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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Roubaix (French pronunciation: ) is an old mono-industrial and working-class commune[1] in northern France, in the department of Nord, which grew rapidly in the 19th century from its textile industries. This former new town[2] is the second largest city in the French region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais ranked by population with about 95,000 inhabitants. Located between the cities of Lille and Tourcoing, Roubaix is the chef-lieu of two cantons.
Together with Lille, Tourcoing, Villeneuve-d'Ascq and eighty-one other communes, Roubaix gives structure to a four-centred metropolitan area inhabited by around 1.1 million people: the European Metropole of Lille.[3][4] To a greater extent, Roubaix belongs to a vast conurbation formed with the Belgian cities of Menen, Mouscron, Kortrijk and Tournai, which gave birth to the first European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation in January 2008, Lille–Kortrijk–Tournai with an aggregate over 2 million inhabitants.[5]
Roubaix occupies a central position on the north-east slope of the European Metropole of Lille: it is set on the eastern side of Lille and the southern side of Tourcoing, close to the Belgian border. As regards towns' boundaries, Roubaix is encompassed by seven cities which constitute its immediate neighbouring environment. These municipalities are namely: Tourcoing to the north and the northwest, Wattrelos to the northeast, Leers to the east, Lys-lez-Lannoy to the southeast, Hem to the south and Croix to the southwest and the west. Roubaix, alongside those municipalities and twenty-one other communes, belongs to the land of Ferrain, a little district of the former Castellany of Lille between the Lys and Escaut rivers.[6]
As the crow flies, the distance between Roubaix and the following cities is some odd: 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) to Tournai, 18 kilometres (11 mi) to Kortrijk, 84 kilometres (52 mi) to Brussels and 213 kilometres (132 mi) to Paris.[7]
The soft hollow plain upon which Roubaix lies, stretches on the axis of an east-west oriented syncline which rises to the south and the southeast towards the Paleozoic limestone[8] of the Mélantois-Tournaisis faulted anticline.[9] This area consists predominantly of Holocene deposits of alluvial origin. It is flat and low, with an elevation drop of only 35 m (114 ft 10 in) over its 13.23 square kilometres (5.11 sq mi). The lowest altitude of this area stands at 17 m (55 ft 9 in), while its highest altitude is 52 m (170 ft 7 in) meters above the sea level.[10]
The Trichon stream fed by waters of the Espierre stream used to flow through the rural landscape of Roubaix before the industrialisation process began to alter this area in the middle of the 19th century.[11] From that century on, the ensuing industries, with their increasing needs for reliable supplies of goods and water, led to the building of an inland waterway connected upstream from the Deûle and downstream to the Marque and Espierre toward the Escaut, which linked directly Roubaix to Lille.[12][13]
Opened in 1877,[14] the Canal de Roubaix crosses the town from its northern neighbourhoods to its eastern neighbourhoods and flows along the city's boundaries. The Canal de Roubaix closed in 1985, after more than a century in use.[15] Thank to the European funded project Blue Links, the waterway has been reopened to navigation since 2011.[16]
Despite some American statements that weather conditions in Roubaix were bad during the 19th century,[17][18] the area of the city is not known for undergoing unusual weather events. In regard to the town's geographical location[19] and the results of the Météo-France's weather station of Lille-Lesquin,[20][21] Roubaix is a temperate oceanic climate: while summer experiences mild temperatures, winter's temperatures may fall to below zero. Precipitation is infrequently intense.
The current city's name is most likely derived from two Frankish words: “raus” meaning reed and “baki” meaning brook.[22][23][24] Thence the sense of Roubaix can probably find its origin in the brook's banks of Espierre, Trichon or Favreuil.[25] The place was mentioned for the first time in a Latinised form in the 9th century: Villa Rusbaci.[23][24][26] Thereafter, the following names were in use: 1047 and 1106 Rubais, 1122 Rosbays, 1166 Rusbais, 1156 and 1202 Robais, 1223 Roubais.[23][27]
Parallel to the official and usual name Roubaix, some translations are worth a mention. Firstly, though the city has never belonged to the Flemish-speaking area,[28] the seldom-heard renderings Robeke[29][30] and Roodebeeke[31] are documented for Roubaix. Furthermore, the Dutch Language Union established Robaais as the city's proper Dutch name.[32] Lastly, one can cite Rosbacum as the definite Latin transcription of Roubaix which has been in use since the 19th century, as recorded on dedication statements sealed in the first stones of the foundations of the City Hall laid in 1840 and the Church of Notre Dame laid in 1842.[33]
Inhabitants of Roubaix are known in English as “Roubaisians” and in French as Roubaisiens (pronounced: ) or in the feminine form Roubaisiennes (pronounced: ), also natively called Roubaignos (pronounced: ) or in the feminine form Roubaignoses (pronounced: ).[34][35][36]
The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known through the population censuses carried out in the town since 1793 and the research study of Louis-Edmond Marissal, Clerk of the Peace of the city, published in 1844.[37] From the 21st century, communes with more than 10,000 population have sample surveys held every year, unlike other municipalities that have a real census every five years.[note 1][note 2]
Roubaix evolved into a provincial market town until the end of the Early modern period with a census population of 4,715 inhabitants in 1716.[37] By the late 18th century, the city began to emerge as regional textile manufacturing centre and its population increased, reaching a level of 8,091 in 1800. As a result of the industrialisation process of the 19th century, the need of workers was supplied by rural flight as well as immigration. Belgian settlement was a feature of the Roubaisian life at that time.[39][40]
During the first-half period of the 19th century, Roubaix ranked the first French town in terms of population growth rate with a five times increase,[41] whereas in the remaining period of this century its population doubled. Within this last time framework, Belgian immigration appeared to be one of the major factor to explain the significantly high population growth, with 30,465 Belgian inhabitants counted in 1866 and 42,103 in 1872.[42] Nonetheless, the rate of natural increase shew to be a more important component of the population growth in that period.[43]
At the 20th century threshold, the Roubaisian population reached a peak of 124,661, from which it progressively declined over the successive decades.
