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{{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.

==History==

===Prehistory===
Archaeologists found evidence of prehistoric [[human settlement]]s in the Scarpe basin. The [[archaeological site]]s of Mont-Saint-Vaast in Arras and [[Biache-Saint-Vaast]] were [[Stone Age]] settlements of the [[Mousterian]] culture. They were evidenced by the finds of [[stone tool]]s. These tools show signs of the [[Levallois technique]], a name given by archaeologists to a distinctive type of stone [[knapping]], developed by forerunners to modern humans during the [[Paleolithic]] period 170,000&nbsp;years ago.

Very little was found to document the [[Bronze Age]] and [[Early Iron Age]] in the Arras area.<ref>"Arras", pp. 9-10. Editions des Beffrois, 1988. {{ISBN|2-903077-76-2}}</ref>

===Antiquity/Foundation===
Arras was founded on the hill of Baudimont by the Belgic tribe of the [[Atrebates]], who named it ''Nemetocenna'' in reference to a ''[[nemeton]]'' that probably existed there.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In the Scarpe valley, archaeologists' excavations and data recovery revealed Late [[Iron Age]] settlements. These buildings, believed to be farms, were found near the municipalities of Arras, [[Hamblain-les-Prés]] and [[Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise|Saint-Pol]].<ref>"Arras", pp. 10. Editions des Beffrois, 1988. {{ISBN|2-903077-76-2}}</ref>

The town was later renamed ''Nemetacum''/''Atrebatum'' by the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], under whom it became an important garrison town.<ref name="Michelin">"Arras". ''Northern France and the Paris Region'', pp. 120–122. Michelin Travel Publications, 2006. {{ISBN|2-06-711928-1}}</ref><ref>"Arras." ''Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names''. John Everett-Heath. Oxford University Press 2005.</ref> No traces of any amenities such as a [[Forum (Roman)|forum]], [[Roman theatre (structure)|theatre]], or [[basilica]] have been identified.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pietri |first1=C. |title=The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites |date=1976 |url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0006%3Aentry%3Dnemetacum |access-date=October 26, 2023 |chapter=Nemetacum later Atrebatum (Arras) Pas de Calais, France.}}</ref> One discovery has been "one of the rare sanctuaries devoted to the oriental god [[Attis]] in France".<ref>{{cite web |title=Nemetacum Arras, France |url=https://www.spottinghistory.com/view/3960/nemetacum/ |website=spottinghistry.com |access-date=October 26, 2023}}</ref>

===Medieval and early modern period===

====Before the Middle Ages====
[[File:Saintvedast.jpg|thumb|The ordination of Saint Vaast]]
In the 4th&nbsp;century, ''Nemetacum'' was renowned for its arts and crafts as well as textiles trade throughout the whole empire. Between 406 and 407, the city was taken and destroyed by Germanic invaders. In 428, the [[Salian Franks]] led by [[Clodion le Chevelu]] took control of the region including the current [[Somme (department)|Somme]] department. Roman General [[Flavius Aetius|Aetius]] then chose to negotiate for peace and concluded a treaty (''fœdus'') with Clodion that gave the [[Franks]] the status of «[[foederati]]» fighting for Rome.

The town's people were converted to Christianity in the late 4th&nbsp;century by Saint Innocent, who was killed in 410 during a barbarian attack on the town. In 499, after the conversion of [[Clovis I]] to [[Catholicism]], a [[diocese]] (''évêché'' in French) was created in Arras, the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Arras]], and given to [[Vedast|Saint Vaast]] (also known as ''Saint Vedast'' in [[English language|English]]), who remains the diocesan [[patron saint]]. [[Vedast|Saint Vaast]] then established an episcopal see and a monastic community. It was suppressed in 580 to found the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cambrai]], from which it would reemerge 5&nbsp;centuries later.

====Early Middle Ages====
In 667 Saint Aubert, bishop of [[Bishopric of Cambrai|Cambrai]], decided to found the [[St. Vaast's Abbey|Abbey of Saint Vaast]], which developed during the [[Carolingian]] period into an immensely wealthy [[Benedictine]] abbey. The modern town of Arras initially spread around the abbey as a grain market. During the 9th&nbsp;century, both town and abbey suffered from the attacks of the [[Vikings]], who later settled to the west in [[Normandy]]. The abbey revived its strength in the 11th&nbsp;century and played an important role in the development of medieval painting, successfully synthesizing the artistic styles of Carolingian, [[Ottonian]] and English art.<ref name="Vauchez">"Arras." ''Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages''. Ed. André Vauchez.</ref>

====High Middle Ages====
[[File:Jehan Bodel - Li congié.jpg|thumb|"Li congié" by Jean Bodel, a [[trouvère]] that lived in Arras in the 12th&nbsp;century]]
[[File:Arras 002.JPG|thumb|Arras: [[tapestry]] representing ''God's conversation with Noah'']]

