renoir; "The Bridge in Argenteuil", by Gustave Caillebotte
Gustave Caillebotte
Gustave Caillebotte was a French painter, member and patron of the group of artists known as Impressionists, though he painted in a much more realistic manner than many other artists in the group...
Crime
Argenteuil has 207,43 criminal incidents per 1000 inhabitants, far higher than national average (83 per 1000) and even higher than the crime rate of the Val-d'OiseVal-d'Oise
Val-d'Oise is a French department, created in 1968 after the split of the Seine-et-Oise department and located in the Île-de-France region. In local slang, it is known as "quatre-vingt quinze" or "neuf cinq"...
department (88.15 per 1000). Argenteuil is the most dangerous city of the Val-d'Oise
Val-d'Oise
Val-d'Oise is a French department, created in 1968 after the split of the Seine-et-Oise department and located in the Île-de-France region. In local slang, it is known as "quatre-vingt quinze" or "neuf cinq"...
département.