Editing Douai

{{Short description|City in Hauts-de-France, France}}
{{About|the French commune|the Bible translation|Douay–Rheims Bible|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name                   = Douai
|native name            = {{native name|pcd|Doï}}
|commune status         = [[Subprefectures in France|Subprefecture]] and [[Communes of France|commune]]
|image coat of arms     = Blason Vide 3D.svg
|image                  = Douai - Vue à partir du Beffroi (04).JPG
|caption                = View of the city with St. Pierre church in the background
|arrondissement         = Douai
|canton                 = Douai
|INSEE                  = 59178
|postal code            = 59500
|mayor                  = Frédéric Chéreau<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|website=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=2 December 2020|language=fr}}</ref>
|term                   = 2020&ndash;2026
|intercommunality       = [[Douaisis Agglo]]
|population             = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date        = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
|coordinates            = {{coord|50.3714|3.08|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m            = 24
|elevation min m        = 16
|elevation max m        = 38
|area km2               = 16.88
}}
'''Douai''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|'|d|u:|ei}} {{respell|DOO|ay}},<ref name="CD">{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/douai|title=Douai|work=[[Collins English Dictionary]]|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|accessdate=August 3, 2021}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|US|d|u|'|ei}} {{respell|doo|AY}},<ref name="CD"/><ref>{{MW|Douai|accessdate=August 3, 2021}}</ref> {{IPA|fr|dwɛ|lang|Fr-Paris--Douai.ogg}}; {{langx|pcd|Doï}}; {{langx|nl|Dowaai}}; formerly spelled '''Douay''' or '''Doway''' in English) is a city in the [[Nord (French department)|Nord]] département in northern [[France]]. It is a [[Subprefectures in France|sub-prefecture]] of the department.<ref>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/commune/59178-douai INSEE commune file]</ref> Located on the river [[Scarpe (river)|Scarpe]] some {{convert|40|km|0|abbr=off}} from [[Lille]] and {{convert|25|km|0|abbr=on}} from [[Arras]], Douai is home to one of the region's most impressive [[belfry (architecture)|belfries]].

==History==
Its site probably corresponds to that of a 4th-century Roman fortress known as Duacum. From the 10th century, the town was a [[Romance languages|romance]] fiefdom of the [[Count of Flanders|counts]] of [[County of Flanders|Flanders]]. The town became a flourishing textile market centre during the [[Middle Ages]], historically known as Douay or Doway in English. In 1384, the [[county of Flanders]] passed into the domains of the [[Dukes of Burgundy]] and thence in 1477 into Habsburg possessions.

In 1667, Douai was taken by the troops of [[Louis XIV of France]], and by the 1668 [[Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668)|Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle]], the town was ceded to France. During successive sieges from 1710 to 1712, Douai was almost completely destroyed by the British Army. By 1713, the town was fully integrated into France. Douai became the seat of the [[Parlement|Parliament of Flanders]] ([[:fr:Parlement de Flandres|fr]]).

The local airfield at [[La Brayelle Airfield|La Brayelle]] was very significant in the history of French aviation. It operated from 1907 to the mid-1950s. In 1909 it was the site of the world's first aeronautical meeting,<ref name="FirstRaces">{{cite web |title=Concours d'Aviation de Douai |url=http://www.thefirstairraces.net/meetings/do0906/venue.php |website=The First Air Races |access-date=15 January 2020}}</ref>

Douai was again caught up in hostilities in [[World War I]].<ref>[http://www.ww1westernfront.gov.au/vimy_ridge/index.html Vimy Ridge] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325190551/http://www.ww1westernfront.gov.au/vimy_ridge/index.html |date=25 March 2008 }}</ref> when for much of the war it was occupied by the Germans. La Brayelle airfield was a base of [[Manfred von Richthofen]], the Red Baron.<ref name="Arras">{{cite book |last1=O'Connor |first1=Michael |title=Airfields & Airmen: Arras |date=2004 |publisher=Pen & Sword Military |location=Barnsley, UK |isbn=1-84415-125-5 |page=64 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4vDGDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA190}}</ref> Later in 1918, the town was partly burned, and was liberated by the British Army after the [[Battle of Courtrai (1918)|Battle of Courtrai]].