In 1025, a Catholic council was held at Arras against certain [[Manichaean]] (dualistic) heretics who rejected the sacraments of the Church. In 1093, the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Arras|bishopric of Arras]] was refounded on territory split from the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cambrai|Diocese of Cambrai]]. In 1097 two councils, presided over by [[Lambert of Arras]], dealt with questions concerning monasteries and persons consecrated to God. In this time, Arras became an important cultural centre, especially for the group of poets who came to be known as [[trouvère]]s. One particular society of such poets was later called the ''[[Puy d'Arras]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarah B. Sherrill |first=Encyclopaedia Iranica |title=CARPETS v. Flat-woven carpets: Techniques and structures |url=https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/carpets-v |access-date=2022-11-06 |pages=850–858 |language=en-US}}</ref>

====The wool industry and trade====
The town was granted a commercial charter by the French crown in 1180 and became an internationally important location for banking and trade. The [[wool]] industry of Arras, established in the 4th&nbsp;century, became of great importance during the Middle Ages. Already in the 3rd&nbsp;century Romans had lauded the quality of wool from Tournai and Arras. By the 11th&nbsp;century Arras was the leading city and trading hub of the wool industry. This prominence would eventually shift towards areas north of Arras, and cities such as [[Lille]], [[Douai]] and [[Saint-Omer]], followed by [[Ypres]] and eventually [[Bruges]] would become the centres of the wool industry and trade. However, by the 14th&nbsp;century Arras still was renowned and drew considerable wealth from the cloth and wool industry, and was particularly well known for its production of fine [[tapestry|tapestries]]—so much so that in English and [[Italian language|Italian]] the word ''Arras'' (''Arazzi'' in Italian) was adopted to refer to tapestries in general.<ref name="Vauchez"/> The patronage of wealthy cloth merchants ensured that the town became an important cultural centre, with major figures such as the poet [[Jean Bodel]] and the [[trouvère]] [[Adam de la Halle]] making their homes in Arras.

====Late Middle Ages====
The ownership of the town was repeatedly disputed along with the rest of Artois. During the Middle Ages, possession of Arras passed to a variety of feudal rulers and fiefs, including the [[County of Flanders]], the [[Duke of Burgundy|Duchy of Burgundy]], the Spanish branch of the [[House of Habsburg]] and the French crown. In 1430, [[Joan of Arc]] (''Jeanne d'Arc'' in French), was imprisoned in the region of Arras. The town was the site of the [[Congress of Arras]] in 1435, an unsuccessful attempt to end the [[Hundred Years' War]] that resulted in the Burgundians breaking their alliance with the English. After the death of Duke [[Charles the Bold]] of Burgundy in 1477, King [[Louis XI of France]] took control of Arras but the town's inhabitants, still loyal to the Burgundians, expelled the French. This prompted Louis XI to besiege Arras in person and, after taking it by assault, he had the town's walls razed and its inhabitants expelled, to be replaced by more loyal subjects from other parts of France. In a bid to erase the town's identity completely, Louis renamed it temporarily to ''Franchise''. In 1482, the [[Treaty of Arras (1482)|Peace of Arras]] was signed in the town to end a war between Louis XI and [[Maximilian I of Austria]]; ten years later, the town was ceded to Maximilian. It was eventually bequeathed to the Spanish Habsburgs as part of the [[Spanish Netherlands]].<ref>"Arras." ''Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary''. (2007).</ref><ref>"Arras." ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''. 2008.</ref>

====Renaissance====
{{Main|French Renaissance}}
[[File:Braun Arras UBHD.jpg|thumb|Arras in 1572]]
[[File:The entry of King Louis XIV and Queen Maria-Theresa in Arras on 30 July 1667 (by Adam Frans van der Meulen).jpg|thumb|The entry of King [[Louis XIV]] and Queen Maria Theresa in Arras on 30 July 1667]]
Arras remained under Habsburg rule from 1493 until 1640 when it was captured by the French. The Spanish ceded it by the peace treaty in 1659 and it has since remained French. The [[Union of Arras]] was signed here in January 1579 by the Catholic principalities of the [[Low Countries]] that remained loyal to King [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]] of [[Habsburg]]; it provoked the declaration of the [[Union of Utrecht]] later the same month.

===Modern period===

During the [[War of the Spanish Succession]], in 1712, Arras was [[Bombardment of Arras|bombarded]] by an Anglo-Dutch Army under [[Arnold van Keppel, 1st Earl of Albemarle|Arnold van Keppel, the Earl of Albemarle]].

====French Revolution====
{{Main|French Revolution}}[[Maximilien de Robespierre]], a French lawyer and politician from Arras and one of the best-known and most influential figures of the [[French Revolution]], was elected fifth deputy of the [[estates of the realm|third estate]] of [[Artois]] to the Estates-General in 1789. Robespierre also helped draft the [[Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen]].<ref name="eupedia.com" />{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2017}}[[File:Robespierre.jpg|thumb|Arras-born lawyer and politician [[Maximilien de Robespierre]]]]

During the French Revolution, the city of Arras was first presided over by French reformer Dubois de Fosseux, erudite squire, secretary of the Arras district (''[[arrondissement]]'' in French) and future president of the Pas-de-Calais department. Around the same time, competing against Aire-sur-la-Lys, Calais, and Saint-Omer, Arras won the [[prefecture]] of Pas-de-Calais. From September 1793 to July 1794, during the [[Reign of Terror]], the city was under the supervision of Joseph Lebon who implemented food restrictions, ordered 400 executions and destroyed several religious monuments including the [[Arras Cathedral]] and the [[Abbey of St. Vaast]]. Arras' demography and economic activity remained the same throughout the French Revolution while Lille's grew exponentially. In 1898, under the influence of Mayor Émile Legrelle, some of Arras' ramparts were demolished to build vast boulevards, establish a new sewage system and replace the old railway station from 1846.

