Conty
Encyclopedia
Conty is a commune
in the Somme
department in Picardie
in northern France
.
Situated on the D920 road, some 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Amiens
. Junction 17 of the A16 autoroute is just 3 miles (5 km) away.
Nestling by the banks of a tributary of the river Somme, the river Selle
, that, at Conty, comprises several small branches that converge here.
The river, the woods and the promontory, which dominates the valley, were the contributing factors for populating the area. Recent quarrying has exposed evidence of prehistoric life in the district, in the shape of bones and tools.
Conty is on the old Roman road to Beauvais
. Gallo-Roman remains have been found, in the form of burial sites.
In the 10th century, the Norman
feudal system was in place at Conty. The first ‘seigneur’ Oger de Conty, is mentioned in 1044.
During the Middle Ages
, the wars between France and its neighbours affect Conty as it did many northern French towns
In 1589, the castle was taken by the Catholic League
of Amiens
.
Fires burned the village down several times, in 1691, 1709, 1734, 1809, 1812, 1825 and 1827
In 1758, melting snow created a major flood throughout the town.
In 1790, because of rioting, the National guard were called to the town to restore order.
1832 and cholera
breaks out. The marshy nature of the ground is blamed for the epidemic.
Around 1850, the new market hall was built, replacing an old wooden structure.Constructed of brick and roofed with slate by the architect Firmin Lombard. It was not just a market, but the council chamber, Mayor’s office and a court.
1876 saw the coming of the railway to the town. By 1939, it was closed to all but freight traffic
and it shut down completely in 1979.
The first castle, built after the rampages of Attila the Hun
around 450, was later laid waste by the Normans
. Colart de Mailly rebuilt it in 1430. It was seized on 23 October 1589 by the Catholic League
from Amiens
, who decided to pull it down. Conty’s inhabitants refused to participate in the demolition. Jehan de Morlencourt and a Captain Saint-Jean were charged with the mission by the council of Amiens. It took eight days hard work to complete the task.
All that's apparent nowadays is a mound with a notice board with ‘motte féodale’ on it.
Dating from the 15th and 16th century, the stone church is in the Flamboyant
Gothic
style. The plan is the shape of a cross, about 30 meters long by 21 metres wide. The magnificent square tower is 33 metres high. The hanging sculptures in the vaulting and the gargoyles on the tower are deemed worthy of a look. The coat-of-arms of the Conti family, who were ‘seigneurs’ of Conty, can be seen in the left transept
. Some 18th century wooden statues decorate the area around the altar.
In the town, at the end of a grand avenue, is to be found the remains, in brick and stone, of the old château of Wailly. Built in Louis XIII style
, in a semi-circular design. Very few archives exist relating the history of the construction of the château. Building began about 1640 and continued to 1690. Around 1785, a new building was constructed next to the ruins of the old one. In September 1944, Bernard Montgomery established his general headquarters here.
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The château de Luzières is found in the hamlet of Luzières, to the south of Conty, in the small valley leading to Belleuse
. It was built in the years 1770-1793.
In the grounds, surrounded by water, are some older dependencies, from around 1715.
The château, of neoclassical
design, is built of torching, on foundations of limestone
, with brick pinioning, typical of the buildings of Picardy.
Conty is a horse town. Carriage-driving championships are held here every year. In 2009, the heavy horse world championships will be held here.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
department in Picardie
Picardie
Picardy is one of the 27 regions of France. It is located in the northern part of France.-History:The historical province of Picardy stretched from north of Noyon to Calais, via the whole of the Somme department and the north of the Aisne department...
in northern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Origin of the name
Conty comes from cond (confluence) (of the rivers and streams in the valley). The Princes of Conti, a minor branch of French royalty, took their name from Conty.Geography
The commune comprises the village Conty and two hamlets: Luzières and Wailly (since 1973).Situated on the D920 road, some 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
. Junction 17 of the A16 autoroute is just 3 miles (5 km) away.
Nestling by the banks of a tributary of the river Somme, the river Selle
Selle
For the composer, see Thomas SelleThe Selle is a river of Picardie, France. Rising at Catheux, just north of Crèvecœur-le-Grand, Oise, it flows past Conty, Saleux, Salouël and Pont-de-Metz before joining the Somme River at Amiens.In many places along its course, the river widens to form or fill...
, that, at Conty, comprises several small branches that converge here.
Economic and tourist activities
- The Ateliers du Val de Selle, created in 1970, is a centre for those artisans involved with horses, riding and carriage-driving.
- The SIC (Société industrielle de Conty), created in 1928, specialises in non-ferrous foundry work,
- The Selle sawmills.
