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Charleville andMézières were originally separate communities on opposite banks of theMeuse, about 1.2 km (0.75 mi) from one another.[3]
Charleville was founded byCharles Gonzaga, the 8thduke of Mantua, in 1606. Its inhabitants were known as Carolopolitans (Carolopolitains orCarolopolitaines). It was prosperous from the 17th century, although its fortifications were dismantled underLouis XIV in 1687 and it passed intoFrench hands in 1708. It was plundered by thePrussians in 1815. France's royal armaments factory was formerly located there and gave its name to theCharleville musket, before being relocated and divided betweenTulle andChâtellerault. In the 19th century, the city continued to produce arms through private firms, as well as nails, hardware, wine, spirits, coal, iron, and slate. It boasted a spacious port, a theatre, a large public library, and a museum of natural history.[3]
The inhabitants of Mézières were known as Macerians (Macériens orMacériennes).
By the mid-19th century, the two towns were linked by asuspension bridge.[3] It was occupied by theGerman Empire in theFirst World War and byNazi Germany inWorld War II - the town served as the center of theOberste Heeresleitung (OHL) for 26 days during World War I. The presentcommune was established in 1966, the year after another commune,Le Theux, had been merged into Mézières. The entire resultant commune has a population of about 51,000.
With an annual average of 10 °C (50 °F), Charleville-Mézières is generally the coolest city of France. Winters are long, cold and gloomy while summers are interchangeably warm or hot but sometimes, even in the middle of July, night temperatures can drop below 5 °C (41 °F). Under theKöppen-Geiger climate classification, Charleville-Mézières features a temperateoceanic climate (Cfb) with strongcontinental influences (Dfb). The climate is vastly affected by the low mountainArdennes range nearby. The proximity results in moisture being trapped and excessive precipitation occurs as a result when compared to other parts of northern France.Temperature inversion is also common, which results in strong cold snaps compared to the oceanic climates further west. This results in overnight temperatures below −10 °C (14 °F) happening during most winters as the cold air descends at night. Similar patterns replicate year round, causing Charleville-Mezières to have cooler summer nights than Nordiccoastal areas near the Arctic Circle. The intermittent frosts in May and September also result in a shortgrowing season.
Climate data for Charleville-Mézières (1991–2020 averages), extremes since 1940
In the table and graph below, data for 1962 and earlier refer to the old commune of Charleville, before the merger with Étion, Mézières, Mohon and Montcy-Saint-Pierre.[7]
Puppetry is an important part of the cultural life of Charleville-Mézières, which is called the "World Capital of Puppetry Arts". Aninternational puppet festival has been held there every three years since 1961, and became a biennial event in 2011.[9] The town is also home to the world headquarters ofUNIMA[10] as well as the International Puppetry Institute (French: Institut International de la Marionnette),[11] which is housed in a historic building featuring a giantautomaton of a puppeteer who performs a puppet show every hour on the hour. TheÉcole Nationale Supérieure des Arts de la Marionnette (ESNAM), a college which offers a higher education in puppetry, is also situated in Charleville-Mézières.[12]
The poetArthur Rimbaud (1854–1891) was born in Charleville. TheRimbaud museum [fr] is located in the old water mill (Le Vieux Moulin) to the north of the town.
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