====World Wars====

===== World War I =====
[[File:Ruins of the Hôtel de Ville, Arras on 26 May 1917.jpg|thumb|Hôtel de Ville, Arras on 26&nbsp;May 1917]]
[[File:ArrasFrance.February1919.ws.jpg|thumb|Grand'Place of Arras in February 1919]]
During most of the [[First World War]], Arras was about {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=off}} away from the front line, and a series of battles took place around the city and nearby, including the [[Battle of Arras (1914)]], the [[Battle of Arras (1917)]], and the [[Second Battle of the Somme (1918)|Second Battle of the Somme]] component of 1918's [[Hundred Days Offensive]].

On 31&nbsp;August 1914, German light cavalry ([[Uhlan]]s) arrived in [[Tilloy-lès-Mofflaines]], and an army patrol made a foray into Arras. On 6&nbsp;September 1914, 3,000 soldiers led by General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim barracked within the city and in the citadel. Shortly after, Louis Ernest de Maud'huy's soldiers partly repelled the German army troops, and trenches were dug in the ''Faubourgs d'Arras''. On 7&nbsp;October 1914 the city hall burned. On 21&nbsp;October 1914 the [[belfry (architecture)|belfry]] was destroyed, and so was Arras Cathedral on 6&nbsp;July 1915.<ref>{{cite news |title= Arras an Unburied City |url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1915/12/12/104018306.pdf |newspaper= [[The New York Times]] |date= 12 December 1915 |access-date= 2015-08-16 }}</ref>

In 1917, a series of medieval tunnels beneath the city, linked and greatly expanded by the [[New Zealand Tunnelling Company]], became a decisive factor in the British forces holding the city - particularly during that year's Battle of Arras.<ref name="Stuff.co.nz_4906621">{{cite web|url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/international/4906621/Legacy-of-the-Kiwi-tunnellers |title= Legacy of the Kiwi tunnellers |author= Johnson, Matt |date= 20 April 2011 |work= [[Stuff.co.nz]] |access-date= 16 September 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Vimy Memorial (September 2010) cropped.jpg|thumb|The nearby Canadian National Vimy Memorial]]
By the end of World War I (1918), the city was so heavily damaged that three-quarters had to be rebuilt. The reconstruction was extremely costly, yet it proved to be a success and allowed the city to expand.

The town is located approximately {{convert|11|km|abbr= on}} south of the [[Canadian National Vimy Memorial]] built in 1936 on Hill&nbsp;145, the highest point of the Vimy Ridge [[escarpment]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/overseas/first-world-war/france/vimy/fast-facts|title=Fast Facts - Canadian National Vimy Memorial - Veterans Affairs Canada|date=20 February 2019}}</ref><ref name=RidgeRuns>{{cite web |url= http://www.greatwar.co.uk/french-flanders-artois/memorial-canadian-national-vimy-memorial.htm |title= Canadian National Vimy Memorial, France |author= <!--Not stated--> |date= 2015 |website= The Great War UK |access-date= 31 March 2017 |quote= The ridge runs in a direction from Givenchy-en-Gohelle in the north-west to Farbus in the south-east.}}</ref> It is dedicated to the [[Battle of Vimy Ridge]] assault (part of the 1917 Battle of Arras) and the missing [[First World War]] Canadian soldiers with no known grave; it is also the site of two WWI Canadian cemeteries.<ref name=RidgeRuns/>

On 9&nbsp;April 2017, the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Arras Mayor [[Frédéric Leturque]] thanked Canadians, as well as Australians and British, New Zealanders and South Africans, for their role in the First World War battles in the area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/1458104-slideshow-justin-trudeau-in-france-to-mark-the-100th-anniversary-of-vimy-ridge|title = Saltwire &#124; Halifax}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2017/04/09/justin-trudeau-in-france-to-mark-the-100th-anniversary-of-vimy-ridge-2/#.WOpNcfnyvX5 |title=Canadian and French leaders pay homage to fallen soldiers at Vimy Ridge  |author=The Canadian Press<!--Not stated--> |date=9 April 2017 |website=National Newswatch |publisher=National Newswatch Inc. |access-date=7 April 2017}}
</ref>

===== World War II =====
In the early stages of the [[World War II|second World War]], during the [[Battle of France|invasion of France]] in May 1940, the city was the focus of a [[Battle of Arras (1940)|major British counterattack]]. Arras saw an Allied counterattack against the flank of the German army. The German forces were pushing north towards the channel coast, in order to entrap the Allied Forces that were advancing east into Belgium. The counterattack at Arras was an Allied attempt to cut through the German spearhead and frustrate the German advance. Although the Allies initially made gains, they were repulsed by German forces and forced to withdraw to avoid encirclement. Arras was then occupied by the Germans and over the years 1941-44 218 [[French Resistance]] members were executed in ditches around the Arras citadel. On 3&nbsp;September 1944, the city was entered and liberated by the British [[Guards Armoured Division]].

