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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name                   = Fismes
|commune status         = [[Communes of France|Commune]]
|image                  = Place de la mairie Fismes 3187.jpg
|caption                = The Town Hall Square
|image coat of arms     = Blason Fismes.svg
|arrondissement         = Reims
|canton                 = Fismes-Montagne de Reims
|INSEE                  = 51250
|postal code            = 51170
|mayor                  = Charles Gossard<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=13 September 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
|term                   = 2020&ndash;2026
|intercommunality       = [[Communauté urbaine du Grand Reims|CU Grand Reims]]
|coordinates            = {{coord|49.3078|3.6814|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation min m        = 57
|elevation max m        = 179
|area km2               = 16.75
|population             = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date        = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
}}
'''Fismes''' ({{IPA|fr|fim}}) is a [[Communes of France|commune]] in the [[Marne (department)|Marne]] [[Departments of France|department]] in the [[Grand Est]] region of north-eastern [[France]].
The commune has been awarded three flowers in the ''[[Concours des villes et villages fleuris|Competition of cities and villages in Bloom]]''.<ref>[http://www.cnvvf.fr/les_villes_et_village_fleuris-47.html Fismes in the Competition for Towns and Villages in Bloom] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210053901/http://www.cnvvf.fr/les_villes_et_village_fleuris-47.html |date=December 10, 2014 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
== Geography ==
Fismes is located 25&nbsp;km west by northwest of [[Reims]] and some 12&nbsp;km east by southeast of [[Braine, Aisne|Braine]]. Access is by National Highway N31 from Reims through the heart of the commune and the town and continuing west to [[Soissons]]. There is also the D967 road from [[Longueval-Barbonval]] in the north to the town and continuing southwest to [[Chery-Chartreuve]]. There is also the D386 going south from the village to [[Saint-Gilles, Marne|Saint-Gilles]]. Apart from Fismes there are three hamlets: Fismette and Baslieux are continuations of the urban area of Fismes while Villette is in the east of the commune.<ref name=Google>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fismes,+France/@49.3049516,3.6810077,5942m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x47e9aa09e87e5581:0x92871f77f53f343a?hl=en Google Maps]</ref> [[Fismes station]] has rail connections to Reims.
The ''[[Vesle]]'' river flows through the commune from east to west with the ''Ruisseau du Moulin'' and the ''Ruisseau Saint-Marie'' flow from the north into the ''Vesle''. The ''[[Ardre (river)|Ardre]]'' river flows from the south to join the ''Vesle'' west of the town.
===Neighbouring communes and villages===
{{Geographic location
|width=auto
|Centre    = Fismes
|North     = [[Longueval-Barbonval]]
|Northeast = [[Baslieux-les-Fismes]]
|East      = [[Magneux, Marne|Magneux]]
|Southeast = [[Unchair]]
|South     = [[Saint-Gilles, Marne|Saint-Gilles]]
|Southwest = [[Chery-Chartreuve]]
|West      = [[Bazoches-sur-Vesles]]
|Northwest = [[Paars]]
}}
== History ==
=== Antiquity ===
Fismes, on the right bank of the Vesle, developed from a Gallic ancient town named, during the Gallo-Roman era, "Ad Fines Suessionum" (limit of the Suessiones' territory) or "Ad Fines Remorum" (limit of the Remi's territory), as the city was situated on the boundary of the two Gallic tribes [[Suessiones]] and [[Remi]].
As [[Charles Rostaing]] indicates, the Latin word "fines" is a translation from the Gallic toponym ''equoranda'' which means "boundary" or "limit".<ref>''Les noms de lieux'', PUF, coll. ''Que sais-je ?'', Paris, 1969</ref>
=== Middle Ages ===
The barbaric period did not spare Fismes. During the first half of the Middle Ages, the Normands and the Hungarians, destroyed the city of Fismes multiple times. These ravages pushed the agglomeration of the city towards the heights of the Vesle's right bank.
In 1226 [[Theobald I of Navarre|Thibault IV]], the ''Chansonnier'' (songwriter), helped Fismes become a free city, thanks to hard work of natives that participated in the war led by Thibault. By a charter and a seal that bears the emblem of the commune and under the aegis of a [[Mayor (France)|mayor]] and two deputies, Fismes became autonomous. Thus, the village was able to develop its artisanship, businesses, festivals and markets.
The walls of the city continued to expand; a church of stone, a château which occupied the current plaza of the post office and would one day house as governor, the poet Eustache Deschamps, as well as the City Hall, that continues to occupy the same place, were all constructed in this formative epoch.
The [[Hundred Years War]] between the English and the French brought, once again, the city of Fismes to ruins. Later the [[religious wars]] and the [[Fronde]] completely destroyed the walls of the city and the chateau of Fismes.
