Valenciennes (, also , , ; ; or ; ) is a commune in the

Nord Nord, a word meaning "north" in several European languages, may refer to: Acronyms * National Organization for Rare Disorders, an American nonprofit organization * New Orleans Recreation Department, New Orleans, Louisiana, US Film and televisi ...

department,

Hauts-de-France Hauts-de-France (; ; ), also referred to in English as Upper France, is the northernmost region of France, created by the territorial reform of French regions in 2014, from a merger of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy. Its prefecture is Lille. ...

, France. It lies on the

Scheldt The Scheldt ( ; ; ) is a river that flows through northern France, western Belgium, and the southwestern part of Netherlands, the Netherlands, with its mouth at the North Sea. Its name is derived from an adjective corresponding to Old Englis ...

() river. Although the city and region experienced a steady population decline between 1975 and 1990, it has since rebounded.

History

Early history

In 923, it passed to the Duchy of Lower

Lotharingia Lotharingia was a historical region and an early medieval polity that existed during the late Carolingian and early Ottonian era, from the middle of the 9th to the middle of the 10th century. It was established in 855 by the Treaty of Prüm, a ...

dependent on the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...

. Once the Empire of the Franks was established, the city began to develop, though the archaeological record has still not revealed all it has to reveal about this period. In 1259, Valenciennes was the site of a General Chapter of the

Dominican Order The Order of Preachers (, abbreviated OP), commonly known as the Dominican Order, is a Catholic Church, Catholic mendicant order of pontifical right that was founded in France by a Castilians, Castilian priest named Saint Dominic, Dominic de Gu ...

at which

Thomas Aquinas Thomas Aquinas ( ; ; – 7 March 1274) was an Italian Dominican Order, Dominican friar and Catholic priest, priest, the foremost Scholasticism, Scholastic thinker, as well as one of the most influential philosophers and theologians in the W ...

together with masters Bonushomo Britto, Florentius,

Albert Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert Computers, Inc., a computer manufacturer in the 1980s * Albert Czech Republic, a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street mar ...

, and

Peter Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a su ...

took part in establishing a ''ratio studiorum'' or program of studies for the

that featured the study of philosophy as an innovation for those not sufficiently trained to study theology. This innovation initiated the tradition of Dominican scholastic philosophy put into practice, for example, in 1265 at the Order's ''studium provinciale'' at the convent of

Santa Sabina The Basilica of Saint Sabina (, ) is a historic church on the Aventine Hill in Rome, Italy. It is a titular minor basilica and mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Preachers, better known as the Dominicans. Santa Sabina is the oldest ex ...

in Rome, out of which would develop the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, ''Angelicum''.

1500–1793

In 1524,

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (as Charles I) from 1516 to 1556, and Lord of the Netherlands as titular Duke of Burgundy (as Charles II) ...

, arrived at Valenciennes, and – even when

Henry II of France Henry II (; 31 March 1519 – 10 July 1559) was List of French monarchs#House of Valois-Angoulême (1515–1589), King of France from 1547 until his death in 1559. The second son of Francis I of France, Francis I and Claude of France, Claude, Du ...

allied with him against the Protestants in 1552 – Valenciennes became () an early center of

Calvinism Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Christian, Presbyteri ...

and in 1562 was location of the first act of resistance against persecution of Protestants in the

Spanish Netherlands The Spanish Netherlands (; ; ; ) (historically in Spanish: , the name "Flanders" was used as a '' pars pro toto'') was the Habsburg Netherlands ruled by the Spanish branch of the Habsburgs from 1556 to 1714. They were a collection of States of t ...

. On the "Journée des Mals Brûlés" (Bad Burnings Day) in 1562, a mob freed some

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

s condemned to die at the stake. In the wave of

iconoclastic Iconoclasm ()From . ''Iconoclasm'' may also be considered as a back-formation from ''iconoclast'' (Greek: εἰκοκλάστης). The corresponding Greek word for iconoclasm is εἰκονοκλασία, ''eikonoklasia''. is the social belie ...

attacks called the ''

Beeldenstorm ''Beeldenstorm'' () in Dutch and ''Bildersturm'' in German (roughly translatable from both languages as 'attack on the images or statues') are terms used for outbreaks of destruction of religious images that occurred in Europe in the 16th centu ...

'' that swept the

Habsburg Netherlands Habsburg Netherlands were the parts of the Low Countries that were ruled by sovereigns of the Holy Roman Empire's House of Habsburg. This rule began in 1482 and ended for the Northern Netherlands in 1581 and for the Southern Netherlands in 1797. ...

in the summer of 1566, the city was the furthest south to see such an attack on August 24, 1566. It was also one of the first to feel the hand of repression after the siege and fall of the city on March 23, 1567. One of the victims of that repression was

Guido de Bres Guido de Bres (also known as Guido de Bray,L.A. van Langeraad, ''Guido de Bray Zijn Leven en Werken'', Zierikzee: S.Ochtman en Zoon 1884 p.9, 13 Guy de Bray and Guido de Brès, 1522 – 31 May 1567) was a Walloon pastor, Protestant reformer and ...

, the author of the

Belgic Confession The ''Confession of Faith'', popularly known as the Belgic Confession, is a confession to which many Reformed churches subscribe as a doctrinal standard. The Confession forms part of the Three Forms of Unity, which are the official subordinate st ...

. Following the " révolte des gueux's victory at Brielle, the army of

Louis of Nassau Louis of Nassau (Dutch: Lodewijk van Nassau, 10 January 1538 – 14 April 1574) was a Dutch nobleman, the third son of William I, Count of Nassau-Siegen and Juliana of Stolberg, and the younger brother of Prince William the Silent, William ...

, one of the major commanders of the Dutch rebel forces and supported by the

Huguenot The Huguenots ( , ; ) are a Religious denomination, religious group of French people, French Protestants who held to the Reformed (Calvinist) tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, ...

leader

Gaspard de Coligny Gaspard de Coligny may refer to: * Gaspard I de Coligny (c. 1465 - 1522) *Gaspard II de Coligny (1519 – 1572) *Gaspard III de Coligny Gaspard III de Coligny, duc de Châtillon, (26 July 1584 – 4 January 1646) was a French Huguenot, who serv ...