===Contemporary period===

====Recent cooperative agreement====
In September 1993, [[Ipswich]], England and Arras became [[Sister cities|twin towns]], and a square in the new Ipswich Buttermarket development was named Arras Square to mark the relationship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipswich.gov.uk/Partnerships/Ipswich+-+Arras.htm |title=Ipswich – Arras |publisher=Ipswich Borough Council |access-date=6 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530043025/http://www.ipswich.gov.uk/Partnerships/Ipswich%2B-%2BArras.htm |archive-date=30 May 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Arras-Position.png|thumb|Arras in the [[Pas-de-Calais]]]]
[[File:Charles Desavary - La Scarpe.jpg|thumb|"La Scarpe" by Arras-born painter Charles Desavary]]
[[File:Summer in Arras.jpg|thumb|right|Arras in the summer]]

===Location and area===
Arras is located in northern France in the [[Hauts-de-France]] region. Hauts-de-France is divided into five [[Departments of France|departments]]: [[Nord (French department)|Nord]], [[Pas-de-Calais]], [[Somme (department)|Somme]], [[Oise]], and [[Aisne]]. Arras is in the south-east part of the Pas-de-Calais department and forms the Arras district (''[[arrondissement]] d'Arras'') in the [[Artois]], a former province of northern France.

By car, it is {{convert|182|km|mi|abbr=off}} north of Paris, {{convert|110|km|mi|abbr=off}} east of the [[English Channel]], {{convert|152|km|mi|abbr=off}} south of [[Brussels]], and {{convert|335|km|mi|abbr=off}} south of [[Amsterdam]].

The city's total area is {{convert|11.63|km2|1|abbr=on}}. The lowest point in the city is at {{convert|52|m|ft|abbr=off}} [[above sea level]] and the highest is at {{convert|99|m|ft|abbr=off}}.

===Geology===
The soil of Arras is primarily composed of [[chalk]], a soft, white, porous sedimentary rock that formed what is called the European stratigraphic unit. That [[Chalk Group]] deposited during the [[Late Cretaceous]] period 90&nbsp;million years ago. It used to be extracted to construct the most prestigious buildings and houses of Arras. As a result, residents once nicknamed the city ''La ville blanche'' (the White Town). The Arras area soil is also composed of [[clay]], which was used to produce bricks, build less noble buildings, and embellish façades. Clay is mostly found in the ''lieu-dit'' of ''La Terre Potier'' in the western part of the city.

The level of earthquake hazard in the Arras area is low, as it is in the whole Pas-de-Calais department.

===Hydrography===
Two rivers flow through Arras: the [[Scarpe (river)|Scarpe]] and the [[Crinchon]]; both are left tributaries of the {{convert|350|km|mi|abbr=off}} long [[Scheldt]] river (''L'Escaut'' in French). The Crinchon is a rather small river of {{convert|19|km|mi|abbr=off}} flowing through Arras underground, while the [[Scarpe (river)|Scarpe]] is {{convert|102|km|mi|abbr=off}} long, of which two-thirds has been turned into canals.

The source of the Scarpe is at [[Berles-Monchel]] near [[Aubigny-en-Artois]]. It flows through the cities of Arras, [[Douai]] and [[Saint-Amand-les-Eaux]]. The river ends at [[Mortagne-du-Nord]] where it flows into the Scheldt.

===Climate===
Arras mainly has a Western European [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: Cfb) affected by the [[North Atlantic Current]] as it is close to the [[English Channel]] (''La Manche'' in French). There is frequent rain in all seasons, and temperatures throughout the year are mild, as it is near the sea. Temperature variations tend to be moderate; but there are some brief cold spells as it is subject to both oceanic and continental influences. So the climate can also be referred as semi-oceanic (known as a ''Climat océanique dégradé'' in French).

Summer days are usually moderately warm and agreeable, with temperatures between {{convert|13|and|23|C|F}}, occasionally rising above {{convert|30|C}}, with a fair amount of sunshine. Some years have even witnessed some unusual long periods of harsh summer weather, such as the [[2003 European heat wave|heat wave of 2003]] where temperatures exceeded {{convert|30|C}} for weeks, reaching {{convert|38|C}} on some days and rarely even cooling down at night. Spring and Fall have rather warm days and fresh nights, but remain quite unstable. Winter days are cold but generally above freezing, at around {{convert|2|C}}; sunshine is usually scarce. Light night frosts are common as the temperature often falls below {{convert|0|C}}. Snowfall has been rare in the past decade but happens in some winters, such as [[Winter of 2009–10 in Europe|2009–10]], with unusually cold weather: much of Europe had heavy snowfall and record-low temperatures. The most recent warmest winters recorded were in 1989–90, 1994–95, 2006–07 and 2013–14. The Arras region (and most of Northern Europe) had remarkably warm and sunny weather in the winter of 2013–14.<ref name="lachainemeteo">{{cite web|url=http://actualite.lachainemeteo.com/actualite-meteo/2014-02-19-06h41/hiver-2013-2014---exceptionnellement-doux---24244.php|title=Actualité Météo : Hiver 2013-2014 : douceur exceptionnelle et arrosage copieux - La Chaîne Météo|date=29 January 2014 |publisher=actualite.lachainemeteo.com|access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref>

Rain falls throughout the year. Average annual precipitation is {{convert|742.5|mm}} with light rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year. The highest recorded temperature was {{convert|36.6|C}},{{Fix|text=Contradicts previous paragraph}} and the lowest was {{convert|-19.5|C}}.