=== Modern Era ===
From [[Louis XIII]] to [[Charles X de France|Charles X]] almost all the future [[Kings of France]] passed through Fismes which was their last stop on the way to their coronation at the [[Cathedral of Reims]]. The [[Coronation of Charles X]] was the final time this happened as the [[July Revolution]] brought an end to the traditional coronation ceremony.
In 1646, [[Louis II de Bourbon]] acquired the manorial rights to Fismes and bestowed them on César de Costentin de Tourville for his good services to the King. In 1647, the land was passed on to the eldest son of Cesar, François-Cesar.
During the [[Fronde]], the ramparts of the city and the chateau were completely destroyed.
After the revolution, a time of much inner conflict among the people of Fismes, [[Napoleon]] came to Fismes in order to sign two important declarations. Following Napoleon and the [[French Revolution]], 30,000 Prussians arrived in Fismes and, once again, plundered the village.
[[Image:28e div Pennsylvanie 7557.JPG|thumb|Memorial Bridge for the [[28th Infantry Division (United States)]].]]
In the 19th century, France experienced the rapidly expanding industrial revolution. [[Sugar beet]], porcelain of Fismes (which was rare and expensive), the foundry, the railway, hat making, tanneries and mills mark the advancements of the region and the economic history of this century.
The 20th century began in worse conditions than the preceding finished. Fismes was greatly affected by the [[First World War]]. The Germans invaded the city, then remained on the [[Chemin des Dames]] before they completely demolished the city in 1918.
Fismes attempted to reconstruct itself slowly. Unfortunately, due to its position as a [[railway town]] through which passed trains filled with deportees being sent to Germany, the city suffered during the course of the [[Second World War]]. 14 residents of Fismes, who were seized for acts of resistance, died in [[Nazi concentration camps]]. Among them was the [[Mayor (France)|mayor]] of Fismes, Doctor Genillon.
===Heraldry===
{{Blazon-arms
|img1=Blason Fismes.svg
|legend1=Arms of Fismes
|text=
'''Blazon:'''<br/>
''Quarterly, 1 and 4 of Gules a dexter arm of argent armed with a sword the same surmounted by a helmet of azure quarter turned from profile; 2 and 3 barry of argent and azure of 10 pieces debruised by 3 chevrons of gules, the first écimé; over all an inescutcheon of azure with 3 persons armed in Or: at dexter with a lance, at centre with a sword and at sinister with a halberd, bordered in argent charged with the legend SIGILL. MAIORIS ET IURATORIUN COMMUNIE DE FIMES in capital letters plain of sable.''
}}
==Administration==
===Administrative situation===
The town has been the capital of the Canton of Fismes since its inception during the French Revolution. It belongs to the [[arrondissement of Reims]] (district of Reims until 1801).<ref name="ehess"/>
Fismes is part of the [[Communauté urbaine du Grand Reims]].
'''List of Successive Mayors'''<ref>[http://www.francegenweb.org/mairesgenweb/resultcommune.php?id=18542 List of Mayors of France]</ref>
{{Hidden begin
|title=[[Mayor (France)|Mayors]] from the French Revolution to 1937
|titlestyle = background:palegreen;
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! From !! To !! Name !! Party !! Position
|-
| 1793 || 1794 || François Bonde  ||  ||
|-
| 1794 || 1795 || Henri Servant ||  ||
|-
| 1795 || 1798 || Claude Louis le Tellier ||  ||
|-
| 1798 || 1805 || Henri Servant  ||  ||
|-
| 1805 || 1805 || Pierre Edmé Barbey  ||  ||
|-
| 1806 || 1810 || Henri Servant ||  ||
|-
| 1810 || 1811 || Barbey de Chambrecy ||  ||
|-
| 1811 || 1814 || Louis Heurtevin ||  ||
|-
| 1814 || 1814 || Antoine or Jean Baptiste Pilloy ||  ||
|-
| 1814 || 1814 || Gérard Billet  ||  ||
|-
| 1814 || 1815 || Antoine Clement ||  ||
|-
| 1815 || 1822 || Gérard Billet  ||  ||
|-
| 1822 || 1829 || Pierre Barbey de Chambrecy ||  ||
|-
| 1829 || 1836 || Jean Philippe Brule ||  ||
|-
| 1836 || 1871 || Pierre Louis Regnault ||  ||
|-
| 1871 || 1890 || Jean Philippe Brule ||  ||
|-
| 1890 || 1919 || Constantin Couvreur ||  ||
|-
| 1919 || 1919 || Henri Goumant ||  ||
|-
| 1919 || 1929 || Edgard Maquerlot ||  ||
|-
| 1929 || 1932 || Lucien Laplanche ||  ||
|-
| 1932 || 1934 || Paul Bouche ||  ||
|-
| 1934 || 1936 || Fernand Genillon ||  || Doctor
|-
| 1936 || 1937 || Louis Cochoit ||  ||
|}
{{Hidden end}}
;[[Mayor (France)|Mayors]] from 1937
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! From !! To !! Name !! Party !! Position
|-
| 1937 || 1944 || Fernand Genillon ||  || Arrested in the exercise of his duties. Died for France at [[Buchenwald]] in 1944
|-
| 1944 || 1945 || Ernest Guyomar ||  ||
|-