, invaded the

with an army composed of

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

and

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

soldiers, and took Valenciennes on 21 May 1572.The Eighty Years War (1568-1648)
/ref>Tracy p.82 However, Louis went on to

Mons Mons commonly refers to: * Mons, Belgium, a city in Belgium * Mons pubis (mons Venus or mons veneris), in mammalian anatomy, the adipose tissue lying above the pubic bone * Mons (planetary nomenclature), a sizable extraterrestrial mountain * Batt ...

, and the Protestant garrison left behind offered only a feeble defence to the Duke of Alba, at the head of the bulk of the Spanish army, who recaptured Valenciennes in early June 1572, depriving Louis' French allies, of one of their main bases.Duffy. Siege Warfare: Fortress in the Early Modern World
/ref> The French army laid siege to the city in 1656 ( Vauban participated in this siege without a command). Defending the city, Albert de Merode, marquis de Trélon was injured during a sortie on horseback, died as a result of his injuries and was buried in the Church of St. Paul (his tomb was found during the archaeological campaign in 1990). In 1677, the armies of

Louis XIV of France LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the List of longest-reign ...

(this time led by Vauban) captured the city and in 1678 the

Treaty of Nijmegen The Treaties or Peace of Nijmegen (; ; ) were a series of treaties signed in the Dutch city of Nijmegen between August 1678 and October 1679. The treaties ended various interconnected wars among France, the Dutch Republic, Spain, Brandenburg, Sw ...

gave the French control of Valenciennes (1678) and the surrounding southern part of Hainault, roughly cutting the former

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

in half.

1793–1914

The city was besieged by the

First Coalition The War of the First Coalition () was a set of wars that several European powers fought between 1792 and 1797, initially against the constitutional Kingdom of France and then the French Republic that succeeded it. They were only loosely allied ...

against Revolutionary France in 1793. F

First World War

During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

the German army occupied the town in 1914. They were finally driven out by British forces at the Battle of Valenciennes in 1918, 'in which seven British divisions attacked eleven German divisions'. One dramatic first-hand experience of this battle is provided by A. S. Bullock who fought at a section of the front near

Maresches Maresches () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. History During World War I the Germans occupied Maresches. Private A S Bullock, in a posthumously published memoir, recalls going over the top to drive them back, describing ' ...

1945 to present

The town's first antenna was set up in Lille in 1964, then the Centre universitaire was set up in 1970, becoming independent in 1979 as the University of Valenciennes and Hainaut-Cambrésis. In 2005, a local resident,

Isabelle Dinoire Isabelle Dinoire (3 February 1967 – 22 April 2016) was a French woman who was the first person to undergo a partial face transplant, after her pet dog severely injured her face while she was passed out from an overdose of sleeping pills in May ...

, became the first person to have a partial

face transplant A face transplant is a medical procedure to replace all or part of a person's face using tissue from a donor. Part of a field called "Vascularized Composite Tissue Allotransplantation" (VCA) it involves the transplantation of facial skin, the n ...

Geography

Climate

Valenciennes has an

oceanic climate An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate or maritime climate, is the temperate climate sub-type in Köppen climate classification, Köppen classification represented as ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of co ...

(

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

''Cfb''). The average annual temperature in Valenciennes is . The average annual rainfall is with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around , and lowest in January, at around . The highest temperature ever recorded in Valenciennes was on 25 July 2019; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 7 January 2009.

Population

Main sights

The

Hindenburg Line The Hindenburg Line (, Siegfried Position) was a German Defense line, defensive position built during the winter of 1916–1917 on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front in France during the First World War. The line ran from Arras to ...

ran through Valenciennes during

, leading to extensive destruction. Valenciennes was again almost completely destroyed during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, and has since been rebuilt in concrete. A few surviving monuments are: 1) The façade of the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), which managed to survive the bombardments of the war; 2) the Basilica of Notre-Dame du Saint-Cordon, to which there is an annual pilgrimage; 3) La Maison Espagnole, the remains of the Spanish occupation, which ended in 1678. The building is now used as the town's tourist information office; 4) The Dodenne Tower, the remaining part of the medieval fortifications after Charles V ordered them reduced; 5) Théâtre le Phenix, a theatre and performing arts venue constructed in 1998; 6) The "

Beffroi The belfry /ˈbɛlfri/ is a structure enclosing bells for ringing as part of a building, usually as part of a bell tower or steeple. It can also refer to the entire tower or building, particularly in continental Europe for such a tower attached ...

", a large, pin-like monument in height, built in 2007 on the site of the former belfry.

Economy

Valenciennes is historically renowned for its

lace Lace is a delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern, made by machine or by hand. Generally, lace is split into two main categories, needlelace and bobbin lace, although there are other types of lace, such as knitted o ...

. Until the 1970s, the main industries were

steel Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...

and

textile Textile is an Hyponymy and hypernymy, umbrella term that includes various Fiber, fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, Staple (textiles)#Filament fiber, filaments, Thread (yarn), threads, and different types of #Fabric, fabric. ...

s. Since their decline, reconversion attempts focus mainly on

automobile A car, or an automobile, is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of cars state that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, peopl ...

production. In 2001,

Toyota is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...

built its Western European

assembly line An assembly line, often called ''progressive assembly'', is a manufacturing process where the unfinished product moves in a direct line from workstation to workstation, with parts added in sequence until the final product is completed. By mechan ...

for the

Toyota Yaris The is a supermini/subcompact car sold by Toyota since 1999, replacing the Starlet and Tercel. Up to 2019, Toyota had used the Yaris nameplate on export versions of various Japanese-market models, with some markets receiving the same vehicl ...