On 28&nbsp;October 2013, ''Cyclone Christian'' (also known as the [[St. Jude storm]]), one of the strongest extra-tropical cyclones ever recorded, hit Northern Europe including the Arras area. The cyclone's central pressure was 981&nbsp;mb, and wind speeds reached a maximum of {{convert|121|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/29/world/europe/powerful-storm-blasts-northern-europe.html?_r=0|title=The New York Times|newspaper=nytimes.com|date=28 October 2013 |access-date=30 October 2014|last1=Castle |first1=Stephen }}</ref> The city of Arras did not experience any major damage.

==Climate==

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location =  Arras (1991–2020 normals)
|Jan record high C = 15.2
|Feb record high C = 18.9
|Mar record high C = 24.3
|Apr record high C = 27.9
|May record high C = 31.7
|Jun record high C = 34.8
|Jul record high C = 41.7
|Aug record high C = 37.6
|Sep record high C = 34.6
|Oct record high C = 29.3
|Nov record high C = 20.1
|Dec record high C = 16.1
|year record high C = 
|Jan record low C = -19.5
|Feb record low C = -17.8
|Mar record low C = -10.5
|Apr record low C = -4.7
|May record low C = -2.3
|Jun record low C = 0
|Jul record low C = 3.4
|Aug record low C = 3.9
|Sep record low C = 0.5
|Oct record low C = -4.4
|Nov record low C = -8.6
|Dec record low C = -17.3
|Jan high C = 6.2
|Feb high C = 7.2
|Mar high C = 11.0
|Apr high C = 14.9
|May high C = 18.1
|Jun high C = 21.2
|Jul high C = 23.6
|Aug high C = 23.7
|Sep high C = 20.1
|Oct high C = 15.2
|Nov high C = 9.9
|Dec high C = 6.7
| year high C = 14.8
|Jan mean C = 3.8
|Feb mean C = 4.3
|Mar mean C = 7.2
|Apr mean C = 10.0
|May mean C = 13.3
|Jun mean C = 16.2
|Jul mean C = 18.4
|Aug mean C = 18.4
|Sep mean C = 15.4
|Oct mean C = 11.5
|Nov mean C = 7.2
|Dec mean C = 4.3
| year mean C = 10.8
|Jan low C = 1.3
|Feb low C = 1.4
|Mar low C = 3.4
|Apr low C = 5.1
|May low C = 8.4
|Jun low C = 11.2
|Jul low C = 13.1
|Aug low C = 13.1
|Sep low C = 10.7
|Oct low C = 7.9
|Nov low C = 4.4
|Dec low C = 1.9
| year low C = 6.8
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 56.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 48.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 50.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 42.7
|May precipitation mm = 61.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 60.9
|Jul precipitation mm = 64.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 62.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 57.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 65.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 64.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 76.4
|year precipitation mm = 711.4
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 11.4
| Feb precipitation days = 10.2
| Mar precipitation days = 10.0
| Apr precipitation days = 9.4
| May precipitation days = 10.1
| Jun precipitation days = 8.9
| Jul precipitation days = 9.3
| Aug precipitation days = 9.4
| Sep precipitation days = 9.5
| Oct precipitation days = 11.1
| Nov precipitation days = 12.8
| Dec precipitation days = 13.0
| year precipitation days =125.1
|Jan sun = 65.5
|Feb sun = 70.7
|Mar sun = 121.1
|Apr sun = 172.2
|May sun = 193.9
|Jun sun = 206
|Jul sun = 211.3
|Aug sun = 199.5
|Sep sun = 151.9
|Oct sun = 114.4
|Nov sun = 61.4
|Dec sun = 49.6
|year sun = 1617.6
|source 1 = Meteociel<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.meteociel.fr/obs/clim/normales_records.php?code=62873001&normes=2020&normes2=0
|title=Normales et records pour Arras (62) 
|publisher=Meteociel
|access-date=21 November 2024}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Météo-France]] (sun 1981–2010)<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://climat.meteofrance.com/chgt_climat2/climat_france?CLIMAT_PORTLET.path=climatstationn%2F75114001 |title=Climatological Information for Arras, France|publisher=Météo-France|date=August 2011}}</ref>|date=August 2010}}

== Population and society ==

{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 2
| percentages = pagr
| source = EHESS<ref name=ehess>{{Cassini-Ehess|1348|Arras}}</ref> and INSEE (1968-2017)<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-62041#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
| graph-pos = bottom
|1793 |21019
|1800 |19958
|1806 |19286
|1821 |19798
|1831 |23419
|1836 |23485
|1841 |24439
|1846 |26956
|1851 |25271
|1856 |26216
|1861 |25905
|1866 |25749
|1872 |27329
|1876 |26764
|1881 |27041
|1886 |26914
|1891 |25701
|1896 |26144
|1901 |25813
|1906 |24921
|1911 |26080
|1921 |24835
|1926 |29718
|1931 |29490
|1936 |31488
|1946 |33345
|1954 |36242
|1962 |41761
|1968 |49144
|1975 |46483
|1982 |41736
|1990 |38983
|1999 |40590
|2007 |42672
|2012 |41239
|2017 |41019
}}