Occupied by German troops from October 1914 to October 1918, Roubaix belonged to the combat zone of the Western Front during the First World War.[44] Over this occupation period, Roubaisians suffered from dearth, deportation for compulsory labour and unusual casualties[45] with a rather slight population drop from 122,723 to 113,265 between the 1911 and 1921 censuses.[46]
The population of the city was 94,536 at the January 2012 census.[38] This enables Roubaix to remain the second largest municipality in the region Nord-Pas de Calais.
Although the region of Roubaix was subjected many times to the domination of Flanders' rulers throughout its history, Roubaisians have used a local Picard variant as the language of everyday life for centuries. This spoken vernacular is locally known as “Roubaignot”.[47][48] Until the early 20th century this patois prevailed.[49] Therefore, French language progressive penetration into local culture should not only be analysed as a result of the industrialisation and urbanisation of the area but should also be considered in terms of public education policies.[35][50]
In the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War and the German annexation of Alsace-Lorraine, many Jews left their homes and emigrated.[51][52] Jewish arrival in Roubaix derives from that bitter period of history.[53] At the time, the new immigrant community, even though its small size, dedicated a building to Jewish faith and liturgical practises.[53][54][55] The newly opened synagogue, located in a house at number 51 on the narrow rue des Champs,[53][55] operated more than 60 years, from 1877 to 1939 when it closed under imprecise local circumstances, while Nazi era arose in Europe.[55][56] Despite the closure of the synagogue, the occupation and police raids,[note 3][58] the local practise of Judaism saw an humble revival after the war which lasted until the start of the Nineties when the modest Jewry of Roubaix handed over its Sefer Torah to the care of the one of Lille.[56] Roubaix has no longer been home to a Jewish place of worship since that event.[59] The house inside which the first one was created 123 years ago, has been demolished since an urban renewal project occurred in 2000.[53] On September 10, 2015, Guillaume Delbar, mayor of Roubaix, unveiled a commemorative slab on the rue des Champs in memory of the religious purpose of this former building and the Roubaisian Jewry.[56]
During the Middle Age, the city grew in a northward-facing semicircle around its primitive core, beyond the area spread out between the church Saint Martin and the former fortified castle. The existence of this south boundary remained until the 18th century and marked an urban expansion which mainly occurred on the western and northern sides of the town.[60] Increasing industrialisation, land transport improvement, continued population growth and the resulting need for suitable low cost lands for housing and manufacturing plants, all of which finally led to expand the city southward from the centre, in the 19th century.[61]
Roubaix grouped four cantons from 1988 to 2012. Since then, this number has fell to two with Roubaix 1 and Roubaix 2. After the last redistricting of French legislative constituencies in 2010, the city is now divided into two constituencies : Nord's 7th constituency which include the former canton of Roubaix-Ouest and Nord's 8th constituency formed by the following former cantons: Roubaix-Centre, Roubaix-Nord and Roubaix-Est.
Roubaix is twinned with:[68]
Remarkable buildings, old brick factories and warehouses abound in this once renowned city which was esteemed to be the worldwide textile capital in the early years of the 20th century.[76] Thus, the city inherited one of the most architectural works in the French history and culture of the 19th century industrial revolution and was designated Town of Art and History on Decembre 13, 2000.[77]
Ever since the Ministry of Culture endowed Roubaix with this label, the city has entered the 21st century by promoting its cultural standing as the inheritance of its industrial and social history.[78]
Several profane or sacral buildings of Roubaix are registered as historic monuments.