Onnaing Onnaing () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. Onnaing is home to Toyota Motor Manufacturing France, where the Toyota Yaris and Yaris Cross are assembled. Population Heraldry See also *Communes of the Nord department ...

near Valenciennes. Because of this and other changes, the average unemployment in the region is now below the national average. On 15 July 2004, the Administrative Board of the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

's Railway Agency held its first meeting in Phénix, with representatives of the 25 Member States and

François Lamoureux François Lamoureux (17 December 1946 – 26 August 2006) was a French civil servant who worked on European integration as part of the Delors Commission. Career Educated at the Lycée Buffon and the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, Lamoure ...

, those days Director General for Energy and Transportation at the European Commission. Valenciennes was picked as the European Railway Agency headquarters in December 2003. International conferences are held in

Lille Lille (, ; ; ; ; ) is a city in the northern part of France, within French Flanders. Positioned along the Deûle river, near France's border with Belgium, it is the capital of the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, region, the Prefectures in F ...

Public transport

Line No. 1 of the Tramway de Valenciennes was put into service on 3 July 2006. long, this tramway crosses the five communes in the Valenciennois Metropolitan area, at a cost of 242.75 million

Euro The euro (currency symbol, symbol: euro sign, €; ISO 4217, currency code: EUR) is the official currency of 20 of the Member state of the European Union, member states of the European Union. This group of states is officially known as the ...

s. Valenciennes railway station offers connections with Lille, Paris and several regional destinations.

Administration

Valenciennes is a

subprefecture A subprefecture is an administrative division of a country that is below prefecture or province. Albania There are twelve Counties of Albania, Albanian counties or prefectures, each of which is divided into several Districts of Albania, district ...

of the Nord ''département''.

Mayors since 1947

*1947–1988: Pierre Carous, resigned (died in 1990) *1988–1989: Olivier Marlière *1989–2002:

Jean-Louis Borloo Jean-Louis Marie Borloo (; born 7 April 1951) is a French politician who served as president of the Union of Democrats and Independents (UDI) from 2012 to 2014. He also was Minister of the Economy, Finance and Employment in 2007 and Minister of ...

, resigned when he entered the national government *2002–2012: Dominique Riquet *2012–present: Laurent Degallaix

Notable people

Arnulf of Valenciennes Arnulf (or Arnoul, or Arnold) of Valenciennes (d. 22 October 1011), was a 10th and 11th century count and perhaps sometimes a margrave, who was lord of the fort of Valenciennes, which was at that time on the frontier with France (West Francia), on ...

, lord of the fort of Valenciennes *

Louis Auvray Louis Auvray (; 7 April 1810 in Valenciennes – 27 April 1890 in Paris) was a French sculptor and art critic. He was the pupil of David d'Angers and was the brother of Félix Auvray, a painter. He continued the ''Dictionnaire Général des Arti ...

(1810–1890), sculptor *

Louis Bailly Louis Bailly was a French-Canadian violist and music educator. He was born on 18 June 1882 in Valenciennes, France and died on 21 November 1974 in Cowansville, Quebec. Biography Bailly studied violin and viola at the Conservatoire de Paris un ...

(1881–1974), French-Canadian violist and music educator *

Baldwin I, Latin Emperor Baldwin I (; ; July 1172 – ) was the first Emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople; Count of Flanders (as Baldwin IX) from 1194 to 1205 and Count of Hainaut (as Baldwin VI) from 1195 to 1205. Baldwin was one of the most prominent le ...

(1172–c.1205), first Emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople * Yves Balmer (born 1978), French and Swiss composer *

Charles Barbier Charles Barbier de la Serre (; 18 May 1767 – 22 April 1841) was the French inventor of several forms of shorthand and alternative means of writing, one of which became the inspiration for Braille. Barbier was born in Valenciennes and served in ...

(1767–1841), inventor of several forms of

shorthand Shorthand is an abbreviated symbolic writing method that increases speed and brevity of writing as compared to Cursive, longhand, a more common method of writing a language. The process of writing in shorthand is called stenography, from the Gr ...

Émile Basly Émile Basly (29 March 1854 – 11 February 1928) is one of the great figures of trade unionism in mining in the mineral field of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France, along with Arthur Lamendin. He is primarily known for his participation in the strike of 1 ...

(1854–1928), trade unionist *

André Beauneveu André Beauneveu (born c. 1335 in Valenciennes, died c.1400 in Bourges) was an Early Netherlandish painting, Early Netherlandish sculptor and painter, born in the County of Hainaut (Valenciennes is today in France), who is best known for his work ...

(c.1335–c.1400), sculptor and painter * Jean-Baptiste Bélanger (1790–1874), mathematician *

Yassin Ben Balla Yassin Ben Balla (born 24 February 1996) is a French professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Regionalliga club Schalke 04 II. Career Ben Balla moved to MSV Duisburg on 19 June 2019. He made his professional debut for MSV Duisburg ...

(born 1996), footballer *

Martin Berteau Martin Berteau (2 February 1691 in Valenciennes – 23 January 1771 in Angers) was a French classical cellist, cello teacher, and composer. He is widely regarded as the founder of the French school of cello playing. Life Descriptions of Berteau ...

(1691–1771), cellist and composer *

Benjamin Berton Benjamin Berton in 2014 Benjamin Berton (born 1974, Valenciennes) is a French writer. Biography Benjamin Berton graduated from the Institut d’études politiques de Paris and received a D.E.A. in social and cultural history. ''Sauvageons'', ...

(born 1974), writer *

(born 1951), politician * Alfred-Alphonse Bottiau (1889–1951), sculptor *

Eugène Bozza Eugène Joseph Bozza (4 April 1905 – 28 September 1991)Grove Music Online: "Bozza, Eugène"; accessed 20 September 2014, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/03791. was a French composer and violinist. He was one of t ...

, (1905–1991), composer and violinist * Hubert Cailleau (1526–1590), painter *

Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (; 11 May 1827 – 12 October 1875) was a French sculptor and painter during the Second Empire under Napoleon III. Life Born in Valenciennes, Nord, son of a mason, his early studies were under François Rude. Carpe ...

(1827–1875), sculptor, painter and tutor *

Louis Cattiaux Louis Cattiaux (17 August 1904 – 16 July 1953) was a French painter and poet. Biography Louis Cattiaux was born in Valenciennes on 17 August 1904. He lost his mother at a very young age and was raised by his older sister. In 1914, he was eva ...

