Route nationale 2
Encyclopedia
The Route nationale 2 is a route nationale in northern France
.
via Brussels
, Antwerp, Breda
and Utrecht
. The territory north of the present border with Belgium was removed from France in the 1815 Congress of Vienna
, and thus route 2 was truncated to that line. In 1824 it was renamed route royale 2, and in 1830 it became route nationale 2.
The former path to Amsterdam is now the N6 and N1 in Belgium
and the N263 and unnumbered roads paralleling the A27
and A2
in the Netherlands.
). The road passes the Aéroport de Paris-Bourget. Where it turns east leaving the N 17
. The road then crosses the A 1 and A3 autoroute
. The N 2 merges with the A 104 briefly as it passes south east of Aéroport de Paris-Charles de Gaulle. The original road ran through the airport site and is designated by the D 902 to the south and D 401 through Dammartin-en-Goële.
The road now by-passes many of the villages and small towns on the original route such as Nanteuil-le-Haudouin. The road then passes through the Foret de Retz. The road passes open country and war cemeteries to the town of Soissons
on the river Aisne
. The road crosses the N 31 (Rouen
to Reims
.
sits. The road crosses the N 44 (Reims to Cambrai
).
(Calais
to Troyes
). The countryside is now flat and open. The road turns north after the small town of Verins. The road then crosses the upper reaches of the Oise
. At La Capelle the road meets the N 29 to Le Havre
and the N 43 (Calais
to Metz
).
The countryside becomes more hilly on its way to Avesnes-s-Helpe. At Maubeuge the road crosses the river Sambre
, and also the N 49 (Valenciennes
to Belgium
). The road continues north to the frontier with Belgium and Mons
becoming the N 6. The route eventually reaches Brussels
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...
.
History
The N 2 was initially defined in 1811 as route impériale 2, running from Paris all the way to AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
via Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Antwerp, Breda
Breda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...
and Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
. The territory north of the present border with Belgium was removed from France in the 1815 Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
, and thus route 2 was truncated to that line. In 1824 it was renamed route royale 2, and in 1830 it became route nationale 2.
The former path to Amsterdam is now the N6 and N1 in 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...
and the N263 and unnumbered roads paralleling the A27
A27 motorway (Netherlands)
The A27 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands. It is approximately 109 kilometers in length.The A27 is located in the Dutch provinces North Brabant, South Holland, Utrecht, North Holland, and Flevoland. It connects the city of Breda with the Almere...
and A2
A2 motorway (Netherlands)
The A2 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands. It is one of the busiest highways in the Netherlands. The road connects the city of Amsterdam, near the interchange Amstel, with the Belgian border, near Maastricht and Liège , and the Belgian road A25....
in the Netherlands.
Paris to Soissons (0 km to 100 km)
The RN 2 starts at the Porte de la Villette in north west Paris. Called the Avenue Jean Jaurès to Le Bourget crossing the A 86 autoroute and then A1 autoroute (Paris to LilleLille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
). The road passes the Aéroport de Paris-Bourget. Where it turns east leaving the N 17
Route nationale 17
The Route nationale 17, or RN17, is a trunk road in France connecting Paris to the frontier with Belgium.-Reclassification:...
. The road then crosses the A 1 and A3 autoroute
A3 autoroute
The A3 Autoroute is a French autoroute located entirely within the départment of Seine-Saint-Denis, serving Montreuil-sous-Bois, Rosny-sous-Bois, and Bondy. Its southern terminus is an interchange with the Boulevard Périphérique at the Porte de Bagnolet, and its northern terminus is an interchange...
. The N 2 merges with the A 104 briefly as it passes south east of Aéroport de Paris-Charles de Gaulle. The original road ran through the airport site and is designated by the D 902 to the south and D 401 through Dammartin-en-Goële.
The road now by-passes many of the villages and small towns on the original route such as Nanteuil-le-Haudouin. The road then passes through the Foret de Retz. The road passes open country and war cemeteries to the town of Soissons
Soissons
Soissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones...
on the river Aisne
Aisne
Aisne is a department in the northern part of France named after the Aisne River.- History :Aisne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Île-de-France, Picardie, and Champagne.Most of the old...
. The road crosses the N 31 (Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
to Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
.
Soissons to Laon (100 km to 130 km)
North of the town the countryside is more wooded the road passes the Monument des Copouillots. The road reaches the ridge on which the walled town of LaonLaon
Laon is the capital city of the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-History:The hilly district of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held strategic importance...
sits. The road crosses the N 44 (Reims to Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
).
Laon to Maubeuge (130 km to 224 km)
The road heads north east over the A26 autorouteA26 autoroute
The A26 is a long French motorway connecting Calais and Troyes. It is also known as the Autoroute des Anglais as it is the main route from the Dover-Calais ferries and the Channel Tunnel to most parts of France and often contains large numbers of British cars, particularly during the summer...
(Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
to Troyes
Troyes
Troyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...
). The countryside is now flat and open. The road turns north after the small town of Verins. The road then crosses the upper reaches of the Oise
Oise
Oise is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise.-History:Oise is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
. At La Capelle the road meets the N 29 to Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
and the N 43 (Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
to Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
).
The countryside becomes more hilly on its way to Avesnes-s-Helpe. At Maubeuge the road crosses the river Sambre
Sambre
The Sambre is a river in northern France and Wallonia, southern Belgium, left tributary of the Meuse River. The ancient Romans called the river Sabis.-Course:...
, and also the N 49 (Valenciennes
Valenciennes
Valenciennes is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies on the Scheldt river. Although the city and region had seen a steady decline between 1975 and 1990, it has since rebounded...
to 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...
). The road continues north to the frontier with Belgium and Mons
Mons
Mons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,...
becoming the N 6. The route eventually reaches Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...