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Rocroi

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Rocroi

A general view of Rocroi

A general view of Rocroi

Coat of arms of Rocroi

Coat of arms

Map

Location of Rocroi

Rocroi is located in France

Rocroi

Rocroi

Rocroi is located in Grand Est

Rocroi

Rocroi

Coordinates: 49°55′34″N 4°31′20″E / 49.9261°N 4.5222°E
CountryFrance
RegionGrand Est
DepartmentArdennes
ArrondissementCharleville-Mézières
CantonRocroi
IntercommunalityVallées et Plateau d'Ardenne
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Denis Binet[1]

Area

1

50.41 km2 (19.46 sq mi)
Population

 (2023)[2]

2,270
 • Density45.0/km2 (117/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code

08367 /08230

Elevation385 m (1,263 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Rocroi (French pronunciation: [ʁɔkʁwa]) is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France.

The central area is a notable surviving example of a bastion fort.

Historical population

YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 3,260—    
1800 2,846−1.92%
1806 3,008+0.93%
1821 3,501+1.02%
1831 3,173−0.98%
1836 3,232+0.37%
1841 3,780+3.18%
1846 3,590−1.03%
1851 3,765+0.96%
1866 2,998−1.51%
1872 2,281−4.45%
1876 2,381+1.08%
1881 2,977+4.57%
1886 3,172+1.28%
1891 2,265−6.51%
1896 2,193−0.64%
1901 2,176−0.16%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1906 2,116−0.56%
1911 2,256+1.29%
1921 2,127−0.59%
1926 2,442+2.80%
1931 2,436−0.05%
1936 2,250−1.58%
1946 1,969−1.33%
1954 2,348+2.22%
1962 2,870+2.54%
1968 2,997+0.72%
1975 2,911−0.42%
1982 2,789−0.61%
1990 2,555−1.09%
1999 2,420−0.60%
2007 2,376−0.23%
2012 2,409+0.28%
2017 2,330−0.66%
Source: EHESS[3] and INSEE (1968-2017)[4]

Rocroi was fortified by Francis I of France and expanded by Henry II of France. Because of its strategic location in the north of France it changed hands a number of times during wars. It is best known for the Battle of Rocroi in 1643. In the 1670s the fortifications were re-modelled by the French engineer Vauban.[5]

In 1815, two months after the Battle of Waterloo, the town was taken by Prussian and British forces (on 16 August).

Map of Rocroi fortress (1772)
Rocroi seen from the air shows its defensive structure
  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations de référence 2023" (in French). National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 18 December 2025.
  3. ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Rocroi, EHESS (in French).
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  5. ^ Rocroi, Réseau des sites majeurs de Vauban

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