(1904–1953), philosopher, painter and poet * William Chambers (1809–1882), Welsh politician *

Bruno Chérier Bruno Joseph Chérier (10 August 1817 – 24 October 1880) was a French decorative painter. Born in Valenciennes, he studied under Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, for whom he also modelled. He died in the 14th arrondissement of Paris. Works Lille * Égli ...

(1817–1880), decorative painter *

Bernard Chiarelli Bernard Chiarelli (24 February 1934 – 17 November 2024) was a French footballer who played as midfielder. He was a member of the France side that finished third at the 1958 FIFA World Cup and won one cap, against Switzerland in 1958. Chiarelli ...

(born 1934), footballer *

Alphonse Chigot Alphonse Charles Chigot (; 1824 – 1917) was a French historical painter and soldier, particularly associated with the city of Valenciennes where he had a studio for over sixty years. A former soldier in the French army he saw action in the fir ...

(1824–1917), historical painter, soldier and art tutor, particularly associated with the city of Valenciennes *

Eugène Chigot Eugène Henri Alexandre Chigot (; 22 November 1860 – 14 July 1923) was a post impressionist French painter. A pupil of his father, the military painter Alphonse Chigot, in 1881 he entered the internationally renowned École Nationale Supérie ...

(1860–1923), post impressionist painter and official painter for the

Marine Nationale The French Navy (, , ), informally (, ), is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the four military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in the world recognised as being a blu ...

Gustave Crauck Gustave Adolphe Désiré Crauck (or Crauk; 16 July 1827 – 17 November 1905) was a French sculptor with a long distinguished career. He was born and died at Valenciennes, where a special museum for his works was erected in his honor. Educat ...

(1827–1905), sculptor and painter *

Louise d'Épinay Louise Florence Pétronille Tardieu d'Esclavelles d'Épinay (11 March 1726 – 17 April 1783), better known as Mme d'Épinay, was a French writer, a '' saloniste'' and woman of fashion, known on account of her liaisons with Friedrich Melchior, Ba ...

(1726–1783), writer *

Jean d'Oisy ::''Not to be confounded with Jean d'Oisy, organist at the Grand Organ in the Notre Dame de Paris from 1570 until 1579'' Jean d'Oisy (alternatively called Jehan d'Oisy, Jan van Osy) (1310–1377) was the architect of several ecclesiastical b ...

(1310–1377), architect * Philippe d'Outreman (1585–1652), Jesuit writer *

Gérald Darmanin Gérald Moussa Jean Darmanin (; born 11 October 1982) is a French politician serving as Minister of Justice (France), Minister of Justice in the Bayrou government. He previously served as Minister of the Interior (France), Minister of the Inter ...

(born 1982), politician * Felipe-Emmanuel de Bette (1677–1742), soldier and noble from the Spanish Netherlands *

Philippe III de Croÿ Philippe de Croÿ, 3rd Duke of Aarschot, 4th Prince of Chimay, Count of Porcean (Valenciennes, 10 July 1526Venice, 11 December 1595), was Stadtholder of Flanders, and inherited the estates of the ancient and wealthy family of Croÿ. Becoming a s ...

(1526–1595), Stadtholder of Flanders *

Charles de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French general and statesman who led the Free France, Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Re ...

(1837–1880), poet *

Emanuel Philibert de Lalaing Emanuel Filibert van Lalaing (Valenciennes, May 5, 1557 – Mons December 27, 1590) was a noble and army commander from the Low Countries. Emanuel Philibert was the third son of Charles II de Lalaing and Marie of Montmorency. He was Lord of Montig ...

(1557–1590), noble and army commander *

Charles de Lannoy Charles de Lannoy ( – 23 September 1527) was a soldier and statesman from the Low Countries in service of the Habsburg Emperors Maximilian I and Charles V. Early life He was a member of the noble House of Lannoy. Charles de Lannoy was bo ...

(c.1487–1527), soldier and statesman *

Giovanni de Macque Giovanni de Macque (Giovanni de Maque, Jean de Macque) (1548/1550 – September 1614) was a Netherlandish composer of the late Renaissance and early Baroque, who spent almost his entire life in Italy. He was one of the most famous Neapolitan comp ...

(1548/1550–1614), composer *

Abel de Pujol Alexandre-Denis-Abel de Pujol or Abel de Pujol (30 January 1785 in Valenciennes – 29 September 1861 in Paris) was a French painter. He was a student of David and his own students included Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps and Émile Lévy. He pain ...

(1785–1861), painter *

Jennifer de Temmerman Jennifer de Temmerman (born 16 February 1977) is a French politician who served as a member of the French National Assembly from 2017 to 2022, where she represented the 15th constituency of the Nord. Early life and education Born 16 February 19 ...

(born 1977), politician *

Herman de Valenciennes Herman de Valenciennes, 12th-century French poet, was born at Valenciennes. Life His father and mother, Robert and Herembourg, belonged to Hainaut, and gave him for god-parents Count Baldwin and Countess Yoland—doubtless Baldwin IV of Hainaul ...

, 12th-century poet *

Marc Antoine René de Voyer Marc Antoine René de Voyer, Marquis de Paulmy and Marquis d'Argenson (1757) (22 November 1722, Valenciennes13 August 1787), was a French ambassador to Switzerland, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Republic of Venice and to the Holy See, ...

(1722–1787), diplomat and politician *

Patrick Defossez Patrick Defossez (born 7 August 1959 at Valenciennes, France) is a Belgian composer, pianist and improviser of contemporary classical music. A Belgian citizen, he has lived in France for many years and divides his time between Belgium, Reims and ...

(born 1959), Belgian composer and pianist * Laurent Degallaix (born 1965), politician *

Grégoire Delacourt Grégoire Delacourt (born 26 July 1960 in Valenciennes) is a French advertiser and writer. Biography In his youth, Delacourt was an intern at the Jesuit College "La Providence" in Amiens (the same college that current French president Emmanuel ...

