Soissons, sub-prefecture of the Aisne, was formerly fortified, but was
dismantled after the Franco-German war of 1870. Before the late War,
its population numbered 14 458.
The city proper remained confined within the narrow limits of its
ancient walls. It is bounded on the east by the River Aisne, on the
south by the small stream _Crise_, on the west by the Boulevard Jeanne
d’Arc which follows the line of the old ramparts, and on the north by
the rue Saint-Léger, near which may be seen (close to the tennis court)
part of the remains of the old fortifications (_See plan, p. _12).
Beyond, lie the _faubourgs_: to the west and south, the modern
faubourgs of Saint-Christophe, Crise, and Rheims; to the east, on the
right bank of the Aisne, the old faubourgs: Saint-Waast (named after
the Bishop who converted Clovis to Christianity), and Saint-Médard
(after the Bishop who was buried there during the Merovingian epoch).
Before the War, Soissons was an important provision centre for Paris
(corn and haricot beans). In its suburbs were numerous industrial
concerns: boiler manufactories, mechanical workshops and various
factories, distilleries, sugar-refineries, etc ...
[Illustration: SOISSONS IN THE 16TH CENTURY.
_Model_ (1560) _kept in the Cathedral. Inside the battlemented walls,
six collegiates or abbeys were grouped around the Cathedral._]
[Illustration: _Twice occupied by the Germans_ (1914 & 1918), _Soissons
was two and a half years in the front line._]