Barbieux health centre
ENSAIT
Prouvost private mansion
Art nouveau house
Three-storey stately house
Rémy Cogghe's house
Law court
Huchon water tower
National Archives of the Working World
Convent of Clarisses
Deconsecrated Church Notre-Dame
Church Saint-Martin
The most prestigious names of painters, who made their reputation in Roubaix from the middle of the 19th century to the early 20th century are Jean-Joseph Weerts[79] and Rémy Cogghe.[80]
From the end of the Second World War to the beginning of the seventies, a casual group of young artists from Roubaix and the surrounding region was formed and given the name Groupe de Roubaix.[81] Two painters commonly associated with the group are Arthur Van Hecke and Eugène Leroy.[82][83]
Roubaix has been home to two major museums of the region Nord-Pas de Calais since the beginning of the 21st century: La Piscine - André Diligent Museum of Art and Industry and La Manufacture - Museum-Workshop; inheriting both of the local socioeconomic history.
The city of Roubaix was the filming location (mostly or partly) of the following films:
Roubaix has an old sporting heritage[116] and is home to the finishing of one of the world's oldest races of professional road cycling at its velodrome: Paris–Roubaix known as the Hell of the North. While Roubaix is famous for its velodrome, there is more to this city than the cycling sports facilities.
The building of indoor and outdoor sports amenities in the city should be associated with its era of economic rise during the industrial revolution, in addition to the development of local sporting clubs and associations.[117]
During the 19th century, Roubaix acquired an international reputation for textile industry and wool production. In the Seventies and Eighties, international competition and automation caused an industrial decline and resulted in the closure of many factories. From that moment on and since the implementation of the French urban policy in the early Eighties, around three-fourth of the town's territory has been regularly assigned specific zoning designations as well as health and welfare plans.[118]
Successive local governments have tried to address difficulties associated with
…and with the Deule by the Canal d'Espierre and that of Roubaix
Le but primitif du canal était de fournir à la ville de Roubaix les eaux dont elle manquait, et de la mettre en communication avec le système de canaux du Nord et du Pas-de-Calais.
The evening of our visit at Roubaix the weather was dreadful — rain and cold wind.
In the winter, Mrs. Tyng visited us and told us more about Roubaix, but, owing to the extremely cold weather, her audience was small.
D'après un recensement récent, la population de Roubaix s'élève aujourd'hui à 75,987 habitants, dont 42,103 belges. En 1866 le recensement accusait une population totale de 64,706 habitants, dont 30,465 belges.
In fact, the population of Lille-Roubaix-Tourcoing, a combat zone in World War I, fell slightly between 1901 and 1921.
…du parler populaire de Roubaix, tel qu'il était couramment employé avant que l'instruction primaire ne fût devenue obligatoire.
M. Maurice Marx, fils du ministre-officiant de la Synagogue de Roubaix, a été nommé dans le courant de novembre au commandement de la canonnière l'Onyx. Ce jeune officier est un ancien élève de l’École polytechnique.
In Roubaix, which has a Socialist majority on the town council, a memorial will be unveiled on Easter Sunday, in honour of Jules Guesde, the great pioneer of Marxian Socialism in France.
…и кто-то посоветовал, городок Рубе на севере Франции. Это оказалось именно тем, что мы искали…
The sport is very popular in the North of France, some fifty odd clubs existing in or near Roubaix, where a very large meeting was recently held.
C’est en 1932, à Roubaix, que Xavier Toulemonde crée les Filatures des 3 Suisses, qui deviendront par la suite les 3 Suisses.
In January of 2007, the deal was done and Ankama moved into 75 Boulevard d'Armentières in Roubaix.
The city is also served by the Lille Metro.
The Gare de Roubaix railway station offers connections to Antwerp, Lille, Ostend, Paris and Tourcoing.
A22 autoroute, a French part of the European route E17 from Burgundy to Antwerp, is the only motorway, within a motorway roads network of the highest density in France after Paris, which passes by Roubaix.
Ankama Games has established its head office in Roubaix since 2007.[126]
OVH has established its head office in Roubaix since 1999.[125]
Mail order companies of international renown such as La Redoute,[120] Damart[121][122] and 3 Suisses,[123][124] stemmed from textile industries which were founded in Roubaix.
[119][78]
Cold War, Battle of Stalingrad, Nazi Germany, Battle of the Atlantic, Second Sino-Japanese War
Brussels, Andorra, United Kingdom, Canada, Wallonia
France, Paris, Departments of France, Lyon, Marseille
Isle of Man, India, Canada, European Union, British Overseas Territories
Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Nantes, Rennes
France, Roubaix, Palme d'Or, Nord (French department), La Vie des morts
Lille 2 University of Health and Law, Lille University of Science and Technology, University of the Littoral Opal Coast, France, Artois University
French language, Roubaix, France, Belgium, Lille