+ Choose a zone on the map: Nord - Sud
North zone
London, Canterbury, Dunkerque, Gent, Waregem, Compiègne, Villers-Cotterêts, Joigny, Chablis, Autun, Semur-en-Auxois, Marcoussis, Paris - Champs-Élysées
South zone
Bourg-en-Bresse, Le Grand-Bornand, Tignes, Val-d'Isère, Briançon, Tallard, Marseille, Montpellier, Castres, Albi, Mazamet, Plateau-de-Beille, Foix, Loudenvielle - Le Louron, Pau, Orthez, Gourette - Col d'Aubisque, Castelsarrasin, Cahors, Angoulême
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London, Canterbury, Dunkerque, Gent, Waregem, Compiègne, Villers-Cotterêts, Joigny, Chablis, Autun, Semur-en-Auxois, Marcoussis, Paris - Champs-Élysées
London
+ First-time stage.
London is the sixth European capital to be chosen for the Tour’s Big Start and joins Amsterdam (1954), Brussels (1958), Berlin (1987), Luxembourg (1989 & 2002) and Dublin (1998).
Capital of Great Britain, on the Thames. Population 2,400,000 (Londoners). Outer London: 6,400,000.
Originating around a bridge built by the Romans at the beginning of the 1st century AD, London is England’s leading port. The political and financial metropolis is made up of three distinct areas: the business centre around the City, the residential West and the industrial East.
Essential sightseeing: the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, British Museum, Greenwich.
Canterbury
+ First-time stage.
Primary ecclesiastical centre of England, in the Duchy of Kent.
Its legendary cathedral, part of which was built by French architect Guillaume de Sens, was the centre for the largest European pilgrimage during the Middle Ages. Its history is linked to the tragic destiny of Archbishop Thomas Becket, murdered on the order of Plantagenet King Henry II in 1170.
Dunkerque
+ Stage for the first time in 1911 (1. Garrigou); Tour’s Big Start in 2001 (Prologue: 1. C. Moreau).
Principal district town of the Nord. Population 72,000 (Dunkerquois). Conurbation: 220,000.
Birthplace of corsair, Jean-BART.
Leading North Sea seaport. Third largest French port.
Europe’s leading energy platform.
In July 2005 the Dunkerque belfries were classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Dunkerque is renowned for its warm-hearted, welcoming population, as testified by its famous carnival. A wealth of warmth in the North!
Dunkerque, the most sporting city in France in 2002, birthplace of the famous bicycle racing event, the “4 jours de Dunkerque”.
» www.ville-dunkerque.fr
» www.dgl.cc
Gent
+ Stage in 1951 (1. Diederich) and 1958 (1. Darrigade).
Principal town of East Flanders, situated at the confluence of the Escaut and Lys. Population 230,000 (“Gentenaars” in Flemish).
Second-leading Belgian port after Antwerp, spiritual city of Flanders and a university town with a rich cultural heritage, its economic prosperity was assured by textile and metal industries. The floral city organises the Ghent Flower Show of worldwide renown. It is also a highspot for Flanders cycling.
Birthplace of Charles-Quint (1500-1558) and author Maurice Maeterlinck (1862-1949).
» www.gent.be
» www.oost-vlaanderen.be
Waregem
+ First-time stage.
Municipality of West Flanders. Population 36,000.
It organises one of Belgium’s most famous steeplechase races which still attracts large crowds to the Gaverbeek racecourse.
In Waregem, in 1957, Van Steenbergen won a memorable championship ahead of Louison Bobet and André Darrigade.
» www.waregem.be
» www.vlaanderen.be
» www.west-vlaanderen.be
Compiègne
+ Stage in 1980 (1. J.L. Gauthier). Stage start in 1981.
Principal district town of the Oise. Population 43,000 (Compiégnois). Conurbation: 70,000.