[[File:Pas de Calais.png|left|thumb|Communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants in the Pas-de-Calais department]]

[[File:Arras-prefecture.jpg|left|thumb|The Arras Prefecture]]

===Demographics===
{{As of|2019}}, the population of Arras is 41,694 for a density of 3,585 people per square kilometre. The residents go by the name of ''Arrageois'' (male) and ''Arrageoise'' (female). The population is rather young as the highest number of residents is 15-29 of age. The most recent male to female ratio is 100:109, and the female to male ratio is 100:92 (2019). There are 19,947 males (48%) for 21,747 females (52%). The Arras [[functional area (France)|functional area]] has a population of 158,499.<ref name="cartesfrance">{{cite web|url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/1405599?geo=COM-62041+AAV2020-069|title=Comparateur de territoires, Commune d'Arras (62041)|publisher=INSEE|access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
Arras's Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame et Saint-Vaast is the [[cathedral]], a [[minor basilica]], episcopal see of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Arras]].

===Education===
Arras is part of the ''académie de Lille'' (Lille's School District). There are 11 ''écoles maternelles'' (nursery schools), 11 ''écoles primaires'' (elementary schools), 8 ''collèges'' ([[junior high school]]s), and 7 ''lycées'' (high schools) within the city.
{{clear right}}

== Sights and attractions ==
[[File:La Place des Heros.jpg|thumb|La Place des Héros, Arras at night]][[File:Arras Petite place.jpg|thumb|View from the Belfry over the market ''Place des Héros'']]
[[File:Arras Cathédrale R01.jpg|thumb|right|[[Arras Cathedral]]]]
[[File:PSBoves, Arras, Pas-de-Calais, France.jpg|thumb|The Boves]]
[[File:Arras Citadelle06.jpg|thumb|The Vauban Citadel]]

===Squares===
The city centre is marked by two large squares, ''La Grand' Place'' and ''La Place des Héros'', also called ''La Petite Place''. The two squares are surrounded by a unique architectural ensemble of 155 Flemish-Baroque-style townhouses. These were built in the 17th and 18th&nbsp;century and were initially made of wood. In 1918, after the end of World War I, most of the townhouses were so severely damaged that they had to be restored to their pre-war conditions. They are now made of bricks.<ref name="arras-online2">{{cite web|url=http://www.arras-online.com/La-Grand-Place-46-page.html|title=La Grand Place - Arras-Online|publisher=arras-online.com|access-date=30 October 2014|archive-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423164240/http://www.arras-online.com/La-Grand-Place-46-page.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Town hall and belfry===
[[File:0 Arras, place des Héros - Le beffroi et l'hôtel de ville (6).JPG|thumb|The [[Hôtel de Ville, Arras|Hôtel de Ville]]]]
The [[Hôtel de Ville, Arras|Hôtel de Ville in Arras]] and its [[belfry (architecture)|belfry]] were constructed in the early 16th century and had to be rebuilt in a slightly less grandiose style after World War I. The belfry is {{convert|75|m|ft|abbr=off}} high and used to serve as a watchtower. Nowadays tourists can enjoy ascending the belfry.<ref name="arras-online3">{{cite web|url=http://www.arras-online.com/Le-Beffroi-et-Place-des-Heros-42-page.html|title=Le Beffroi et Place des Héros - Arras-Online|publisher=arras-online.com|access-date=30 October 2014|archive-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423164234/http://www.arras-online.com/Le-Beffroi-et-Place-des-Heros-42-page.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2005, the belfry was added to the UNESCO [[World Heritage List]] as part of the [[Belfries of Belgium and France]] site because of its architecture and historical importance in maintaining municipal power in Europe.<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>

===Cathedral of Arras===
The original [[Arras Cathedral|cathedral]] was constructed between 1030 and 1396. This Gothic structure was destroyed during the [[French Revolution]] and rebuilt in the 19th&nbsp;century. The present Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame et Saint-Vaast is a [[minor basilica]].

===The Boves===
The Boves, a well-preserved underground network of tunnels, {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=off}} beneath the city, was built in the 10th&nbsp;century and can now be visited by tourists. The idea was to set up a vast underground network to make all inhabitants' cellars interconnect by means of tunnels. Excavation material (chalk) was not wasted but rather used to construct houses. During World War I and World War II, the Boves was utilized as an underground bunker to hide and protect residents and valued objects from falling bombs.

===Art District===
The Art District is renowned for its Italian-style theatre hall built in 1785 and the ''Hôtel de Guînes'', a private 18th-century townhouse that attracts artists, designers and producers of intimist shows.

===Abbey District===
Many of Arras's most remarkable structures, including the [[Musée des beaux-arts d'Arras]] and several government buildings, occupy the site of the old [[Abbey of St. Vaast]]. The abbey's church was demolished and rebuilt in fashionable classical style in 1833, and now serves as the town's cathedral. The design was chosen by the one-time Abbot of St Vaast, the [[Cardinal de Rohan]], and is stark in its simplicity, employing a vast number of perpendicular angles. There is a fine collection of statuary within the church and it houses a number of religious relics.

