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Beauvais

Bieuvais (Picard)

Prefecture and commune

Beauvais Cathedral

Coat of arms

Beauvais

Location in France

Beauvais

Location in Hauts-de-France

Country

Beauvais

Beauvais-1 and 2

CA Beauvaisis

Area

33.31 km² (12.86 sq mi)

Population

(2021)

56,677

• Density

1,701.50/km² (4,406.9/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+01:00 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+02:00 (CEST)

INSEE/Postal code

60057 /60000

Elevation

57–170 m (187–558 ft)
(avg. 67 m or 220 ft)

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Beauvais is a city in northern France. It is the main city of the Oise department. Beauvais is about 75 kilometers (47 miles) north of Paris.

In 2021, about 56,677 people lived in Beauvais. This makes it the biggest city in the Oise department. The larger area around Beauvais, including its suburbs, has about 128,020 people. The region around the city is known as the Beauvaisis.

History of Beauvais

Ancient Times and Roman Influence

Beauvais has a long history. The Romans called it Caesaromagus. This name means "Caesar's field" in an old Celtic language. Later, it was known as Bellovacum. This name came from the Belgic tribe called the Bellovaci, who lived there. Beauvais was their main city.

Around 1013, the city became a county. Later, the bishops of Beauvais became important leaders in France. They even helped crown kings.

Medieval Sieges and Heroism

Beauvais had to defend itself many times. In 1346, the English attacked the city. They also besieged it again in 1433.

A famous siege happened in 1472. The Duke of Burgundy tried to capture Beauvais. The women of the city showed great bravery. They were led by Jeanne Hachette. Her courage is still celebrated every year on June 27. During this celebration, women lead the procession.

Modern History and World Wars

Beauvais was badly damaged in World War I. It was hit again in World War II in June 1940. Much of the old city was destroyed. The famous cathedral was also badly hurt. British forces freed the city on August 30, 1944.

Geography and Climate

Location and Surroundings

Beauvais is located at the bottom of wooded hills. It sits on the left bank of the Thérain river. The Avelon river also joins the Thérain here. The old city walls are gone now. Instead, there are wide boulevards. There are also nice walking areas in the northeast of the city.

Weather in Beauvais

Beauvais has an oceanic climate. This means it has mild temperatures and rain throughout the year. The average yearly temperature is about 9.9 °C (49.8 °F). The city gets about 1669 hours of sunshine each year.

Rainfall averages about 669 mm (26 inches) per year. It rains often, with about 116 days of rain per year. Fog is also common, appearing about 55 days a year. Winds usually come from the west to the south.

Climate data for Beauvais (1981–2010 averages)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	15.6 (60.1)	20.4 (68.7)	23.5 (74.3)	28.4 (83.1)	31.2 (88.2)	36.9 (98.4)	41.6 (106.9)	39.0 (102.2)	33.9 (93.0)	28.2 (82.8)	20.2 (68.4)	17.0 (62.6)	41.6 (106.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	6.3 (43.3)	7.3 (45.1)	11.1 (52.0)	14.3 (57.7)	18.2 (64.8)	21.2 (70.2)	23.9 (75.0)	23.9 (75.0)	20.2 (68.4)	15.5 (59.9)	10.1 (50.2)	6.6 (43.9)	14.9 (58.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	1.0 (33.8)	0.9 (33.6)	3.0 (37.4)	4.5 (40.1)	8.0 (46.4)	10.8 (51.4)	12.9 (55.2)	12.8 (55.0)	10.2 (50.4)	7.6 (45.7)	3.9 (39.0)	1.5 (34.7)	6.5 (43.7)
Record low °C (°F)	−19.7 (−3.5)	−16.8 (1.8)	−12.1 (10.2)	−6.9 (19.6)	−2.2 (28.0)	1.2 (34.2)	3.6 (38.5)	3.9 (39.0)	−0.5 (31.1)	−5.0 (23.0)	−10.9 (12.4)	−15.7 (3.7)	−19.7 (−3.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	57.5 (2.26)	45.5 (1.79)	53.4 (2.10)	48.6 (1.91)	58.9 (2.32)	57.1 (2.25)	54.0 (2.13)	51.7 (2.04)	54.2 (2.13)	63.8 (2.51)	56.1 (2.21)	68.6 (2.70)	669.4 (26.35)
Average precipitation days	11.2	9.2	10.6	9.7	10.2	8.5	8.3	7.5	8.6	10.3	10.9	11.8	116.9
Average snowy days	4.7	4.1	3.3	1.0	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.6	3.0	17.8
Average relative humidity (%)	89	85	82	81	76	74	74	72	81	86	88	90	81.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours	65.2	76.7	124.0	171.5	198.9	211.8	217.4	210.1	162.0	112.2	66.9	52.6	1,669.4
Source 1: Meteo France
Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity, snowy days 1961–1990)

Population Growth

The population data below shows how many people have lived in Beauvais over time. In 1943, Beauvais grew by adding nearby areas. These included Marissel, Saint-Just-des-Marais, Voisinlieu, and part of Notre-Dame-du-Thil.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1793	12,449	—
1800	12,392	−0.07%
1806	13,183	+1.04%
1821	12,798	−0.20%
1831	12,867	+0.05%
1836	13,082	+0.33%
1841	13,925	+1.26%
1846	14,527	+0.85%
1851	14,216	−0.43%
1856	14,286	+0.10%
1861	15,364	+1.47%
1866	13,609	−2.40%
1872	13,541	−0.08%
1876	16,600	+5.22%
1881	17,525	+1.09%
1886	18,441	+1.02%
1891	19,382	+1.00%
1896	19,906	+0.53%