(born 1960), advertiser and writer * Marine Deleeuw (born 1994), model *

Bruno Deletré Bruno Deletré (born 30 April 1961, in Valenciennes) is a French banker and high-ranking official. He is the current CEO of Crédit Foncier de France and member of the BPCE Executive Committee. Education Deletré graduated from the École National ...

(born 1961), banker *

Jules Delsart Jules Delsart (24 November 1844 – 3 July 1900) was a French cellist and teacher. He is best known for his arrangement for cello and piano of César Franck's Violin Sonata in A major. Musicologist Lynda MacGregor described Delsart as "one of th ...

(1844–1900), cellist * Léon Delsarte {1893–1963), gymnast * Yohan Demont (born 1978), footballer *

Béatrice Descamps Béatrice Descamps (; born 22 June 1951 in Valenciennes) is a French politician in the National Assembly and a former member of the Senate of France. She represented the Nord department and is a member of the Union of Democrats and Independents. S ...

(born 1951), politician * Hyacinthe François Joseph Despinoy (1764–1848), general *

Félix-Alexandre Desruelles Félix-Alexandre Desruelles was a French sculptor who was born in Valenciennes in 1865. He was runner up for the Prix de Rome in 1891, won the Prix national des Salons in 1897 and a gold medal at l'Exposition Universelle (1900), Exposition Univer ...

(1865–1943), sculptor * Collingwood Dickson (1817–1904), British Army officer *

Arthur Dinaux Arthur Martin Dinaux (8 September 1795 – 15 May 1864) was a French journalist and antiquarian. Dinaux was born in Valenciennes Valenciennes (, also , , ; ; or ; ) is a communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord D ...

(1795–1864), journalist *

(1967–2016), first person to undergo a partial face transplant *

Louis Dorus Louis Dorus (born Vincent Joseph van Steenkiste; 1 March 1812 – 9 June 1896) was a 19th-century French classical flautist. Vincent-Joseph van Steenkiste, his real name, was instrumental in the adoption of the modern concert flute. He is the y ...

(1812–1896), classical flautist * Pierre Dubois (born 1945), author *

Michel Duchaussoy Michel René Jacques Duchaussoy (29 November 1938 – 13 March 2012) was a French film actor, who appeared in more than 130 films between 1962 and 2012. At first a theatre actor, he worked for many years in the Comédie Française, where he ...

(1938–2012), film actor *

Julie Dufour Julie Dufour may refer to: * Julie Dufour (politician) * Julie Dufour (footballer) See also * Julia Dufour Julia Dufour is a village and municipality in Santa Cruz Province in southern Argentina.

(born 2001), footballer *

Léon Dumont Léon Dumont (February 5, 1837 in Valenciennes – January 17, 1877 in Valenciennes) was a French psychologist and philosopher. He influenced William James and is perhaps best known for his treatise on the causes of laughter (''Des causes du rire ...

(1837–1877), psychologist and philosopher * Geordan Dupire (born 1993), footballer *

Philogène Auguste Joseph Duponchel Philogène Auguste Joseph Duponchel (1774 – 10 January 1846) was a French soldier and entomologist. Life and career Philogène Auguste Joseph Duponchel was born in 1774 in Valenciennes, Nord, and died on 10 January 1846 in Paris. After studies ...

(1774–1846), soldier and entomologist *

François-Joseph Duret Françoise-Joseph Duret (; 12 November 1729 – 7 August 1816) was a French sculptor. He was the father and teacher of Francisque Joseph Duret. Born at Valenciennes, the son of Charles Durez, of Spanish origin, Duret was prince of the Aca ...

(1729–1816), sculptor * Christophe Dussart (born 1976), footballer * Victor Duvant (1889–1963), gymnast * Martine Duvivier (born 1953), middle distance runner * Charles-Dominique-Joseph Eisen (1720–1778), painter and engraver * François Eisen, painter and engraver *

Lara Escudero Lara Escudero (born 6 June 1993) is a French ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to th ...

(born 1993), ice hockey player *

Léon Fagel Léon Fagel (1851–1913) was a French sculptor, best known for his busts. Fagel was born in Valenciennes, won the second Prix de Rome in 1875, and the Prix de Rome in 1879. He exhibited busts of Chevreul, J. Cavelier, and Le Greffeur at the Exp ...

(1851–1913), sculptor *

Denis Flahaut Denis Flahaut (born 28 November 1978 in Valenciennes) is a French former professional road racing cyclist. Major results ;2004 : Tour du Faso ::1st Stages 3, 8 & 10 : 6th GP de Dourges ;2006 : 2nd Omloop van de Vlaamse Scheldeboorden : 8th Nat ...

(born 1978), road cyclist *

Henry of Flanders Henry of Flanders (1178? – 11 June 1216) was Latin emperor of Constantinople from 1205 until his death in 1216. He was one of the leaders of the Fourth Crusade in which the Byzantine Empire was conquered and Latin Empire formed. Life Henry wa ...

(c.1178–1216), Latin emperor of Constantinople *

Jean Froissart Jean Froissart ( Old and Middle French: ''Jehan''; sometimes known as John Froissart in English; – ) was a French-speaking medieval author and court historian from the Low Countries who wrote several works, including ''Chronicles'' and ''Meli ...

(1337–1405), historian and poet *

Albert Gazier Albert Gazier (; 16 May 1908 – 2 March 1997) was a French trade union leader and politician. During World War II (1939–45) he helped reorganize the unions during the German occupation of France. He escaped arrest by the Gestapo, made his way t ...

(1908–1997), trade union leader and politician * Bernard Gérard (born 1953), politician * Jacques Gestraut (born 1939), cyclist *

Alfred Mathieu Giard Alfred Mathieu Giard (8 August 1846 – 8 August 1908) was a French zoologist born in Valenciennes. He served as a professor of zoology at the Faculty of Sciences in Lille. He specialized in parasitology and the genus ''Giardia'' was named after hi ...

