The route 2010

Compiègne, “most sporting town 2009”

Compiègne was very proud to be awarded the title of “most sporting town” in 2009 by the French sports newspaper L’Equipe. For several years, its sports policy has focused on the quality of facilities, cooperation and dialogue between different local actors, hosting of a wide range of sporting events, as well as support for top level and amateur sports.

11,000 sports enthusiasts, from Olympic champion to beginner, use our facilities or take advantage of all the opportunities offered by Compiègne Forest for outdoor sports.
In addition, as the starting point for the Paris-Roubaix cycle race, the annual departure is an ideal opportunity for a great weekend of celebrations. On the Saturday morning, a treat is in store for collectors in the form of the “bourse cyclist” market organised by Compiègne’s Sports Office at the Petitpoisson stadium. This is followed, in the afternoon, by an opportunity for all cycling enthusiasts to visit the Village for a presentation of the riders. The evening entertainment revolves around a cycle race in the town centre, as an appetiser for the Paris-Roubaix “Queen of the Classics”. Other highlights include an international horse riding competition, attended by some of the biggest names in the sport.

A town of art and history

Enjoy a pleasant stroll through Compiègne’s ancient streets, between the impressive Gothic Town Hall and the Castle, a former residence of French kings and the Emperors Napoleon I and Napoleon II. Compiègne has witnessed some major historic events, including the signature of the Armistice in 1918. Inaugurated in February 2008, the Internment and Deportation Memorial is a moving tribute to all those deported to the Nazi concentration camps.

A dynamic high-technology city

Companies operating in a range of business sectors ensure steady economic and employment growth. The town meets all the criteria for a true economic centre: with an innovative technological university (UTC), as well as major manufacturing groups with a strong research focus.
Compiègne is a high-technology town, the first in the Picardy region to receive official recognition of this status (“technopole labélisée”), created by a partnership between the town and the Université Technologique de Compiègne, the UTC, an internationally renowned training centre for biomedical, chemical, computer and mechanical engineering. The town’s development is based on two world-class centres of competitiveness - Industry and agricultural resources and I-trans, of which Compiègne is a partner.

To the site of Paris (Compiègne)

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After the cobbles, discover Roubaix

Paris-Roubaix, since it was founded in 1896, has displayed to the whole world the values of courage, abnegation and self-betterment. Because the Hell of the North can in fact lead to Heaven, Roubaix and its distinguished culture are worthy of discovery, in addition to this legendary race.
Roubaix is different, unexpected, cultural and has many surprises in store for those who accept to leave their pre-conceived ideas “in the locker room or bad habits”! 

Roubaix, a hub of activity

Enough of the old clichés: Roubaix has transformed itself into an ambitious, visionary and colourful city. Thanks to active partnerships with the private and public sectors as well as the added value that its region boasts, the city offers its inhabitants an excellent living environment and quality of life in a city reborn around its shops. The urban renovation project is making excellent progress and the refurbished Canal de Roubaix will be opened to pleasure boating next year.
Roubaix has also succeeded in welcoming the textile and image competitive cluster to the Union Centre and many marketing, communication and home shopping companies as well as fashion and textile designers have set up in the Quartier La Piscine district. These businesses are also supported by graduate engineering colleges and teaching centres. The EDHEC international campus will be opening in September and a distribution industry campus next to the railway station is in the study phase.

A City of Art and History… and sport

Boasting a rich industrial and artistic heritage, Roubaix welcomes tourists from all over the world. Its many cultural facilities tell the story of its history: the museums at La Piscine and the Manufacture des Flandres, the Colisée concert hall, the Condition Publique theatre, the Centre Chorégraphique National Nord – Pas de Calais Carolyn Carlson choreographic centre… In addition to culture, Roubaix also shines via its sports teams and the leading competitions that it organises on a regular basis. The city boasts sports halls and pitches throughout all its districts, enabling its inhabitants to participate in more than thirty different sporting disciplines.

The regional capital of cycling

Cycling holds pride of place in Roubaix. Besides hosting the finishing line of the “Queen of the Classics” and the cyclo-cross world cup, and as well as possessing a professional cycling team, in partnership with the Nord Pas de Calais Region, Roubaix is building a covered cycling stadium next to the existing open-air arena. This new facility, compliant with the requirements of HQE (the high quality environmental standard), will host international-level professionals and amateurs and will make Roubaix the capital of cycling in the Nord-Pas de Calais Region.

To the site of Roubaix

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