The [[Douaihy]] family of [[Lebanon]] claims descent from inhabitants of the city who settled in Lebanon during the [[Crusades]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Hitti|first=Philip|author-link=Philip K. Hitti|date=1957|title=Lebanon in History|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.53848|location=India|publisher=Macmillan and Co Ltd|page=319}}</ref>

==Geography==
===Climate===

Douai has an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfb''). The average annual temperature in Douai is {{cvt|11.0|C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|729.2|mm}} with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around {{cvt|18.6|C}}, and lowest in January, at around {{cvt|4.0|C}}. The highest temperature ever recorded in Douai was {{cvt|40.8|C}} on 25 July 2019; the coldest temperature ever recorded was {{cvt|-20.5|C}} on 8 January 1985.

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Douai (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1962−present)
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|Jan record high C = 15.0
|Feb record high C = 19.5
|Mar record high C = 24.8
|Apr record high C = 28.0
|May record high C = 31.3
|Jun record high C = 36.0
|Jul record high C = 40.8
|Aug record high C = 36.6
|Sep record high C = 35.5
|Oct record high C = 29.0
|Nov record high C = 20.5
|Dec record high C = 15.0
|Jan record low C = -20.5
|Feb record low C = -12.5
|Mar record low C = -11.0
|Apr record low C = -4.5
|May record low C = -1.5
|Jun record low C = 1.0
|Jul record low C = 4.1
|Aug record low C = 0.8
|Sep record low C = 0.0
|Oct record low C = -6.0
|Nov record low C = -9.5
|Dec record low C = -12.5
|Jan high C = 6.4
|Feb high C = 7.4
|Mar high C = 11.2
|Apr high C = 15.1
|May high C = 18.5
|Jun high C = 21.6
|Jul high C = 23.9
|Aug high C = 23.9
|Sep high C = 20.1
|Oct high C = 15.2
|Nov high C = 10.1
|Dec high C = 6.9
|year high C = 15.0
|Jan mean C = 4.0
|Feb mean C = 4.5
|Mar mean C = 7.2
|Apr mean C = 10.1
|May mean C = 13.5
|Jun mean C = 16.5
|Jul mean C = 18.6
|Aug mean C = 18.4
|Sep mean C = 15.3
|Oct mean C = 11.5
|Nov mean C = 7.3
|Dec mean C = 4.5
|year mean C = 11.0
|Jan low C = 1.5
|Feb low C = 1.5
|Mar low C = 3.3
|Apr low C = 5.1
|May low C = 8.5
|Jun low C = 11.4
|Jul low C = 13.2
|Aug low C = 13.0
|Sep low C = 10.4
|Oct low C = 7.8
|Nov low C = 4.5
|Dec low C = 2.1
|year low C = 6.9
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 57.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 51.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 52.5
|Apr precipitation mm = 41.9
|May precipitation mm = 56.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 63.3
|Jul precipitation mm = 68.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 68.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 60.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 64.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 71.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 73.2
|year precipitation mm = 729.2
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 11.8
|Feb precipitation days = 10.6
|Mar precipitation days = 10.5
|Apr precipitation days = 9.0
|May precipitation days = 9.7
|Jun precipitation days = 9.1
|Jul precipitation days = 9.2
|Aug precipitation days = 9.3
|Sep precipitation days = 9.1
|Oct precipitation days = 11.1
|Nov precipitation days = 13.1
|Dec precipitation days = 13.3
|year precipitation days = 125.8
|source 1 = [[Météo-France]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_59178001.pdf
| title=Fiche Climatologique Statistiques 1991-2020 et records
| language = fr
| publisher = [[Météo-France]]
| access-date = September 7, 2022}}</ref>}}

