The department bordersNord (to the north),Somme andOise (to the west),Ardennes andMarne (east), andSeine-et-Marne (south-west) andBelgium (Province ofHainaut) (to the north-east). The riverAisne crosses the area from east to west, where it joins theOise. TheMarne forms part of the southern boundary of the department with the department of Seine-et-Marne. The southern part of the department is the geographical region known aslaBrie poilleuse, a drier plateau known for its dairy products andBrie cheese.
According to the 2003 census, the forested area of the department was 123,392 hectares, or 16.6%, for an average metropolitan area of 27.4%.[6]
The landscape is dominated by masses of rock which often have steep flanks. These rocks appear all over the region, but the most impressive examples are atLaon and theChemin des Dames ridge.
The department of Aisne includes one medium-sized city (Saint-Quentin) and three small cities (Laon, Soissons, and Château-Thierry), to which may be added the conglomeration formed by Chauny and Tergnier. There are many other agglomerations of an urban character because Aisne has been densely populated since before the 19th century. The villages are numerous and rather small. The most populous commune isSaint-Quentin; the prefectureLaon is the third-most populous. As of 2019, there are 7 communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants:[7]
TheScheldt (which takes its source nearLe Catelet), theAisne, theMarne, theOurcq, theVesle, theSomme (which rises inFonsommes), theOise, and theSerre. In the south of the department, there is theSurmelin, the Verdonnelle, and theDhuys (this river is channeled into the Dhuis Aqueduct, 131 km long, to supply drinking water to Paris since 1 October 1865 and also more recently the Leisure Park ofMarne-la-Vallée).
The department is also crossed by numerous canals (e.g. theCanal of Saint-Quentin, 93 km).
Aisne developed from the ancient settlement of Acinum, from which its name derives.[10] TheBattle of the Axona was fought nearby in 57 BC.
Aisne is one of the original 83 departments created during theFrench Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces ofÎle-de-France (Laon, Soissons, Noyon, and Valois, which are actually historical and cultural parts of Picardy that were annexed to Île-de-France[11]),Picardy (Thiérache Vermandois), andChampagne (Brie, and Omois).
The Arms of Aisne combines the arms of the formerComté de Ponthieu at the top with those of the formerProvince of Champagne below. The wavy middle bar represents the river Aisne. This shield is a proposal by Robert Louis, and has as yet no official value.
Party per fess wavy argent, one of Or three bendlets of azure; two of azure with band argent between two cotices potent counter potent of Or and Azure.
Agriculture dominates the economy, especially cereal crops.Beet sugar is one of the most important industrial crops of the area. Silk, cotton, and wool weaving flourish inSaint-Quentin and other towns.Saint-Gobain is known for its production of mirrors, which started in the 17th century.Guise is the agricultural centre of the northern area of Aisne.Volkswagen Group France has headquarters inVillers-Cotterêts.[12]
The department is a mixture of rural areas and working-class towns. As a place of residence for some families working in Paris orÎle-de-France, Aisne was for many years a department rather oriented to the left, with a majority on the General Council on the left since 1998, and the same for the majority of parliamentary seats representing the department in the National Assembly. However, since the 2000s, Aisne has strongly shifted in favour of theNational Rally. Indeed, Aisne is the department that was most favourable to this party during the2012 presidential elections, having won 26.33% of votes there.[13]
In 2017, Aisne votes 52.91% in favour of the National Rally during the second round. In 2022, this value was 7 points higher, at 59.91%;[13]
The smaller cities of the northern department such asGuise,Hirson,Vervins and the railway city ofTergnier are sources of support for left-wing parties.
The President of the General Council is theLiberal Nicolas Fricoteaux. In the2021 departmental election, the Departmental Council of Aisne was elected as follows:[14]
Aisne lost some of its population in the second half of the 19th century, due to therural exodus but this was limited by the industrial development in the north of the department (Saint-Quentin, Chaunois, Thiérache).
Greatly affected by theFirst World War, the department has seen its population grow slightly to the same level as in 1900. For thirty years, theindustrial decline has caused stagnation of the population (526,346 in 1968, 535,489 in 1999). Only the south-west of the department, close to the Paris conurbation, has seen much population growth.
During World War I a number of significant architectural monuments were destroyed. Of the buildings that survived, the medieval churches in Laon,Braine, andUrcel are the most significant. The ruined castle ofLa Ferté-Milon escaped further damage during the war. Of the castles that survived, some were used as prisons, such as the Castle of Vadancourt, near Saint-Quentin (500 prisoners).[24]
It is thought that the Aisne River was the birthplace of the trench warfare seen in the First World War.[citation needed] TheBritish Expeditionary Force (BEF) had initial early successes driving the Germans back to the Aisne River; the German troops dug in and managed to hold out against both British and French attacks. This German entrenchment was to mould the entire face of World War One as both sides began digging in and fortifying their positions.[citation needed] Thus began the stalemate that became a significant feature of the First World War.
Rustic cuisine. The north of the department is a farming area and there are products made from cow's milk such asMaroilles cheese andDulce de leche. There are also typically Picardy specialties such as "ficelle", a sort of rolledcrêpe with cream cheese,béchamel, ham, and mushrooms.Foie gras is a product developed inThiérache of the highest quality.
The cultivation of red fruit (strawberries) is beginning to develop.
Trade shows for: cheeses (La Capelle), blood sausage (Saint-Quentin).
Tastings in flea markets and many opportunities to discover local products in a traditional atmosphere.
In the south there are kidney beans form Soissons and the Tourist route of Champagne where some champagnes produced in the Chateau-Thierry region, like the maroilles, are recognized by theAppellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC).
Thiérache cider and its eau-de-vie and the production of beer (mostly craft) give the department of Aisne real identity.
Large swarms of bees mean that the flavours of honey, mead, gingerbread, vinegar etc. can be found.
Leo Lemoine, mayor ofSaulchery member of theResistance in February 1941 and died for France in exile atBuchenwald Dora[25] with his son Jacques (17 years old)
