Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Toul

Toul is a historic fortified town of France, a sous-préfecture of the Meurthe-et-Moselle département. Population 65,000. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... In France, a préfecture is the capital city of a département. ... Meurthe-et-Moselle is a département in the northeast of France named after the Meurthe and Moselle rivers. ... The départements (or departments) are administrative units of France, roughly analogous to British counties and are now grouped into 22 metropolitan and four overseas régions. ...

Toul is located between Commercy and Nancy, and sited between the Moselle River and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin. This article is about the city in France named Nancy. ... Moselle River/Germany The Moselle (French Moselle, German Mosel) is a river flowing through France, Luxembourg and Germany, joining the Rhine river at Koblenz. ...

History

Toul's history, prior to the Franco-Prussian War is something of a forgotten subject locally. It is nonetheless remarkable for a number of reasons. The Franco-Prussian War (July 19, 1870 – May 10, 1871) was fought between France and Prussia (backed by the North German Confederation) allied with the south German states of Baden, Bavaria and Württemberg. ...

The most striking features are the impressive stone remparts. It is not known precisely when they were first built, but there appears to have been a fortified town at this location since the earliest recorded history. There is a great deal of Roman archaeology in the area and allegedly some in the town. The Roman fortified town of Grand is some 30km away, with its great amphitheatre and temple to the Cult of Apollo. Ancient Rome was a civilization that existed in Europe between 753 BC and its downfall in AD 476. ... The defensive wall of Braşov, Romania. ... Grand is a village in the French département of Vosges, famous for its Roman amphitheatre, mosaics and aqueduct. ... The name amphitheatre (alternatively amphitheater) is given to a public building of the Classical period (being particularly associated with ancient Rome) which was used for spectator sports, games and displays. ... Apollo (Greek: Απόλλων, Apóllōn) is a god in Greek and Roman mythology, the son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin of Artemis (goddess of the hunt). ...

Today, the ramparts encircle and define the old town. They are built of dressed white stone, and topped with grass, and in places are over five metres high.

During the siege of 1870, the last time that Toul's defenses were used as a classical fortress, '64 guns opened fire at 6am on September 23, and the fortress surrendered at 3pm after 2,433 shells had been fired'. A siege is a prolonged military blockade and assault of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition. ... 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

Toul also has a cathedral, and was part of a state known as the Trois Évêchés (three bishoprics) along with Metz and Verdun, which belonged at times to either France or Germany (1552 - 1870). The old town's architecture is dominated by past glories in various states of decay. Many of the houses were built as canonical residences in the late middle ages and bear vestiges in the form of ornamental stonework. There is no trace of the monastery, however its wine-cellars still exist, under the shops on the North side of the Rue Gambetta. (Access is possible via the Camera Shop). A cathedral is a Christian church building, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy (such as the Roman Catholic Church or the Anglican churches), which serves as the central church of a bishopric. ... Location within France Rhine watershed Metz is a city in the North-East of France, capital of the Lorraine région and of the département of Moselle (57). ... Verdun, sometimes also called Verdun-sur-Meuse, is a city in northeast France, in the département of Meuse, of which it is a sous-préfecture. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ...

Transportation

Toul is at the intersection of the Moselle River (which divides into the river proper and the Moselle Canalisée just outside the town) with the Canal de la Marne Au Rhin, and was once, consequently, an important port. The barges known as péniches still navigate these watercourses commercially, typically carrying steel, though in the summer much more of the water traffic is for pleasure. Moselle River/Germany The Moselle (French Moselle, German Mosel) is a river flowing through France, Luxembourg and Germany, joining the Rhine river at Koblenz. ...

There is a main-line railway station at Toul, the last major station before the (once vast, and still very large) marshalling yards at Nancy. Once the Paris-Strasbourg TGV line is completed, it will probably pass through Toul. Watch this space... This article is about the city in France named Nancy. ... The TGV is Frances train à grande vitesse; literally high-speed train. Developed by Alstom and SNCF, and operated by SNCF, the French national railway company, it connects cities in France, especially Paris, and in some other neighbouring countries, such as Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. ...