A town on the edge of one of Europe’s most splendid forests with a particularly rich architectural heritage. Napoleon III made the imperial palace his autumn residence.
The UTC Technology University is a renowned centre for training engineers.
Each year in April an international horseriding competition takes place as does the start of the Paris-Roubaix since 1977.
» www.compiegne.fr
» www.agglo-compiegne.fr
Villers-Cotterêts
+ First-time stage.
Principal canton town of the Aisne. Population 10,123 (Cotteréziens).
In the heart of the Retz forest, one of France’s most extensive State forests, Villers-Cotterêts developed under the influence of François I who renovated the royal château and imposed the French language in official instruments (order of 1539). Birthplace of Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870), author of the Three Musketeers; a museum retraces the life and work of the two Dumas (father and son). Opening in 1992 of a European high school.
» www.mairie-villerscotterets.fr
Joigny
+ First-time stage.
Principal canton town of the Yonne, on the river Yonne. Population 10,032 (Joviniens).
A typical Burgundy town renowned for its gastronomy, in the vicinity of the Othe forest.
Built in an amphitheatre shape, it features an architectural heritage of quality (Château des Gondi with its Renaissance exteriors, church of Saint-Jean, old houses).
The town has twin “Art et Histoire” and “Plus beaux détours de France” labels.
Birthplace of novelist Marcel Aymé (1902-1967).
» www.ville-joigny.fr
» www.lyonne.com
Chablis
+ First-time stage.
Principal canton town of the Yonne, on the Serein. Population 2,590 (Chablisiens).
Burgundy’s Golden Gateway. Since the Middle Ages, its ancient vineyard has assured the region’s prosperity and produced universally renowned white wines.
Sightseeing: the Saint-Martin collegiate church, the Obédiencerie with its old press, the Hospice or Hôtel Dieu…
» www.chablis.net
» www.lyonne.com
Autun
+ Stage in 1998 (1. Backstedt).
Principal district town of Saône-et-Loire. Population 18,500 (Autunois). Altitude: 326 metres.
Founded in the 1st century AD, this history -rich and label town - “Art et Histoire” - is Burgundy’s sole Gallo-Roman site. A highspot of Romanesque art, it boasts an exemplary architectural heritage. Talleyrand was Bishop of Autun.
Its climate is more marked by southern influences than the rest of the Morvan.
Main local activities: metallurgy, textile, cabinet-making.
Semur-en-Auxois
+ First-time stage.
Principal canton town of the Côte d’Or, on the Armançon. Population 5,000 (Semurois). Altitude: 286 metres.
One of Burgundy’s most important strongholds in the 16th century, this fortified town featured eight monasteries and convents prior to the Revolution. Splendid vestiges include ramparts, keep and Notre-Dame collegiate church. Every 31 May, it organises France’s oldest horserace, created in 1639.
The town has a total of 3,500 schoolchildren.
» www.ville-semur-en-auxois.fr
» www.cr-bourgogne.fr
Marcoussis
+ First-time stage.
Municipality of the Essonne, near to Montlhéry, 25 kms south of Paris. Population 7,860 (Marcoussiciens).
From its past, Marcoussis has kept the château de Montagu, a 15th-century fortified manor.
Since 2002, the Domaine de Bellejame is home to the Centre National du Rugby (CNR). Research centre in the field of electricity.With four other municipalities, Marcoussis created, in 2003, the “Green Triangle of Hurepoix Market-Gardening Towns” with a view to halting the decline in this type of activity.
» www.ville-marcoussis.com
» www.essonne.fr
Paris - Champs-Élysées
+ The inexorable Finale to the Tour de France since its first edition in 1903.
Capital of France and administrative department (75) made up of twenty arrondissements or districts, on the Seine. Population 2,125,000 (Parisians). Outer Paris: 9,645,000.
The final, which to begin with was fought over on the track of the Parc des Princes stadium, then on that of the "Cipale" has, since 1975, taken place on the Champs-Élysées.