=== Vauban Citadel ===
Built by [[Vauban]] between 1667 and 1672, the [[Citadel]] has been nicknamed ''La belle inutile'' (the beautiful useless one) by residents as it has never been directly involved in heavy fighting and didn't prevent the Germans from occupying the city in either World War. Since 7&nbsp;July 2008 it has been part of the UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]s ''[[Fortifications of Vauban]]'' which includes eleven other fortifications.<ref name="arras">{{cite web|url=http://www.arras.fr/tourisme/office-de-tourisme/citadelle-vauban.html |title=Citadelle Vauban - Arras |publisher=arras.fr |access-date=30 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101180427/http://www.arras.fr/tourisme/office-de-tourisme/citadelle-vauban.html |archive-date=1 January 2015 }}</ref> Within the citadel on the side of ''La Place de Manœuvre'' a small Baroque-style chapel was built. Outside, ''Le Mur des Fusillés'' (the wall of the people executed by a firing squad) pays tribute to the 218 members of the [[French Resistance]] shot in the citadel's ditch during World War II.

===Seasonal events===
Arras holds the biggest [[Christmas market]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arraspaysdartois.com/en/major-events/arras-christmas-market-once-upon-a-time-there-was-christmas/|title=Arras Christmas Market|website=Arras Pays d'Artois Tourisme|date=17 October 2019 |language=en-GB|access-date=2019-11-30}}</ref> north of Paris every year from the end of November to the end of December. Around 80 exhibitors offer a wide selection of arts and crafts, as well as local delicacies like chocolate rats, Atrébate beer and Cœurs d'Arras – heart-shaped biscuits which come in two flavours, ginger, and cheese. Entertainment includes cooking lessons with chefs, craft demonstrations, a merry-go-round, a Ferris wheel, an ice-skating rink, and heated shelters. It also offers native products from International locations such as Canada, Vietnam, Morocco, Indonesia, Africa, and gourmet regional specialities from different parts of France: Auvergne, Savoie, South-Western France, and Nord-Pas-de-Calais.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080927084237/http://www.frenchconnections.co.uk/en/guide/miniguidepage/148156-arras-christmas-market-pas-de-calais-27-nov-to-24-dec-2008 Arras Christmas Market (Pas-de-Calais) - Visiting, Travel, Hotels<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

The [[Main Square Festival]] is held for several days in early July within the Vauban Citadel, attracting tens of thousands of attendees and playing host to major acts such as [[The Chemical Brothers]], [[Coldplay]], [[Imagine Dragons]], [[David Guetta]], and [[The Black Eyed Peas]].

The [[Arras Film Festival]]<!-- previously known as [[Festival international du film d'Arras]], see https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arras_Film_Festival --> is a film festival held for ten&nbsp;days in November.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cineuropa.org/nw.aspx?t=newsdetail&l=en&did=319633 |title=''Glory'' tastes victory at Arras |author=Fabien Lemercier |date=14 November 2016 |access-date=15 November 2016 |website=Cineuropa}}</ref>

''Le [[Jardin botanique Floralpina]]'' is a private [[botanical garden]], specializing in [[alpine plant]]s. It opens every year on the last Sunday of May and can be visited by appointment.

===UNESCO recognition===
Two buildings in Arras are listed as UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]s:
* The [[Bell tower|Belfry]] of the Town Hall, as part of the ''[[Belfries of Belgium and France]]'' group, since 2005
* The [[Vauban]] [[citadel]], as part of the ''[[Fortifications of Vauban]]'' group, since 2008

===Outside Arras===
The [[Vimy Memorial]] is a memorial just north of the town honouring a major World War I battle, the [[Battle of Vimy Ridge]], which marked the first time Canada fielded an entire army of her own. Four Canadian divisions fought there on Easter weekend 1917. The Battle of Vimy Ridge was part of the broader Allied offensive in April known as the [[Battle of Arras (1917)|Battle of Arras]]. The [[Canadian National Vimy Memorial]] is nearby. Vimy was the only victory the Allies would enjoy during their 1917 spring offensive. The Basilica of [[Notre Dame de Lorette]] cemetery, overlooking the nearby village of [[Ablain-Saint-Nazaire]], likewise stands before one of France's largest World War I [[necropolis]]es. Part of an extensive network of tunnels dug in World War I by [[British Empire]] soldiers can be visited at the [[Carrière Wellington]] museum in the suburbs.

==Transportation==

===Railway station===
[[File:Gare d'Arras.JPG|thumb|''La Gare d'Arras'']]
[[File:LL 57 - ARRAS - La Gare.JPG|thumb|''La Gare d'Arras'' before 1907]]

The [[Gare d'Arras]] railway station is served by a purpose-built branch of the [[LGV Nord]] high speed railway, with regular [[TGV]] services to Paris (50&nbsp;minutes). There are also regular trains to Lille, Amiens, Dunkerque, and several regional destinations.