(1846–1908), zoologist * Valérie Gomez-Bassac (born 1969), politician * Pierre Gossez (1928–2001), jazz musician *

René Guilleré René Guilleré (16 August 1878 – 24 November 1931) was a French lawyer who founded the ''Ateliers Primavera'', which made decorative art objects. Life René Guilleré was born in 1878. He became a lawyer. He was a lover of art and music, a co ...

(1878–1931), lawyer *

Isabella of Hainault Isabella of Hainault (5 April 1170 – 15 March 1190; also spelled: Ysabella de Hainault, Ysabelle de Hainaut or Ysabeau de Hainaut) was a Queen of France as the first wife of King Philip II. She was also formally ruling Countess of Artois ''d ...

(1170–1190), Queen of France as the first wife of King Philip II *

Philippa of Hainault Philippa of Hainault (sometimes spelled Hainaut; Middle French: ''Philippe de Hainaut''; 24 June 1310 (or 1315) – 15 August 1369) was List of English consorts, Queen of England as the wife and political adviser of King Edward III. She acted a ...

(1310/1315–1369), Queen of England * Marie of Hainaut (1280–1354), daughter of John II, Count of Holland and Philippa of Luxembourg *

Henri Harpignies Henri-Joseph Harpignies (; June 28, 1819 – August 28, 1916) was a French landscape painter of the Barbizon school. Life He was born at Valenciennes. His parents intended for him to pursue a business career, but his determination to become ...

(1819–1916), painter and watercolourist *

John Hay Drummond Hay Sir John Hay Drummond Hay (1 June 1816 – 27 November 1893) was the United Kingdom's Envoy Extraordinary at the Court of Morocco in the 19th century. Early life John Drummond Hay was born in 1816 in Valenciennes, France, where his father C ...

(1816–1893), United Kingdom's Envoy Extraordinary at the Court of Morocco * Henry VII (c. 1273–1313), Holy Roman Emperor *

Ernest-Eugène Hiolle Ernest-Eugène Hiolle (5 May 1834 – 5 October 1886) was a French sculptor who specialized in classical and allegorical figures in plaster and bronze, as well as many contemporary portrait busts. Hiolle was born in Valenciennes, where he stu ...

(1834–1886), sculptor *

Georges Huisman Georges Huisman (May 3, 1889 – December 28, 1957) was a French historian and politician who served as the Jury President of the Cannes Film Festival from 1946 to 1949. He also served as the mayor of Valmondois from 1932 to 1939. He founded ...

(1889–1957), historian and politician * Jérémie Janot (born 1977), footballer *

Jean-Baptiste Janson Jean-Baptiste Janson (9 March 1742 – 2 September 1803) was a French cellist and composer of the classical period. Life Jean-Baptiste Janson was a pupil of Martin Berteau. At age thirteen he played at the Concert Spirituel of Paris and was mu ...

(1742–1803), cellist and composer * Fabrice Jaumont, author, educator, advocate for

dual-language Dual language is a form of education in which students are taught literacy and content in two languages. Most dual language programs in the United States teach in English and Spanish, but programs increasingly use a partner language other than Sp ...

bilingual education * Éric Joly (born 1972), footballer *

Catherine Kamowski Catherine Kamowski (born 8 April 1958 in Valenciennes) is a French politician of La République En Marche! (LREM) who was elected to the French National Assembly on 18 June 2017, representing the department of Isère. Political career In parl ...

(born 1958), politician *

Marie Kubiak Marie Kubiak (born 11 May 1981) is a French women's international footballer who plays as a forward. She is a member of the France women's national football team. She was part of the team at the UEFA Women's Euro 2001. On club level she plays fo ...

(born 1981), footballer *

Edmond Marin la Meslée Edmond Marin la Meslée (5 February 1912 – 4 February 1945) was a French fighter pilot in World War II. 5th highest-scoring French ace of the conflict with 16 aerial victories, he was the most successful French air ace of the French campai ...

(1912–1945), fighter pilot in World War II *

Sofian Laidouni Sofian Laïdouni (born February 18, 1995) is a French-Algerian kickboxer, currently competing in the heavyweight division of Glory. As of June 2023, he is ranked as the eighth-best heavyweight kickboxer in the world by Beyond Kickboxing. Career ...

(born 1995), kickboxer * Charles Joseph Lambert (1804–1864), explorer and engineer *

Bruno Lanvin Bruno Lanvin is a French business academic and researcher. He is the Executive Director for Global Indices at INSEAD. From 2007 to 2012, he was the Executive Director of INSEAD’s eLab, managing INSEAD’s teams in Paris, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. ...

(born 1954), business academic * Joseph Layraud (1834–1912), painter *

Claude Le Jeune Claude Le Jeune (; 1528 to 1530 – buried 26 September 1600) was a Franco-Flemish composer of the late Renaissance. He was the primary representative of the musical movement known as '' musique mesurée'', and a significant composer of the "P ...

(1528 to 1530–1600), Franco-Flemish composer *

Olivier Le May Olivier Le May (26 May 1734 - 1797) was a French painter and engraver. Life He was born in the parish of Saint-Nicolas in Valenciennes and trained at the Académie de Valenciennes. Around 1754, he left his home town for Paris. He was a friend of ...

(1734–1797), painter and engraver *

Jean-René Lecerf Jean-René Lecerf (born 10 April 1951 in Valenciennes Valenciennes (, also , , ; ; or ; ) is a communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department, Hauts-de-France, France. It lies on the S ...

(born 1951), politician *

Violette Leduc Violette Leduc (7 April 1907 – 28 May 1972) was a French writer. Early life and education She was born in Arras, Pas de Calais, France, on 7 April 1907. She was the illegitimate daughter of a servant girl, Berthe Leduc, and André Debaralle, ...

(1907–1972), writer *

Jean Lefebvre Jean Marcel Lefebvre (3 October 1919Some sources indicate he was born in 1922. – 9 July 2004) was a French film actor. His erratic studies were interrupted by World War II. Taken prisoner and then requisitioned as a laborer, he escaped to joi ...

(1919–2004), film actor * Julien Leghait (born 1994), footballer *

Philippe Joseph Henri Lemaire Philippe Joseph Henri Lemaire (9 January 1798, Valenciennes - 2 August 1880, Paris) was a French sculptor, working in a neoclassical academic style. Life and career He was a pupil of Pierre Cartellier, and won the Prix de Rome for sculpture ...

