Pontoise Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Pontoise

Subprefecture and commune

A view of the cathedral of Saint-Maclou, from the Garden of Five Senses, on the promontory of the castle

Coat of arms

Location (in red) within Paris inner and outer suburbs

Pontoise

Location in France

Pontoise

Location in Île-de-France (region)

Country

Pontoise

Pontoise

Cergy-Pontoise

Area

7.15 km² (2.76 sq mi)

Population

(Jan. 2021)

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Time zone

UTC+01:00 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+02:00 (CEST)

INSEE/Postal code

95500 /95300

Elevation

22–87 m (72–285 ft)
(avg. 27 m or 89 ft)

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

Pontoise is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 28.4 km (17.6 mi) from the centre of Paris, in the "new town" of Cergy-Pontoise.

Administration
- Sister cities
History
Twin towns
Images for kids
See also

Administration

Pontoise is the official préfecture (capital) of the Val-d'Oise département, although in reality the préfecture building and administration, as well as the department council (conseil général), are located in the neighboring commune of Cergy, which is regarded as the de facto capital of Val-d'Oise.

Pontoise is also the seat of the Arrondissement of Pontoise. The sous-préfecture building and administration, unlike the préfecture, are located inside the commune of Pontoise.

Sister cities

The city of Pontoise has three sister city relationships with:

Böblingen (Germany) since 1956 ;
Sevenoaks (United Kingdom) since 1964 ;
Geleen (Netherlands) since 1962.

History

Pontoise is the historical capital of the Vexin français. Its foundation dates from Roman times (Pontisara). At that time, the rock peak overhanging the river Oise supported the defense of the fort which was on the Roman road, the Chaussée Jules César, between Lutetia (Paris) and Rotomagus (Rouen). The road still exists and is now part of the N14 from Paris to Rouen. It is also known to many people as the birthplace of the alchemist Nicholas Flamel. With an over 2,000 year legacy, Pontoise still has vestiges of the past, such as medieval lanes, convents, churches and museums, and was awarded the "City of Art and History Label" in 2006. The impressionist painter Camille Pissarro made it famous through many paintings which are present nowadays in the most famous art galleries in the world.