==Main sites==
Douai's ornate [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]]-style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80&nbsp;m high structure includes an impressive [[carillon]], consisting of 62 [[bell (instrument)|bell]]s spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391, were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying German forces, who intended to melt them down for the metal. They were reinstalled after repairs in 1924, but 47 of them were replaced in 1954 to obtain a better sound. An additional larger bell in the summit, a [[Solfege|La]] called "Joyeuse", dates from 1471 and weighs 5.5 tonnes. The [[Tubular bell|chimes]] are rung by a mechanism every quarter-hour, but are also played via a [[Musical keyboard|keyboard]] on Saturday mornings and at certain other times. In 2005 the belfry was inscribed on the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage List]] as a part of the [[Belfries of Belgium and France]] site, in recognition of its architecture and importance in the history of municipal power in France.<ref name = "unesco">{{cite web |url = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/943 |title= Belfries of Belgium and France  |website = UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher = United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization |access-date = 5 November 2021}}</ref> The belfry forms part of the [[Hôtel de Ville, Douai|Hôtel de Ville]] (City Hall) complex.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.patrimoine-histoire.fr/P_NordPicardie/Douai/Douai-Hotel-de-Ville-Beffroi.htm  |title=Douai, l'Hôtel de Ville et le beffroi|publisher= Patrimoine Histoire|access-date=22 October 2024}}</ref>

The substantial ''Porte de Valenciennes'' town gate, a reminder of the town's past military importance, was built in 1453. One face is built in Gothic style, while the other is of Classical design.

<gallery>
File:Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot 018.jpg|''Bell tower of Douai'', [[Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot]]
File:Carillon Douai.jpg|Detail of Douai's belfry
File:Douai rue de la mairie.jpg|The belfry seen from street level
</gallery>

==Economy==
Douai's main industries  are in the chemical and metal engineering sectors.

Since 1970, [[Renault]] has a large [[automobile]] [[assembly line]] nearby, called Usine Georges Besse after assassinated CEO [[Georges Besse]]. It produced vehicles such as the [[Renault 14|R14]], [[Renault 9/11|R11]], [[Renault 19|R19]], [[Renault Mégane|Mégane]] and [[Renault Scénic|Scénic]]. Following industry changes, it now makes [[electric car]]s.

The [[Gare de Douai]] railway station is served by regional trains to [[Lille]], [[Arras]], [[Lens, Pas-de-Calais|Lens]], [[Amiens]], [[Saint-Quentin, Aisne|Saint-Quentin]] and [[Valenciennes]]. It connects to the [[TGV]] network, with high speed trains to [[Gare du Nord|Paris]], [[Lyon]], [[Nantes]] and other places.<ref>{{GaresConnexions website|frxdn}}</ref>

==Population==

{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 2
| percentages = pagr
| source = EHESS<ref name=ehess>{{Cassini-Ehess|12105|Douai}}</ref> and INSEE (1968–2017)<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-59178#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
| graph-pos = bottom
|1793 |17855
|1800 |18230
|1806 |18461
|1821 |18854
|1831 |18793
|1836 |19173
|1841 |23203
|1846 |20483
|1851 |20528
|1856 |22819
|1861 |24486
|1866 |24105
|1872 |23841
|1876 |26999
|1881 |29172
|1886 |30030
|1891 |29909
|1896 |31397
|1901 |33649
|1906 |33247
|1911 |36314
|1921 |34131
|1926 |38627
|1931 |41598
|1936 |42021
|1946 |37258
|1954 |43380
|1962 |47639
|1968 |49187
|1975 |45239
|1982 |42576
|1990 |42175
|1999 |42796
|2007 |42621
|2012 |41732
|2017 |39700
}}

== University==
[[File:Cartulaire douai 3 colléges.JPG|thumb|Colleges at [[University of Douai]]]]

The [[University of Douai]] was founded under the patronage of [[Philip II of Spain|Phillip II]] when Douai belonged to the [[Spanish Netherlands]].

It was prominent, from the 1560s until the [[French Revolution]], as a centre for the education of [[Catholic Church in England and Wales|English Catholics]] escaping persecution in England. Connected with the University were not only the [[English College, Douai]], founded by [[William Allen (Cardinal)|William Allen]], but also the [[Irish College, Douai|Irish]] and [[Scots College, Douai|Scots]] Colleges and the [[Benedictine]], [[Franciscan]] and [[Jesuit]] houses. Throughout Europe, there were around 800 such seminaries. They prepared Jesuits for missionary work in England, with 60 migrating in the 1570s, and around 500 by 1603. The first Jesuits were [[Edmund Campion]] and [[Robert Persons]].

