Épinal (French pronunciation: [epinal] (listen); German: Spinal) is a commune in northeastern France and the prefecture of the Vosges department.[4]
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Épinal | |
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Prefecture and commune | |
![]() The river Moselle | |
![]() Coat of arms | |
Location of Épinal ![]() | |
![]() ![]() Épinal ![]() ![]() Épinal | |
Coordinates: 48°10′28″N 6°27′04″E | |
Country | France |
Region | Grand Est |
Department | Vosges |
Arrondissement | Épinal |
Canton | Épinal-1 and 2 |
Intercommunality | CA Épinal |
Government | |
• Mayor (2020–2026) | Patrick Nardin[1] |
Area 1 | 59.24 km2 (22.87 sq mi) |
• Urban | 161.3 km2 (62.3 sq mi) |
• Metro | 1,288 km2 (497 sq mi) |
Population | 32,256 |
• Density | 540/km2 (1,400/sq mi) |
• Urban (2018[3]) | 61,912 |
• Urban density | 380/km2 (990/sq mi) |
• Metro (2018[3]) | 119,955 |
• Metro density | 93/km2 (240/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
INSEE/Postal code | 88160 /88000 |
Elevation | 315–492 m (1,033–1,614 ft) (avg. 340 m or 1,120 ft) |
Website | www.epinal.fr |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
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The commune has a land area of 59.24 square kilometres (22.87 sq mi). It is situated on the river Moselle, 60 kilometres (37 miles) south of Nancy. Épinal station has rail connections to Paris, Remiremont, Strasbourg, Belfort and Nancy.
In 2018, 32,223 people lived in the town proper, while its functional area had a population of 119,955.[3]
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Source: EHESS[5] and INSEE (1968-2017)[6] |
The old town centre features the Place des Vosges, the Chapitre district, Saint-Maurice's Basilica, medieval castle remains and the Roman House (11th and 13th centuries). It is also known for its parks and gardens, as well as a large communal forest with arboretum (the Arboretum de la Forêt d'Épinal).
There are major fortifications, extended and maintained until the early 20th century. There is a legend, among the populace of Épinal, that Napoleon's ghost strolls the wall ramparts on 9 September of each year at 05:00. It was on this day and at this time that, in 1811, Napoleon gave his first and last oration to the city of Épinal, wherein he addressed the challenges posed by northern expansion.
The Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial on the outskirts of the town where United States service members killed in World War II are buried.
Épinal is best known for the "Images d'Épinal" – which is now a common expression in French language – the popular prints created by a local company, the Imagerie d'Épinal, formerly known as the Imagerie Pellerin. These stencil-colored woodcuts of military subjects, Napoleonic history, storybook characters and other folk themes were widely distributed throughout the 19th century. The company still exists today, and still uses its hand-operated presses to produce the antique images. Other local industries include textiles, metals, morocco leather, precision instruments, and bicycles. There is a school of textile weaving.
Épinal is contained within Vosges' 1st constituency for elections to the National Assembly.
The engineering College École nationale supérieure des technologies et industries du bois dedicated to wood Industry is located in the city.
SAS Épinal is based in the commune.
Épinal is twinned with:[9]
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