Rocroi

Rocroi
Commune
A general view of Rocroi A general view of Rocroi
Coat of arms of Rocroi Coat of arms
Rocroi is located in France Rocroi Rocroi Rocroi is located in Grand Est Rocroi Rocroi
Coordinates: 49°55′34″N 4°31′20″E
Country	France
Region	Grand Est
Department	Ardennes
Arrondissement	Charleville-Mézières
Canton	Rocroi
Intercommunality	Vallées et Plateau d'Ardenne
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Denis Binet
Area 1	50.41 km2 (19.46 sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	08367 /08230
Elevation	385 m (1,263 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Rocroi (French pronunciation: [ʁɔkʁwa]) is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France. The central area is a notable surviving example of a bastion fort.

Population

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 3,260 —     1800 2,846 −1.92% 1806 3,008 +0.93% 1821 3,501 +1.02% 1831 3,173 −0.98% 1836 3,232 +0.37% 1841 3,780 +3.18% 1846 3,590 −1.03% 1851 3,765 +0.96% 1866 2,998 −1.51% 1872 2,281 −4.45% 1876 2,381 +1.08% 1881 2,977 +4.57% 1886 3,172 +1.28% 1891 2,265 −6.51% 1896 2,193 −0.64% 1901 2,176 −0.16%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1906 2,116 −0.56% 1911 2,256 +1.29% 1921 2,127 −0.59% 1926 2,442 +2.80% 1931 2,436 −0.05% 1936 2,250 −1.58% 1946 1,969 −1.33% 1954 2,348 +2.22% 1962 2,870 +2.54% 1968 2,997 +0.72% 1975 2,911 −0.42% 1982 2,789 −0.61% 1990 2,555 −1.09% 1999 2,420 −0.60% 2007 2,376 −0.23% 2012 2,409 +0.28% 2017 2,330 −0.66%
Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968-2017)

History

Rocroi was fortified by Francis I of France and expanded by Henry II of France. Because of its strategic location in the north of France it changed hands a number of times during wars. It is best known for the Battle of Rocroi in 1643. In the 1670s the fortifications were re-modelled by the French engineer Vauban. In 1815, two months after the Battle of Waterloo, the town was taken by Prussian and British forces (on 16 August).

File:Rocroi vu du ciel.jpg

Rocroi seen from the air shows its defensive structure

See also

• Communes of the Ardennes department
• List of bastion forts

External links

• Webpage about the fortifications of Rocroi