Meaux (French pronunciation: [mo]) is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. Meaux is a subprefecture (sous-préfecture) of the Seine-et-Marne department. In France, a subprefecture is the chef-lieu (the seat or administrative capital) of an arrondissement: Meaux is the subprefecture of the arrondissement of Meaux. It is als
o the chef-lieu of two other smaller administrative land divisions: the cantons of Meaux-Nord and Meaux-Sud. Finally, since its creation in 2003, Meaux has been the center and the main town of an agglomeration community, the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays de Meaux. Demographics[edit]
With a population of 51,398 inhabitants (2012 census), Meaux is the second most populated city in the Seine-et-Marne department after Chelles (53,090 inhabitants in 2012). History and Culture[edit]
Inhabitants of Meaux are called Meldois. Both names Meaux and Meldois originated with the Meldi, the Latin name of the original Gaulish tribe who occupied this area of the valley of the Marne river. Although during the Roman period the city was called Lantinum by the Romans, the name of the Meldi persisted and was finally kept for naming both the city and its inhabitants. Behind the palace can be seen the Meaux Cathedral
Historical buildings and monuments in Meaux are mainly located in the old city, inside the old defensive walls, still nowadays partially kept thanks to an important segment of the original surrounding wall from the Gallo-Roman .
