Arques-la-Bataille

French commune
nomcommune=Arques-la-Bataille
région=Haute-Normandie
département=Seine Maritime
arrondissement=Dieppe
canton=Offranville
insee=76026
cp=76880
maire=Guy Sénécal
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=Dieppe Maritime
longitude=1.12694444444
latitude=49.8816666667
alt moy=
alt mini=2
alt maxi=129 m
hectares=1469
km²=
sans=2535
date-sans=1999
dens=172.6
date-dens=1999

Arques-la-Bataille is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in northern France. It lies 4 miles southeast of Dieppe by the Western railway.

Geography

Arques is situated near the confluence of the rivers Varenne and Béthune; the forest of Arques stretches to the north-east.

ights

The interest of the place centers in the castle dominating the town, which was built in the 11th century by William of Talou; his nephew, William the Conqueror, regarding it as a menace to his own power, besieged and occupied it. After frequently changing hands, it came into the possession of the English, who were expelled in 1449 after an occupation of thirty years. In 1589, its cannon decided the battle of Arques in favor of Henry IV.

Since 1869, the castle has been state property. The first line of fortification was the work of Francis I; the second line and the donjon date back to the 11th century.

The church of Arques, a building of the 16th century, preserves a fine stone rood screen, statuary, stained glass and other relics of the Renaissance period.

References in literature

*Willa Cather's 1907 short story "Eleanor's House" is set in Arques-la-Bataille.

References

* [http://www.casteland.com/puk/castle/hnormand/seinem/arques/arques_diapo.htm photo gallery of Arques]

*1911