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Cambrai |
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Historic Textile
Town Medieval religious
centre |
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   1.16th century Spanish fortifications against the French (Cathedral circled in red) 2. Famous organ in Cambrai cathedral, rebuilt 1897 after a fire in 1859. Well-suited to the acoustics of the lofty stone Cathedral. 3. Archbishop Mothe Fenellon's tomb: he was Archbishop 1695-1715 whilst wars raged through the region. |
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Religious life in Cambrai: music, pilgrims, festivals |
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 Celebrated music composed by Guillaume Dufay (1397-1474) as Chapel Master for performing in Cambrai Cathedral included Masses chansons and hymns. Guillaume Dufoy was born in Flanders, worked in Italy for years, and came back to Cambrai Cathedral at the height of his fame. He composed innovative choral works which are said to mark the dawn of the Renaissance in Western European music. |
 The Icon of Notre Dame de Grâce is one of the treasures of Cambrai's cathedral. It was brought from Rome and installed in Cambrai Cathedral in 1452. This strikingly vivid representation of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus attracted famous pilgrims such as Dukes of Burgundy, Kings of France (Louis XI, François 1, Henri IV, Louis XIV), and Emperors Maximilien and Charles Quint - also many thousands of humble people. Their donations made it a great source of wealth to the church. The Icon still attracts thousands of pilgrims every year, and is shown in festivals on 15 May and 15 August every year (left). |
 TODAY: every 15 August, visitors flock to Cambrai to see the traditional Notre Dame de Grâce procession, with the town giants, Martin and Martine - part of a week-long carnival, with fairground, fireworks, concerts and competitions. |
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The Bishopric of Cambrai was fought over by its powerful neighbours - France, Burgundy, and the Holy Roman Empire (Germany). Cambrai needed to be stongly fortified. During the wars between Spain and France for possession of the Low Countries, Cambrai's Archbishop Fenellon: the "Swan of Cambrai" became known for his charity as people fled for safety to Cambrai. In 1677, the city itself was besieged and taken by Louis XIV; the Treaty of Nijmegen, signed in 1678, finally assigned Cambrai to France. During the French Revolution, in 1793, the town's cathedral was destroyed. The present Cathedral of Notre-Dame was built in the 19th century. |
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  2. Cambrai's old cathedral ablaze during incendiary shelling 3. 1920 plan for post-war reconstruction of the town hall belfry and main square |
War
damage The town was over-run and occupied by the German invasion in 1914, During the First World War, Hindenburg made his HQ in Cambrai, behind an immensely strong defence line along the St.Quentin Canal. In 1917, the British army successfully used tanks in battle for the first time, achieving a breakthrough in the German lines at Cambrai. In 1918 the retreating Germans set fire to the town. |
 Above the Town Hall clock two 16th century wooden blacksmiths, Martin and Martine, move on the hour to strike bells with their hammers. The same characters also appear in parades as the town's "giants". |
Town of
Sugar Cambrai's food specialities are small chitterling sausages (andouillettes), and mint-flavoured sweets, the Bêtises de Cambrai - sold all over France. An annual Festival celebrates all the confectionary specialities of France, particularly the famous Bêtises - mint humbugs with a yellow stripe. |
 Symbol of the annual Friandises - the "Festival des Villes Sucrées" - held each March |