The Benedictine [[priory]] of [[St Gregory the Great]] was founded by [[Saint John Roberts]] at Douai in 1605, with a handful of exiled English Benedictines who had entered various monasteries in Spain, as the first house after the Reformation to begin conventual life. The community was established within the [[English Benedictine Congregation]] and started a college for English Catholic boys unable to find a Catholic education at home, and pursued studies at the University of Douai. The community was expelled at the time of the [[French Revolution]] in 1793 and, after some years of wandering, finally settled at [[Downside Abbey]], Somerset, in 1814.

Another English Benedictine community, the Priory of [[St. Edmund]], which had been formed in Paris in 1615 by Dom Gabriel Gifford, later Archbishop of [[Rheims]] and primate of France, was expelled from Paris during the Revolution, and eventually took over the vacant buildings of the community of St Gregory's in 1818. Later, following [[René Waldeck-Rousseau|Waldeck-Rousseau]]'s Law of Associations (1901), this community also returned to England in 1903, where it was established at [[Douai Abbey]], near Reading. [[Douai School]] continued as an educational establishment for boys until 1999.

In 1609 the English College published a translation of the Old Testament, which, together with the New Testament published at [[Rheims]] 27 years earlier, was the [[Douay–Rheims Bible]] used by Anglophone Roman Catholics almost exclusively for more than 300 years.

For a time there was a [[Carthusian]] [[monastery]] (charterhouse) in Douai, which is now the [[Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai]].

==Notable people==
Douai was the birthplace of:
<!-- New links in alphabetical order please -->

* [[Jehan Bellegambe]] (1470–1536), early Flemish painter
* [[François Cosserat]] (1852–1914), mathematician and engineer
* [[Henri-Edmond Cross]] (1856–1910), printmaker, painter
* [[Gaston Crunelle]] (1898–1990), classical flautist
* [[Charles Alexandre de Calonne]] (1734–1802), statesman
* [[Marceline Desbordes-Valmore]] (1786–1859), poet
* [[Henri-Joseph Dulaurens]] (1719–1793), novelist
* [[Giambologna]] (1529–1608), born as Jean Boulogne, sculptor
* [[Jacky Henin]] (born 1960), politician and Member of the European Parliament
* [[Corinne Masiero]] (born 1964), actress
* [[André Obey]] (1892–1975), playwright
* [[Nicolas Trigault]] (1577–1628), Jesuit missionary in China
* [[Michel Warlop]] (1911–1947), [[jazz]] violinist
* [[Michel Wibault]] (1897–1963), aircraft designer and inventor

==Twin towns==
Douai is twinned with:
*{{flagicon|UK}} [[Harrow, London|Harrow]], United Kingdom<ref name="Archant twinning 3">{{cite web|url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705094933/http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns|title=British towns twinned with French towns ''[via WaybackMachine.com]''|access-date=2013-07-20|archive-date=5 July 2013|work=Archant Community Media Ltd}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Recklinghausen]], Germany
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Kenosha, Wisconsin|Kenosha]], United States
*{{flagicon|BFA}} [[Dédougou]], Burkina Faso
*{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Seraing]], Belgium

Former twin towns:

*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Puławy]], Poland<ref>Maria Frankowska, [https://oko.press/francuskie-douai-zawiesza-wspolprace-z-pulawami-za-strefe-anty-lgbt-mer-przemoc-zaczyna-sie-od-slow/Francuskie Douai zawiesza współpracę z Puławami za strefę anty LGBT. Mer: „Przemoc zaczyna się od słów”]{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}  (March 2, 2020), retrieved July 16, 2020 (Polish).</ref>
*Twickenham, United Kingdom

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Douai}}
* [http://www.ville-douai.fr/ Douai official website] (in French)
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Douai}}

{{Nord communes}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Douai| ]]
[[Category:Communes of Nord (French department)]]
[[Category:Subprefectures in France]]
[[Category:French Flanders]]