Chaumont () is a commune of France, and the capital (or préfecture) of the Haute-Marne department. , it has a population of 21,847. The city stands on the river Marne and is situated on the Paris-Est–Mulhouse-Ville railway, which runs over a tall and long viaduct built in 1856. Chaumont station has rail connections to Paris, Reims, Dijon, Mulhouse and regional destinations. History Historically, Chaumont was the seat of the Counts of Bassigny and later of Champagne, receiving a charter in 1190. It was the venue of an offensive treaty against Napoleon I signed by the United Kingdom, Austria, Prussia, and Russia in 1814, by which they agreed to continue war until France returned to its 1792 boundaries. Chaumont was bombed in 1940 and 1944 during World War II. From 1951 to 1967, the United States Air Force under NATO operated the Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base on the outskirts of the city. Notable buildings The church of St-Jean-Baptiste dates from the 13th century, the choir and lateral chapels belonging to the 15th and 16th. In the interior the sculptured triforium (15th century), the spiral staircase in the transept and a Holy Sepulchre are of interest. The Tour Hautefeuille (a keep of the 11th century) is the principal relic of a château of the counts of Champagne In the Square Philippe-Lebon stands a statue of the engineer Philippe Lebon (1767–1804), born in Haute-Marne. The bronze statue was melted down during the second world war and replaced by a stone copy. Population Notable people Edmé Bouchardon (1698–1762), sculptor Luc Chatel (born 1964), politician Lucie Décosse (born 1981), judo player Denis Decrès (1761–1820), Minister of the French Navy André Godard (1881–1965), architect and archaeologist Emmanuel Guillaume-Rey (1837–1916), archaeologist, topographer and orientalist Jean Masson (1907–1964), politician Louise Michel (1830–1905), anarchist Christian Pineau (1904–1995), politician Nicole Rieu (born 1949), singer and director Sport The Chaumont Volley-Ball 52, is a volleyball club playing in Pro A (volleyball), created in 1996. The club became champion of France in Ligue A during the 2016–2017 season. She twice finished second in 2017-2018 and 2018–2019 seasons. On 2 April 2017, for the first time in its history, the CVB52 became a finalist in the 2016–17 CEV Challenge Cup. On 7 October 2017 in Mulhouse, the CVB52HM won a second title by becoming champion of the French Supercup. The club also participated in the CEV Champions League and CEV Cup. The Chaumont FC,