| 1945 || 1947 || Henri Bertho ||  ||
|-
| 1947 || 1948 || Edmond Launoy ||  ||
|-
| 1948 || 1971 || Marc Olivier ||  ||
|-
| 1971 || 1977 || Aimé Bouchez ||  ||
|-
| 1977 || 2001 || Paul Caffe || PS || Teacher
|-
| 2001 || 2020 || Jean Pierre Pinon || PS || Craftsman carpenter retired, General Counsel for the Canton of Fismes
|-
| 2020 || 2026 || Charles Gossard ||  ||
|}
==Demography==
The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Fismois'' or ''Fismoises'' in French.<ref>[https://www.habitants.fr/marne-51 Le nom des habitants du 51 - Marne], habitants.fr</ref>
{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 2
| percentages = pagr
| source = EHESS<ref name=ehess>{{Cassini-Ehess|13886|Fismes}}</ref> and INSEE<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-51250#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
| graph-pos = bottom
|1793 |2025
|1800 |2129
|1806 |2139
|1821 |1938
|1831 |2110
|1836 |2120
|1841 |2366
|1846 |2422
|1851 |2371
|1856 |2505
|1861 |2705
|1866 |2840
|1872 |2717
|1876 |3218
|1881 |3275
|1886 |3238
|1891 |3303
|1896 |3343
|1901 |3355
|1906 |3411
|1911 |3330
|1921 |2338
|1926 |3186
|1931 |3151
|1936 |3111
|1946 |3029
|1954 |3222
|1962 |3490
|1968 |3634
|1975 |4233
|1982 |4674
|1990 |5286
|1999 |5313
|2007 |5344
|2012 |5413
|2017 |5487
}}
==Economy==
[[Image:CG 16 - CBR - La Gare - Sucrerie nouvelle.JPG|thumb|A train of the ''Chemins de fer de la Banlieue de Reims'' at Fismes station before the [[First World War]], next to a large sugar refinery.]]
The local economy was dominated by the presence of a sugar factory which ceased operations in 1978. The activity of light metalworking has also been present for a long time.
Since 2008 the commune of Fismes has been integrated into the production zone for [[Champagne]]. The parcels of land authorized for planting vineyards are not yet known.
The main business enterprises are ''Campa'' (manufacturing premium electric heaters), ''Finaxo'' (methods for water treatment and waste), ''Profinox'', ''Fimaluplast'' (Aluminium Joinery and PVC), and Experton-Revollier (wire mesh surfaces); a family group recently took over the Ghent company.
==Culture and heritage==
===Civil heritage===
The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
*The '''Laplanche Foundry''' (19th century)<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA51000140|IA51000140 Laplanche Foundry}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''Ets Déodat Fancy Goods Factory''' (20th century)<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA51000136|IA51000136 Ets Déodat Fancy Goods Factory}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''Ets Beucher Wire Works''' (20th century)<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA51000135|IA51000135 Ets Beucher Wire Works}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''Goumant Sugar Refinery''' (20th century)<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA51000139|IA51000139 Goumant Sugar Refinery}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''War Memorial''' (20th century)<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA51000558|IA51000558 War Memorial}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> This First World War memorial was sculpted by François Mourgues with the help of architect Edward Veis and marbler Mr. Renaud
*The '''Ets Gantois Wire Works''' (20th century)<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA51000225|IA51000225 Ets Gantois Wire Works}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''Roland Flour Mill''' (20th century)<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA51000141|IA51000141 Roland Flour Mill}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
;Other sites of interest
*The '''Town Hall'''
*The '''Town ramparts'''
*The '''Royal Milestones''' on the route to [[Soissons]] which was the route to the coronation
*'''Heurtevin House''' where the [[List of kings of France|kings of France]] often spent their last night as prince;
*The '''American Memorial Bridge''' in honour of the [[28th Infantry Division (United States)|28th Infantry division]] from Pennsylvania;
*The '''Bread Museum'''
===Religious heritage===
[[File:Église Macre Fismes 3195.JPG|thumb|The Church of Saint Macre]]
*The '''Church of Saint Macre''' (12th century){{Mérimée Icon}} is registered as an historical monument.<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00078711|PA00078711 Church of Saint Macre}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref>
*The '''Pillar''' of the door on [[Saint-Gilles, Marne|Saint Gilles]];
===Picture Gallery===
<gallery>
File:Fismes ancienne mairie.jpg|The old Town Hall
Mairie de Fismes 3190.jpg|East face of the town hall.
