Metropolitan area (R�gion)	Paris (�le-de-France)
D�partement	Val-d'Oise
Arrondissement	Pontoise
Canton	Pontoise
Postal Code
INSEE Code
Habitants	Pontoisiens
Population(1999)	28,661 habitants
Intercommunalit� (2004)	Communaut� d'Agglom�ration de Cergy-Pontoise
Area	745 ha
Mayor

Pontoise is a suburban commune of the Val-d'Oise département, in suburban Paris in France. It belongs to the new town of Cergy-Pontoise

Contents

1 History 2 Culture 3 Sites of Interest 4 External links

History

Pontoise is the historical capital of the Vexin français. Its foundation dates from the Roman times (Pontisara). As that time, the rock piton overhanging Oise supports the defense of the ford which is on the Roman way carrying out of Rotomagus (Rouen) to Lutetia (Paris).

Culture

Pontoise is one of the capitals of the impressionist movement. Many painters took as a starting point the city and its area for the creation of landscapes. Camille Pissarro lived there for seventeen years. Other artists lived or worked in the area such as Vincent Van Gogh (Auvers-sur-Oise), Paul C�zanne, Charles Fran�ois Daubigny, Gustave Caillebotte, etc.

Sites of Interest

• Cath�drale Saint-Maclou (built in the 12th century)
• Mus�e Tavet-Delacour (sculptures from the Middle Ages, manuscripts from the 17th century, and paintings from the 20th century)
• Mus�e Pissarro (impressionist collections) and garden of the five directions

External links

• official Site (http://www.ville-pontoise.fr/)
• Tourism in Pontoise (http://www.tourisme.fr/pontoise/)

fr:Pontoise ja:ポントワーズ la:Pontisara