- The Coulée verte, a public right-of-way, is used by ramblers, cyclists and riders alike. For over 10 miles, it follows part of an old railway line between BeauvaisBeauvaisBeauvais is a city approximately by highway north of central Paris, in the northern French region of Picardie. It currently has a population of over 60,000 inhabitants.- History :...
and AmiensAmiensAmiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
, which closed in 1979. - The Cabinet du Dr Dutilloy, a classic example of XX-th century French medical architecture, is worth visiting. Guided tours on request.
Population
History
Conty is on the old Roman road to Beauvais
Beauvais
Beauvais is a city approximately by highway north of central Paris, in the northern French region of Picardie. It currently has a population of over 60,000 inhabitants.- History :...
. Gallo-Roman remains have been found, in the form of burial sites.
In the 10th century, the Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
feudal system was in place at Conty. The first ‘seigneur’ Oger de Conty, is mentioned in 1044.
During the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, the wars between France and its neighbours affect Conty as it did many northern French towns
In 1589, the castle was taken by the Catholic League
Catholic League (French)
The Catholic League of France, sometimes referred to by contemporary Roman Catholics as the Holy League, a major player in the French Wars of Religion, was formed by Duke Henry of Guise in 1576...
of Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
.
Fires burned the village down several times, in 1691, 1709, 1734, 1809, 1812, 1825 and 1827
In 1758, melting snow created a major flood throughout the town.
In 1790, because of rioting, the National guard were called to the town to restore order.
1832 and cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
breaks out. The marshy nature of the ground is blamed for the epidemic.
Around 1850, the new market hall was built, replacing an old wooden structure.Constructed of brick and roofed with slate by the architect Firmin Lombard. It was not just a market, but the council chamber, Mayor’s office and a court.
1876 saw the coming of the railway to the town. By 1939, it was closed to all but freight traffic
and it shut down completely in 1979.
Places of interest
- The castle
The first castle, built after the rampages of Attila the Hun
Attila the Hun
Attila , more frequently referred to as Attila the Hun, was the ruler of the Huns from 434 until his death in 453. He was leader of the Hunnic Empire, which stretched from the Ural River to the Rhine River and from the Danube River to the Baltic Sea. During his reign he was one of the most feared...
around 450, was later laid waste by the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
. Colart de Mailly rebuilt it in 1430. It was seized on 23 October 1589 by the Catholic League
Catholic League (French)
The Catholic League of France, sometimes referred to by contemporary Roman Catholics as the Holy League, a major player in the French Wars of Religion, was formed by Duke Henry of Guise in 1576...
from Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
, who decided to pull it down. Conty’s inhabitants refused to participate in the demolition. Jehan de Morlencourt and a Captain Saint-Jean were charged with the mission by the council of Amiens. It took eight days hard work to complete the task.
All that's apparent nowadays is a mound with a notice board with ‘motte féodale’ on it.
- Church of Saint-Antoine
Flamboyant
Flamboyant is the name given to a florid style of late Gothic architecture in vogue in France from the 14th to the early 16th century, a version of which spread to Spain and Portugal during the 15th century; the equivalent stylistic period in English architecture is called the Decorated Style, and...
Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style. The plan is the shape of a cross, about 30 meters long by 21 metres wide. The magnificent square tower is 33 metres high. The hanging sculptures in the vaulting and the gargoyles on the tower are deemed worthy of a look. The coat-of-arms of the Conti family, who were ‘seigneurs’ of Conty, can be seen in the left transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
. Some 18th century wooden statues decorate the area around the altar.
- Chateau of Wailly
In the town, at the end of a grand avenue, is to be found the remains, in brick and stone, of the old château of Wailly. Built in Louis XIII style
Louis XIII style
The Louis XIII style or Louis Treize was a fashion in French art and architecture, especially effecting the visual and decorative arts. Its distinctness as a period in the history of French art has much to do with the regency under which Louis XIII began his reign...
, in a semi-circular design. Very few archives exist relating the history of the construction of the château. Building began about 1640 and continued to 1690. Around 1785, a new building was constructed next to the ruins of the old one. In September 1944, Bernard Montgomery established his general headquarters here.
- Chateau of Luzières
The château de Luzières is found in the hamlet of Luzières, to the south of Conty, in the small valley leading to Belleuse
Belleuse
Belleuse is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Belleuse is situated on the D8 road, some southwest of Amiens.-Population:-External links:* *...
. It was built in the years 1770-1793.
In the grounds, surrounded by water, are some older dependencies, from around 1715.
The château, of neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
design, is built of torching, on foundations of limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, with brick pinioning, typical of the buildings of Picardy.
Annual events