Draguignan was founded inantiquity. The city stands out because of its long history and great location, just 25 km (16 mi) from theMediterranean Sea and nestled between theFrench Riviera and theVerdon Regional Natural Park. The city is 42 km (26 mi) fromSaint-Tropez, and 80 km (50 mi) fromNice. Its population is approximately 40,000. Additionally, the city serves as the administrative center of theDracénie Provence Verdon urban community, which includes twenty-three municipalities and more than 110,000 residents.
The city is currently home to twomilitary schools, the Infantry School and the Artillery School.
Saint-Georges killing dragon, 15th century miniature
According to legend, the name of the city is derived from the Latin name "Draco/Draconem" (dragon): a bishop, called Saint Hermentaire, killed a dragon and saved people.
The Latin motto of Draguignan isAlios nutrio, meos devoro (I nourish others, I devour my own).
Under theKöppen climate classification, Draguignan falls within theMediterranean climate zone (Csa), with mild and wet winters, and hot and dry summers, with most of the precipitation occurring during the autumn months of October and November. Frost is rare and temperatures rarely fall below freezing. Furthermore, the town is protected from wind by the Malmont peak and the western massif of the Selves.
Comparison of local Meteorological data with other cities in France[3]
The hills downstream of Draguignan date from the Middle Triassic, while those that rise upstream belong to the Upper Triassic.
Up North, we can see a long bar of stony plateau, with summits made ofJurassiclimestones, sometimes intersected by deep canyons. This northern region of the "baous" or also called massive mountainous barriers, deeply wrinkled and fractured, reveals successive basins in the east–west direction.
Draguignan is in a zone of moderate risk ofseismicity.[6]
There is no highway going through the city of Draguignan but the town is directly connected by theD 1555 to a major highway, the A8.
A bypass route makes it possible to avoid the city center from the south when arriving fromTrans-en-Provence and to get to the hospital in the north of the city more quickly.
Since 1981, the closest railway station isLes Arcs–Draguignan, which is served by theTGV and is located twelve kilometers from the city center. Bus shuttles have been set by theagglomeration community of Draguignan from the former railway station of Draguignan, which was converted into a bus station. Draguignan train station features two turnstiles: one for SNCF and another for the transport of the agglomeration.
Les Arcs-Draguignan Station
Another station is currently under development in the municipality ofLe Muy.[7]
Urban transports are managed by the TED community, which offers three urban lines as well as lines to other municipalities such as Les Arcs-Draguignan,Ampus,Flayosc,Le Muy andLorgues. The buses of the General Council of the Var serve from Draguignan the cities ofToulon,Brignoles,Aups,Fayence,Fréjus andLe Luc.
A project by BHNS is being studied, to connect Draguignan city center to Les Arcs-Draguignan station in 17 minutes instead of 25 minutes currently. Currently, TEDBUS line5 provides access to the station.
The Zou! network offers both rail and intercity bus services. There are three local lines that pass through Draguignan:[8] toAups812, towardsLe Luc826, towardsSaint-Raphaël845.
The name of Draguignan ("Draconianum") appeared for the first time in 909. During the Middle-Ages, Draguignan was a small village whose people lived from olive and grape cultivation. TheHôtel de Ville is situated within the grounds of the former Convent of the Cordeliers which dates from 1265.[9]
Draguignan became the "prefecture" of theVar in 1790, at the beginning of theFrench Revolution. This was despite the town by far not being the biggest city in the department. It remained the seat of the prefecture until 1974. In the 19th century and during a large part of the 20th century, the people of Draguignan (in French: "Dracénois", in English: "Draceners") voted for liberal parties (Radical-Socialist Party, Socialist Party).
The town was occupied by the Wehrmacht in 1942-44 and freed in August 1944, afterOperation Dragoon. The city welcomed the "École nationale d'artillerie" (Artillery School) in 1976, then the "École nationale d'infanterie" (Infantry School) in 2010. The arrival of the military involved the development of the city : the small town became a city in the second part of the 20th century : 13,400 citizens in 1954, 33,000 in 2000, 38,000 in 2010. On June 15, 2010, the city was flooded. Torrential rain caused the deaths of 12 people in the town and 25 in the neighborhoods.
Georges Clemenceau, was a politician of Draguignan: deputy of the district of Draguignan (1885–1893) and senator of the same district (1902–1920), French prime minister in 1906-1909 and 1917–1920
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