Editing Arras (section)

{{Short description|Prefecture and commune in Hauts-de-France, France}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name                   = Arras
|native name            = {{native name|pcd|Aros}}
|commune status         = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]] and [[Communes of France|commune]]
|image                  = Photo_montage_of_Arras.png
|image size             = 270px
|caption                = Clockwise from top: a row of Flemish-Baroque-style townhouses, the Saint-Vaast Abbey, a colorful house, the Vauban Citadel, and the Town Hall and its Belfry
|image coat of arms     = Blason ville fr Arras (Pas-de-Calais).svg
|coordinates            = {{coord|50.292|2.780|format=dms|type:city(42,000)_region:FR-HDF|display=inline,title}}
|arrondissement         = Arras
|canton                 = [[Canton of Arras-1|Arras-1]] <br> [[Canton of Arras-2|Arras-2]] <br> [[Canton of Arras-3|Arras-3]]
|INSEE                  = 62041
|postal code            = 62000
|mayor                  = [[Frédéric Leturque]]<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       = [[Communauté urbaine d'Arras|CU d'Arras]]
|elevation m            = 72
|elevation min m        = 52
|elevation max m        = 99
|area km2               = 11.63
|population             = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date        = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
|map                    = Arras OSM 01.png
}}

'''Arras''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ær|ə|s}} {{respell|ARR|əs}}, {{IPA|fr|aʁɑs|lang|Fr-Paris--Arras.ogg}}; {{langx|pcd|Aros}}; historical {{langx|nl|Atrecht}} {{IPA|nl|ˈaːtrɛxt||nl-Atrecht.ogg}}) is the [[prefecture]] of the [[Pas-de-Calais]] department, which forms part of the [[regions of France|region]] of [[Hauts-de-France]];<ref>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/commune/62041-arras INSEE commune file]</ref> before the [[regions of France#Reform and mergers of regions|reorganization of 2014]] it was in [[Nord-Pas-de-Calais]]. The historic centre of the Artois region, with a Baroque town square, Arras is in northern France at the confluence of the rivers [[Scarpe (river)|Scarpe]] and Crinchon.<ref name=sandre>{{sandre|id=E2010800|nom=Crinchon}}</ref>

The Arras plain is on a large [[chalk]] plateau bordered on the north by the [[Marqueffles fault]], on the southwest by the [[Artois]] and Ternois hills, and on the south by the slopes of [[Beaufort-Blavincourt]]. On the east it is connected to the Scarpe valley.

[[Saint Vedast]] (or St. Vaast) was the first Catholic bishop in the year 499 and tried to eliminate paganism among the Franks. By 843, Arras was seat of the County of Artois which became part of the Royal domain in 1191.<ref name="eupedia.com">{{Cite web |title=Eupedia |url=http://www.eupedia.com/france/arras.shtml}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2017}} The first mention of the name ''Arras'' appeared in the 12th&nbsp;century. Some hypothesize it is a contraction of ''[[Atrebates]]'', a [[Belgic tribe]] of [[Gaul]] and [[Great Britain|Britain]] that used to inhabit the area. The name ''[[Atrebates]]'' could have successively evolved to become ''Atrades'', ''Atradis'', ''Aras'', and finally ''Arras''. Others believe it comes from the Celtic word ''Ar'', meaning 'running water', as the Scarpe river flows through Arras or simply the name of Abraham's wife [[Sarah|Sarra]] spelled backwards.<ref name="arras-online">{{cite web|url=http://www.arras-online.com/Histoire-Generale-27-page.html|title=Histoire Générale - Arras-Online|publisher=arras-online.com|access-date=30 October 2014|archive-date=26 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726090933/http://www.arras-online.com/Histoire-Generale-27-page.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="nordmag">{{cite web|url=http://www.nordmag.com/nord_pas_de_calais/arras/histoire_arras.htm|title=Arras Historique|publisher=nordmag.com|access-date=30 October 2014|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519023929/http://www.nordmag.com/nord_pas_de_calais/arras/histoire_arras.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Arras is [[Pas-de-Calais]]' third most populous town after [[Calais]] and [[Boulogne-sur-Mer]]. The town counted 43,693 residents in 2012, with the Arras metropolitan area having a population of 124,200.<ref name="about">{{cite web|url=http://gofrance.about.com/od/nordpasdecalais/a/Guide-to-Arras.htm|title=Arras in Nord-Pas-de-Calais -- a Guide to Arras in northern France|publisher=gofrance.about.com|access-date=30 October 2014|archive-date=6 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806141125/http://gofrance.about.com/od/nordpasdecalais/a/Guide-to-Arras.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Arras is located {{convert|182|km|mi|abbr=off}} north of Paris and can be reached in 2&nbsp;hours by car and in 50&nbsp;minutes by [[TGV]]. It is the historic centre of the former [[Artois]] province. Its local speech is characterized as a [[patois]]. The city of Arras is well known for its architecture, culture, and history. It was once part of the [[Spanish Netherlands]], a portion of the [[Low Countries]] controlled by Spain from 1556 to 1714. Louis XIII reconquered Arras in 1640; the town officially became part of France in 1659.

Arras attracts thousands of visitors every year, who commonly explore the city's architecture and historic buildings. Some attractions include the Town Hall and its Belfry (listed as a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]] since 15&nbsp;July 2005), the "Boves" (a maze {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=off}} beneath the city), the Squares (''La Place des Héros'' and ''La Grand'Place''), the Art District (the Theatre of Arras and the ''Hôtel de Guînes''), the Abbey District (The Saint-Vaast Abbey and the Cathedral of Arras), the Vauban Citadel, and the ''Nemetacum'' site (the ancient town founded by the Romans 2000&nbsp;years ago).<ref name="explorearras">{{cite web|url=http://explorearras.com/en/visit/heritage.html|title=Discover the heritage of the city of Arras - Arras Tourism Office|publisher=explorearras.com|access-date=30 October 2014|archive-date=30 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130203159/http://www.explorearras.com/en/visit/heritage.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Canadian National Vimy Memorial]] is just outside the town.