(1798–1880), sculptor *

Rosalie Levasseur Marie-Rose-(Claude-)Josephe Levasseur (or Le Vasseur), known in her day as Mademoiselle Rosalie, and later commonly referred to as Rosalie Levasseur (8 October 1749 – 6 May 1826) was a French soprano who is best remembered for her work with ...

(1749–1826), soprano *

Pierre Joseph Michel Lorquin Pierre Joseph Michel Lorquin (2 July 1797, Valenciennes – 8 February 1873, Paris) was a French entomologist who specialised in Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. In 1847/48 he collected for Charles Oberthur and Jean Baptiste Boisduval in Andalusia an ...

(1797–1873), entomologist *

Nathalie Lupino Natalina Lupino (born 13 June 1963 in Valenciennes, Nord) is a female retired judoka from France. She claimed a bronze medal in the Women's Heavyweight (+72 kg) division at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain Barcelona ( ; ...

(born 1963), judoka * Hélène Mannarino (born 1990), journalist, television, and radio presenter * Julien Masson (born 1998), footballer * Rudy Mater (born 1980), footballer * Edma Morisot (1839–1921), artist *

Éric Mouquet Éric Mouquet (born 19 March 1960) is the co-founder of the band Deep Forest. He won a Grammy Award in 1995, and a World Award for best world music album. The other half of Deep Forest was Michel Sanchez until 2005, when the latter parted ways ...

(born 1960), musician * Sarah Moussaddak (born 2000), kickboxer *

Freeman Murray General (United Kingdom), General Freeman Murray Order of the Bath, CB (16 November 1804 – 14 April 1885) was a British Army officer who became General Officer Commanding Eastern Command (United Kingdom), Eastern District. Murray was born in ...

(1804–1885), British Army general * Christian Nau (1944–2022), land sailor and writer *

Frédéric Nihous Frédéric Nihous (born 15 August 1967) is a French politician from the Hunting, Fishing, Nature, Traditions (CPNT) party. He was a candidate for the 2007 French presidential election, but was eliminated in the first round of balloting. He wa ...

(born 1967), politician * Cécile Nowak (born 1967), judoka *

Charles Nungesser Charles Eugène Jules Marie Nungesser (15 March 1892 – presumably on or after 8 May 1927) was a French ace pilot and adventurer. Nungesser was a renowned ace in France, ranking third highest in the country with 43 air combat victories during W ...

(1892–1927), ace pilot and adventurer *

Henri Parent Aubert Henri Joseph Parent (; 12 April 1819 – 1895) was a French architect. Biography Aubert Henri Joseph Parent was born on 12 April 1819 in Valenciennes, Nord, Hauts-de-France. His brother, Clément Parent, Clément was the son in-law of Jos ...

(1819–1895), architect * François Paris (born 1961), composer * T. J. Parker (born 1984), basketballer *

Jean-Baptiste Pater Jean-Baptiste Pater (December 29, 1695 – July 25, 1736) was a French rococo painter. Born in Valenciennes, Pater was the son of sculptor Antoine Pater and studied under him before becoming a student of painter Jean-Baptiste Guide. Pater then m ...

(1695–1736), painter *

Vendémiaire Pavot Vendémiaire Pavot (30 September 1883 – 18 December 1929) was a French sculptor. Main works ''La Faunesse'' This 1913 work can be seen in the Valenciennes Jardin de la Rhônelle. Edmond Mambré medallion This medallion depicts the Vale ...

(1883–1929), sculptor *

Raymond Pech Raymond Jean Pech (4 February 1876 in Valenciennes – 3 July 1952 in Paris) was a French composer. Biography Pech studied at the conservatoire of Lille then the Conservatoire de Paris where he was a pupil of Raoul Pugno, Xavier Leroux and Char ...

(1876–1952), composer *

Sylvie Pétiaux Sylvie Pétiaux (, Pétiaux-Hugo; after first marriage, Mathieu; after second marriage, Flammarion; pen name, Sylvio Hugo; November 28, 1836 – February 23, 1919) was a French feminist and pacifist. She was the wife of the astronomer, Camille Flam ...

(1836–1919), feminist and pacifist * Jane Pierny (1869–1913), soprano * Marcel Pinte (1938–1944), member of the French Resistance * Arnauld Pontier, writer *

Jacob Farrand Pringle Jacob Farrand Pringle (July 27, 1816 - February 1, 1901) was a Canadian judge, soldier, and politician in Cornwall. Early life Jacob Farrand Pringle was born on June 27, 1816, in Valenciennes, France, to James Pringle and Ann Margaret Anderson ...

(1816–1901), Canadian judge, soldier, and politician *

Joris Jansen Rapelje Joris Jansen Rapelje (28 April 1604 – 21 February 1662/63) was a member of the Council of Twelve Men in the Dutch West India Company colony of New Netherland. He and his wife Catalina (Catalyntje) Trico (1605–1689) were among the earliest se ...

(1604–1662/63), member of the

Council of Twelve Men The Twelve Men was a council of citizens chosen by the residents of New Netherland to advise Director Willem Kieft on relations with the Native Americans in the wake of the murder of Claes Swits. Elected on 29 August 1641, the temporary council wa ...

André Renard André Renard (; 25 May 191120 July 1962) was a Belgian trade union leader who, in the aftermath of World War II, became an influential figure within the Walloon Movement. Born into a working-class family, Renard was as a metalworker in the L ...

(1911–1962), Belgian trade union leader * Léon Renard (1836–1916), politician *

Véronique Renties Véronique Renties (born 3 July 1960 at Valenciennes) is a former French athlete, who specialized in the middle distances. Biography She won five French Championship Athletic titles: two in the 800 meters in 1979 and 1980 and three in t ...

(born 1960), middle distance runner *

Pierre Richard Pierre Richard (born Pierre-Richard Maurice Charles Léopold Defays; 16 August 1934) is a France, French actor, film director and screenwriter, best known for the roles of a clumsy daydreamer in comedy films. Richard is considered by some, such a ...

