Beauvaisis

Beauvaisis is a historic geographic and feudal region in northern France, centered on the city of Beauvais in the present-day Oise department. The name designates the lands around Beauvais that formed a distinct political and cultural formation from the early Middle Ages onward. Etymologically, it derives from Beauvais, the principal town, with the suffix -is indicating a domain or district.

Geography and landscape: The Beauvaisis lies on the western edge of the historic Picardy region, in what is now Hauts-de-France. It comprises a relatively flat, agricultural plain with scattered forests and river valleys that provided the main lines of communication and defense.

History: The Beauvaisis developed as a feudal county with Beauvais as its seat. Through the Middle Ages it played a role in regional politics and was associated with the crown of France. In the later medieval period its lands were increasingly integrated into the royal domain and surrounding polities, reflecting broader shifts in administration and feudal authority. The region is marked by religious and architectural heritage, among them Beauvais Cathedral, a notable Gothic monument.

Administrative legacy: Today, Beauvaisis is not an administrative unit, but a historical concept. Its core corresponds roughly to parts of the modern Oise department, within Hauts-de-France. The term is used in historical geography and local history to describe the area around Beauvais and its rural hinterland.

See also: Beauvais, Comté de Beauvaisis, Picardy, Oise.