Compiègne

Compiègne, a quiet and old-fashioned but picturesque town in the French department of Oise, on the river Oise, a little below its junction with the Aisne, 52 miles NNE. of Paris by rail. Of its churches three deserve notice, St Germain (15th century), St Antoine (12th century), and St Jacques (13th century). The hôtel-de-ville is a late Gothic edifice with a fine central belfry. But the chief pride of Compiègne is its palace, built anew by Louis XV., and splendidly fitted up by Napoleon, who often occupied it. Its façade towards the forest is 624 feet long. From the gardens an arbour walk, 1600 yards long, leads towards the beautiful forest of Compiègne, which was a favourite hunting-ground of many of the kings of France. It extends to over 30,000 acres, and contains some fine oak timber. The inhabitants of Compiègne manufacture canvas, cordage, and sugar. Pop. (1872) 11,859; (1891) 14,022. Compiègne is mentioned in the times of Clovis under the name of Compendium. It was at the siege of this town, in 1430, that the Maid of Orleans was captured; and here, in 1810, Napoleon first met Maria Louisa of Austria, on occasion of their marriage.