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1901	20,300	+0.39%
1906	20,248	−0.05%
1911	19,841	−0.41%
1921	19,270	−0.29%
1926	19,387	+0.12%
1931	18,738	−0.68%
1936	18,869	+0.14%
1946	23,156	+2.07%
1954	26,756	+1.82%
1962	33,995	+3.04%
1968	46,777	+5.46%
1975	54,089	+2.10%
1982	52,365	−0.46%
1990	54,190	+0.43%
1999	55,392	+0.24%
2007	55,230	−0.04%
2012	54,289	−0.34%
2017	56,254	+0.71%

Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968-2017)

Famous Places to Visit

Beauvais Cathedral: A Tall Wonder

The impressive Beauvais Cathedral

The city's most famous building is the Beauvais Cathedral. It is dedicated to Saint Peter. This cathedral is an amazing example of Gothic architecture. It has a very tall ceiling, reaching over 46 meters (150 feet) high! This makes it one of the tallest cathedrals in Europe.

Building started in 1247. Workers tried to make it even taller. But in 1284, part of the roof collapsed. This caused a delay in building. The transept (the part that crosses the main body of the church) was built much later, from 1500 to 1548. In 1573, a tall central tower fell, and work stopped again.

The outside of the cathedral is very detailed. It shows the rich style of late Gothic art. The carved wooden doors are also masterpieces. Inside, you can see an amazing astronomical clock from 1866. There are also beautiful stained glass windows. Some of the best ones were made by Engrand Le Prince, an artist from Beauvais.

Other Historic Sites

The Bishop's Palace, now a museum

In the main square, Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, and nearby old streets, you can find houses from the 12th to the 16th centuries. The Hôtel de ville (city hall) was built in 1752. A statue of Jeanne Hachette stands nearby.

The old bishop's palace is now a museum. It is called the Musée départemental de l'Oise. This building was partly built on top of old Roman walls. The church of Saint-Étienne is another interesting building. It mixes Romanesque and Gothic styles. It has a unique sculpture called "Wheel of Life."

Transportation in Beauvais

Train Travel

The main train station is Gare de Beauvais. It opened in 1857. From here, you can take trains to several places:

Beauvais to Paris Gare du Nord
Beauvais to Creil
Beauvais to Le Tréport

Air Travel

Beauvais–Tillé Airport is just north of the city in Tillé. It was built in the 1930s. Many low-cost airlines use it as a gateway to Paris. The airport has grown a lot. In 1997, 200,000 passengers used it. By 2006, over 1.8 million passengers used it each year. The airport serves 48 different places.

On October 5, 1930, a British airship called R101 crashed near Beauvais. This happened on its first trip overseas. Sadly, 48 out of 54 people on board died.

City Buses

Beauvais has a public bus system called Corolis. It has 25 regular bus lines. These buses serve Beauvais and its nearby areas. There are day lines, Sunday lines, and even some summer lines. There are also special "on-demand" bus lines. Shuttles run to the airport, parking areas, and a local institute.

Eco-Friendly Travel

Beauvais is working on a "Green Plan." This plan aims to create more bicycle paths. The goal is to have 20 kilometers (12 miles) of bike paths. This helps promote cleaner ways to travel around the city.

City Government

The mayor of Beauvais is Franck Pia. He was elected in September 2022. He took over from Caroline Cayeux.

Famous People from Beauvais

Many notable people have connections to Beauvais:

Dominique Ansel (born 1978), a famous pastry chef who created the Cronut.
George Auriol (1863–1938), a graphic designer.
Hubert de Givenchy (1927–2018), a well-known fashion designer.
Henri Lebesgue (1875–1941), a famous mathematician.
Clément Lenglet (born 1995), a professional footballer.
Pierre Cauchon (1371–1442), a bishop of Beauvais who was a judge in the trial of Joan of Arc.
Jeanne Hachette, a local heroine who led the women of Beauvais in defending the city in 1472.

Economy and Industry

Beauvais is known for its tapestry factory. This factory has been making beautiful tapestries since 1664. The city also produces cotton and wool goods. Other industries include brushes, toys, shoes, and bricks.

Farming is important in the area. There is a lot of market gardening. The city also trades in grain and wine. Major companies like Nestle and Agco (Massey Ferguson) have operations here. RS Components, a distribution company, has been in Beauvais since 1986.

Beauvais also has its airport, Beauvais Tillé. This airport is used by many low-cost airlines. It serves as a convenient way for travelers to reach nearby Paris.

Education in Beauvais

Beauvais has many schools for different age groups:

Public Schools

Preschools: There are 20 preschools located across different neighborhoods.
Elementary Schools: Beauvais has 24 public elementary schools.
Junior High Schools: There are five junior high schools: Collège Henri Baumont, Collège Charles Fauqueux, Collège Jules Michelet, Collège Jean Baptiste Pellerin, and Collège George Sand.
General High Schools: Four general high schools serve the city: Lycée Félix Faure, Lycée Jeanne Hachette, Lycée Paul Langevin, and Lycée François Truffaut.
Vocational High Schools: There are four vocational high schools that focus on job training.

Private Schools

Institution du Saint-Espirit: This school offers elementary, junior high, and high school education.
Institution Notre-Dame: This school has elementary and junior high levels.
Other Elementary Schools: École Saint-Paul and École Sainte-Bernadette are also private elementary schools.
Lycée Saint-Vincent de Paul: A private high school.

Sports

Beauvais is home to AS Beauvais Oise. This is a football (soccer) club. As of 2006, they played in the Championnat National league. The team has a lively percussion band that supports them.