Soissons

Soissons is a commune in the Hauts-de-France region in the Aisne department in the north of France. Soissons was the capital of France from 486 (the year of the famous vase of Soissons) until about 900. The city's name comes from a Belgic tribe: the Suessiones.

Soissons
Coat of arms
Location of Soissons
Soissons Show map of France Soissons Show map of Hauts-de-France
Coordinates: 49°13′31″N 3°11′33″E
Country	France
Region	Hauts-de-France
Department	Aisne
Area 1	12.32 km2 (4.76 sq mi)
Population  (2012)	28,309
• Density	2,300/km2 (6,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	02722 /02200
Elevation	38–130 m (125–427 ft) (avg. 55 m or 180 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.