Place de l'église 765.JPG|The Church square.
Monument Guerre 14-18 760.JPG|The 1914-1918 war memorial.
28e div Pennsylvanie 7573.JPG|The American Memorial bridge.
File:Bridge at Fismes Q58197.jpg|The Bridge at Fismes on 3 May 1918
</gallery>
===Fismes Memorial '18===
The [[Fismes Memorial 2018|Fismes Memorial]] site is located along the Vesle river, near the memorial bridge that was constructed with the help of the State of Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Husson|first1=Jean-Pierre|title=Le Pont-monument de Fismette à Fismes (Marne)|url=http://www.cndp.fr/crdp-reims/memoire/lieux/1GM_CA/monuments/fismes.htm|website=www.cndp.fr|publisher=Supplément du Bulletin municipal|access-date=2016-06-17|archive-date=22 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222075940/http://www.cndp.fr/crdp-reims/memoire/lieux/1GM_CA/monuments/fismes.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The [[Battle of Fismes and Fismette]] that occurred during World War I sparked a lasting friendship between the City of Fismes and the United States, particularly Pennsylvania. This bloody battle took place from 3 August to 1 September 1918 and was the last major German attack on the Allies during World War I. The 32nd American Division lost 2,000 men during its first attempt to cross the Vesle and attack the Germans. The 28th American Infantry Division, consisting of soldiers mostly from Pennsylvania, replaced the former division, forced the Germans to retreat, and proceeded to liberate Fismes.
As a result of the aid Fismes received from the American armies during World War I, the city constructed a memorial to honor the lives of the men in the 28th American Infantry Division. The main intentions of this memorial are to commemorate the soldiers' sacrifices and strengthen the ties that exist between Fismes and the United States, specifically Pennsylvania. The memorial site is the result of a collaboration of the City of Fismes  with the Fismes Office of Tourism and the Association of Leisure and Recreation Services.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pinon|first1=Jean-Pierre|title=Project for the Establishment of a Memorial Site in Fismes 1914-1918|agency=Hôtel de Ville à Fismes|publisher=County Centennial Committee of the First World War}}</ref>
The memorial consists of informational plaques and a set of sculptures from renowned artist Christian Lapie. [[:fr:Christian Lapie|Christian Lapie]]<ref>[[:fr:Christian Lapie]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=July 2018}}
The memorial was officially inaugurated on 15 September 2018. The mayor of Meadville, Pennsylvania, one of Fismes' sister cities, was present at the ceremony along with Meadville government and community members. Fismes' sister cities of Triuggio, Italy and Bad Oeynhausen, Germany were represented as well.
==Notable people linked to the commune==
*'''[[Athanase Josué Coquerel|Athanase Coquerel]]''' (1820-1875), [[theologian]]
*'''Félix Billet'''
*'''Camille Auguste Mercier''' (1848-1881), scholar
*'''Sophie Manéglier''' (1803-1892), writer
*'''[[Albert Uderzo]]''', French cartoonist and co-creator of [[Astérix]], born in Fismes.
*'''César de Costentin de Tourville''' (died in 1647), Count of Fismes, military officer, father of Marshall [[Anne Hilarion de Costentin de Tourville|Anne-Hilarion de Tourville]], vice-admiral of France.
==Twinning==
Fismes is twinned with:
*{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Wem]], [[England]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |title=Twin towns |publisher=Complete France}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Bad Oeynhausen]], Germany<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.badoeynhausen.de/rathaus-politik-verwaltung/partnerstaedte/ |title=Twin cities |publisher=Bad Oeynhausen website (German) |access-date=2021-02-23 |archive-date=2020-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130210916/https://www.badoeynhausen.de/rathaus-politik-verwaltung/partnerstaedte/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Communes of the Marne department]]
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.fismes.fr/ Fismes official website] {{in lang|fr}}
*[http://www.fismes-tourisme.fr/ Office of Tourism and Museums of Fismes] {{in lang|fr}}
*[http://rumsey.geogarage.com/maps/cassinige.html?lat=49.3078&lon=3.6814&zoom=13 ''Fifmes'' on the 1750 Cassini Map]
{{Marne communes}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Communes of Marne (department)]]