Meuse
Encyclopedia
Meuse is a department in northeast France
, named after the River Meuse.
on March 4, 1790. It was created from the former provinces
of Barrois
(area of Bar-le-Duc
) and Three Bishoprics
(area of Verdun
).
The department was one of the great battlefields of World War I
; an important battle was fought in 1916 at Verdun
.
of Lorraine
and is surrounded by the French departments of Ardennes, Marne
, Haute-Marne
, Vosges
, Meurthe-et-Moselle
, and Belgium
on the north. Parts of Meuse belong to Parc naturel régional de Lorraine.
The important rivers are the following:
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...
, named after the River Meuse.
History
Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French RevolutionFrench 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...
on March 4, 1790. It was created from the former provinces
Provinces of France
The Kingdom of France was organised into provinces until March 4, 1790, when the establishment of the département system superseded provinces. The provinces of France were roughly equivalent to the historic counties of England...
of Barrois
Barrois
Barrois is a "pays" in the eastern part of France. In the Middle Ages it was part of the duchy of Bar, then bordering the duchy of Lorraine. Today Barrois is a "pays" of the present-day Région Lorraine.-External links:*...
(area of Bar-le-Duc
Bar-le-Duc
Bar-le-Duc, formerly known as Bar, is a commune in the Meuse département, of which it is the préfecture . The department is in Lorraine in north-eastern France-Geography:...
) and Three Bishoprics
Three Bishoprics
The Three Bishoprics constituted a province of pre-Revolutionary France consisting of the prince-bishoprics of Verdun, Metz, and Toul within the Lorraine region....
(area of Verdun
Verdun
Verdun is a city in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital of the department is the slightly smaller city of Bar-le-Duc.- History :...
).
The department was one of the great battlefields of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
; an important battle was fought in 1916 at Verdun
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was one of the major battles during the First World War on the Western Front. It was fought between the German and French armies, from 21 February – 18 December 1916, on hilly terrain north of the city of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France...
.
Geography
Meuse is part of the current regionRégions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
of Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
and is surrounded by the French departments of Ardennes, Marne
Marne
Marne is a department in north-eastern France named after the river Marne which flows through the department. The prefecture of Marne is Châlons-en-Champagne...
, Haute-Marne
Haute-Marne
Haute-Marne is a department in the northeast of France named after the Marne River.-History:Haute-Marne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, Vosges
Vosges
Vosges is a French department, named after the local mountain range. It contains the hometown of Joan of Arc, Domrémy.-History:The Vosges department is one of the original 83 departments of France, created on February 9, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was made of territories that had been...
, Meurthe-et-Moselle
Meurthe-et-Moselle
Meurthe-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...
, and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
on the north. Parts of Meuse belong to Parc naturel régional de Lorraine.
The important rivers are the following:
- MeuseMeuse RiverThe Maas or Meuse is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea...
- AireAire (Aisne)The Aire is a river in northern France, right tributary of the Aisne. Its source is near the village Saint-Aubin-sur-Aire. Its course crosses the départements of Meuse and Ardennes. It flows through the towns of Pierrefitte-sur-Aire, Clermont-en-Argonne, Varennes-en-Argonne and Grandpré, finally...
- ChiersChiersThe Chiers is a river in Luxembourg, Belgium and France. It is a right tributary to the river Meuse. Its total length is about 130 km.The source of the Chiers is near Differdange, in Luxembourg...
- OrnainOrnainThe Ornain is a 116 km long river in northeastern France, right tributary of the Saulx . It is formed near the village Gondrecourt-le-Château by the confluence of the small rivers Ognon and Maldite. It flows generally northwest...
- SaulxSaulx RiverThe Saulx is a 115 km long river in France, right tributary of the Marne. Its source is near the village Germisay. It flows generally northwest, through the following départements and towns:*Haute-Marne: Effincourt*Meuse: Montiers-sur-Saulx, Stainville...
- OrgeOrgeThe Orge is a 53 km long river in France, left tributary of the Seine. Its source is in the village Saint-Martin-de-Bréthencourt. Its course crosses the départements of Yvelines and Essonne. It flows northwest through the towns of Dourdan, Saint-Chéron, Breuillet, Arpajon, and Savigny-sur-Orge,...
- OgnonOgnonOgnon may refer to:Rivers in France* Ognon in Franche-Comté, tributary of the Saône* Ognon in Loire-Atlantique* Ognon, which becomes the Ornain after its confluence with the MalditeOthers*Ognon, Oise, commune in France...
- VaiseVaiseVaise is a quarter of the City of Lyon , located along the Saône at the foot of the plateau Duchère, north-west of the city. Former commune of the Rhône department, Vaise was linked to Lyon on 24 March 1852, to form part of the 5th arrondissement. Vaise was then attached to the 9th arrondissement...
Demographics
The population has decreased sharply since the 19th century, with the rural exodus to the cities.See also
- Cantons of the Meuse department
- Communes of the Meuse department
- Arrondissements of the Meuse department
External links
Prefecture website General council website Meuse Tourism Guide Official Tourist Board website Rhine-Meuse delta studies- Bibliography on Water Resources and International Law Peace Palace Library