(born 1934), actor, film director and screenwriter *

Léon Richet Léon Richet (15 April 1843 – 28 March 1907) was a French landscape painter. He was born in Solesmes, Nord. He studied art in Valenciennes and became a high school teacher there in 1879. He became associated with the Barbizon school and did seve ...

(1843–1907), landscape painter *

Dominique Riquet Dominique Riquet (born 18 September 1946 in Valenciennes, Nord (French department), Nord) is a French surgeon and politician of the Radical Party (France), Radical Party who served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the 2009 Europe ...

(born 1946), surgeon and politician * Auguste Désiré Saint-Quentin (1838–1906), painter *

Jacques Saly Jacques François Joseph Saly, also known as Jacques Saly (20 June 1717 – 4 May 1776), French-born sculptor who worked in France, Italy and Malta. He is commonly associated with his time in Denmark he served as Director of the Royal Danis ...

(1717–1776), sculptor * Rémi Sénéca (born 1995), rugby union player * Elinor Sneshell, English

barber-surgeon The barber surgeon was one of the most common European medical practitioners of the Middle Ages, generally charged with caring for soldiers during and after battle. In this era, surgery was seldom conducted by physicians. Instead, barbers, who ...

* Fred Soyez (born 1978), field hockey coach *

Jean Stablinski Jean Stablewski (21 May 1932 – 22 July 2007), known as Jean Stablinski, was a French professional cyclist from a family of Polish immigrants. He rode from 1952 to 1968, winning 105 races as a professional. He won the national road champion ...

(1932–2007), cyclist *

Clément Tainmont Clément Tainmont (born 13 February 1986) is a French professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Belgian club Francs Borains in Challenger Pro League. Club career Tainmont began his career with professional club Valenciennes under t ...

(born 1986), footballer *

Fabien Thiémé Fabien Thiémé (11 July 1952 – 27 December 2019) was a French politician. Thiémé was born in Valenciennes on 11 July 1952, to a railway worker father active in the General Confederation of Labour. Thiémé was elected to the National Asse ...

(1952–2019), politician *

Théophile Tilmant Théophile (Joseph Alexandre) Tilmant, (''Tilmant aîné'') was a French violinist and conductor born on 9 July 1799 in Valenciennes France, and died on 7 May 1878, Asnières.Tilmant was a founding Sociétaire of the Société des Concerts in 1 ...

(1799–1878), violinist *

Renier of Trit Renier of Trit was a knight from Trith-Saint-Léger, Hainaut, who took part to the Fourth Crusade and became the first Frankish duke of Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv, Bulgaria) from 1204 to 1205. Life Born in Valenciennes, he was probably the ...

, knight from Trith-Saint-Léger, Hainaut * Jean Baptiste Vanmour (1671–1737), Flemish-French painter *

Julia Wagret Julia Wagret (born 20 January 1999) is a French ice dancer. With her former skating partner, Pierre Souquet-Basiège, she became the 2020 Winter Star silver medalist. With her former skating partner, Mathieu Couyras, she became the 2017 French ...

(born 1999), ice dancer *

Henri-Alexandre Wallon Henri-Alexandre Wallon (23 December 1812 – 13 November 1904) was a French historian and wikt:statesman, statesman whose decisive contribution to the creation of the French Third Republic, Third Republic led him to be called the "Father of the Re ...

(1812–1904), historian and statesman * Mallory Wanecque (born 2006), actress *

Jean-Antoine Watteau Jean-Antoine Watteau (, , ; baptised 10 October 1684died 18 July 1721) Alsavailablevia Oxford Art Online (subscription needed). was a French Painting, painter and Drawing, draughtsman whose brief career spurred the revival of interest in colour ...

(1684–1721), painter *

Louis Joseph Watteau Louis Joseph Watteau (10 April 1731 - 17 August 1798), known as the Watteau of Lille (a title also given to his son) was a French painter active in Lille. Watteau was born in Valenciennes. His father Noël Joseph Watteau (1689-1756) was brother t ...

(1731–1798), painter * Robert Witchitz (1924–1944), volunteer soldier in the French liberation force *

Bruno Wojtinek Bruno Wojtinek (born 6 March 1963) is a French former professional racing cyclist. He rode in the 1987 Tour de France. Major results ;1981 :1st Overall Tour de l'Abitibi ;1983 :1st Circuit du Port de Dunkerque :2nd Paris–Roubaix Espoirs ;19 ...

(born 1963), racing cyclist

Sport

Valenciennes FC Valenciennes Football Club (; commonly known as Valenciennes, VA or VAFC) is a French professional football club based in Valenciennes. The club was founded in 1914 and currently play in Championnat National, the third tier of French footbal ...

is based in the city.

Twin towns – sister cities

Valenciennes is twinned with: *

Agrigento Agrigento (; or ) is a city on the southern coast of Sicily, Italy and capital of the province of Agrigento. Founded around 582 BC by Greek colonists from Gela, Agrigento, then known as Akragas, was one of the leading cities during the golden ...

, Italy * Central AO (Moscow), Russia *

Düren Düren (; Ripuarian language, Ripuarian: Düre) is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, between Aachen and Cologne, on the river Rur (river), Rur. History Roman era The area of Düren was part of Gallia Belgica, more specifically the ter ...

, Germany *

Gliwice Gliwice (; , ) is a city in Upper Silesia, in southern Poland. The city is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Kłodnica river (a tributary of the Oder River, Oder). It lies approximately 25 km west from Katowice, the regional capital ...

, Poland *

Medway Medway is a Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in the ceremonial county of Kent in South East England. It was formed in 1998 by merging the boroughs of City of Roche ...

, England, United Kingdom *

Yichang Yichang ( zh, s= ), Postal Map Romanization, alternatively romanized as Ichang, is a prefecture-level city located in western Hubei province, China. Yichang had a population of 3.92 million people at the 2022 census, making it the third most pop ...

, China

References

External links

* {{Authority control Communes of Nord (French department) Subprefectures in France