====''TGV'' lines====
* Ligne Saint-Omer / Dunkerque–Lens–Arras–Paris-Nord
* Ligne Valenciennes–Douai–Arras–Paris-Nord
* Ligne Lille–Europe–Lyon–Marseille
* Ligne Lille–Europe–Rennes
* Ligne Lille–Europe–Nantes–Saint-Nazaire
* Ligne Lille–Europe–Bordeaux

====''TER Nord-Pas-de-Calais'' lines====
* Ligne 2: Lille–Douai–Arras–Amiens–Rouen
* Ligne 6: Arras–Hazebrouck–Dunkerque
* Ligne 7: Arras–Hazebrouck–Calais
* Ligne 14: Arras–Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise–Etaples–Boulogne-sur-Mer
* Ligne Lille–Arras (TERGV)

===Highway===
[[A1 autoroute (France)|Autoroute&nbsp;A1]] (A1&nbsp;highway) is a tollway that connects Arras with [[Lille]] and Paris. As part of the European 'inter-country' route [[European route E15|E15]], it also connects Arras with the United Kingdom and Spain as well as the northern and southern parts of France. [[A26 autoroute|Autoroute&nbsp;A26]] (A26&nbsp;highway) connects Arras with [[Calais]] and [[Reims]].

<gallery mode="packed" heights="275px">
File:Carte Autoroute A1.svg|''Autoroute&nbsp;A1'' connecting Arras with Paris and Lille.
File:Carte Autoroute A26.svg|''Autoroute&nbsp;A26'' connecting Arras with Calais and Reims.
File:E15 route.svg|The ''European route&nbsp;E15'' connecting Arras with the United Kingdom and Spain as well as the northern and southern parts of France.
</gallery>

==Notable people==
Arras was one of the centres of [[Trouvère|trouvère poetry]], and trouvères from Arras include:
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Adam de la Halle]] (c. 1240–1287)
*[[Andrieu Contredit d'Arras]] (c. 1200–1248)
*[[Audefroi le Bastart]] (''fl. c.'' 1200–1230)
*[[Dame Margot (trouvère)|Dame Margot]]
*[[Dame Maroie]]
*[[Eberhard of Béthune]] ( ? - 1212), grammarian
*[[Gaidifer d'Avion]]
*[[Guillaume le Vinier]] (c. 1190–1245)
*[[Jaques le Vinier]]
*[[Jehan Bretel]] (c. 1200–1272)
*[[Jehan le Cuvelier d'Arras]] (''fl. c.'' 1240–70)
*[[Jehan Erart]] († c. 1259)
*[[Mahieu de Gant]]
*[[Moniot d'Arras]] (''fl.'' 1213–1239)
*[[Robert de Castel]]
*[[Robert de la Piere]]
{{div col end}}

Arras was the birthplace of:
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Matthias of Arras]] (c. 1290–1352), architect
*[[Antoine de Févin]] (c. 1470–1511/12), composer
*[[Charles de l'Écluse]] (1526–1609), doctor and pioneering botanist
*[[Philippe Rogier]] (c. 1561–1596), composer
*[[Eustachius De Lannoy]] (1715–1777), general of [[Travancore]] army
*[[Maximilien de Robespierre]] (1758–1794), revolutionary leader
*[[Charlotte de Robespierre]] (1760–1834), memoirist
*[[Augustin de Robespierre]] (1763–1794), revolutionary
*[[Joseph Le Bon]] (1765–1795), politician
*[[Eugène François Vidocq]] (1775–1857), one of the first modern private investigators
*[[Alexandre Georges]] (1850–1938), composer and organist
*[[Lucien Gaudin]] (1886–1934), fencing champion
*[[Gabriel Hanot]] (1889–1968), journalist
*[[Violette Leduc]] (1907–1972), author
*[[Jean-Christophe Novelli]] (born 1961), chef and restaurateur
*[[Philippe Hermann]] (born 1962), writer
*[[Xavier Dablemont]] (born 1975), footballer
*[[Benoît Assou-Ekotto]] (born 1984), footballer
{{div col end}}

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in France}}
Arras is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Relations internationales|url=https://www.arras.fr/fr/ma-mairie/vie-municipale/relations-internationales|website=arras.fr|date=20 August 2015 |publisher=Arras|language=fr|access-date=2021-04-25}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|ROU}} [[Deva, Romania|Deva]], Romania
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Herten]], Germany
*{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ipswich]], England, United Kingdom
*{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Oudenaarde]], Belgium

== See also ==
*[[Battle of Arras (disambiguation)|Battles of Arras]], for a list of battles named after the city.
*[[Lion and Sun#Other (non-Iranian) variants]]
*[[Marcel Gaumont]] Sculpture in cathedral
*[[Achicourt station]]

== References ==
* {{Catholic|wstitle=Arras}}
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{official website|http://www.arras.fr/}} {{in lang|fr}}

{{Sister bar|auto=y}}
{{Préfectures of départements of France}}
{{Pas-de-Calais communes}}
{{Fortifications of Vauban UNESCO World Heritage Sites}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Arras| ]]
[[Category:Communes of Pas-de-Calais]]
[[Category:Prefectures in France]]
[[Category:Vauban fortifications in France]]
[[Category:Populated places in Artois]]