BEAUVAIS, a town of north France, capital of the de partment of Oise, 49m. N. by W. of Paris, on the Northern rail way. Pop. (1931) 16,690. Beauvais lies at the foot of hills on the left bank of the Therain at its confluence with the Avelon, and at the focus of a large number of roads. Known to the Ro mans as Caesaromagus, its present name is due to the Gallic Bellovaci, whose capital it was. In the 9th century it became a countship, which about 1013 passed to the bishops, who became peers of France. The English besieged it in 1346 and 1433. The siege of 1472 is famous for its association with Jeanne Hachette. The ancient ramparts are now occupied by boulevards. The cathedral of St. Pierre, in some respects the most daring achieve ment of Gothic architecture, consists only of a transept and choir with apse and seven apse-chapels. The vaulting in the interior exceeds I 50f t. in height. The small Romanesque church of the loth century known as the Basse Oeuvre occupies the site des tined for the nave. Begun in 1247, the work was interrupted by various collapses. The transept was built from 1500 to 1548. Its facades exhibit the rich late Gothic style. The north and south portals and especially their wooden doors are masterpieces re spectively of Gothic and Renaissance workmanship, but its artis tic treasures are stained glass windows of the 13th, 14th and 16th centuries. The old town centres around the Hotel-de-vine (17 5 2 ) and the cathedral, and has several mediaeval houses. The epis copal palace (16th century) is now a courthouse. The State manufacture of tapestry at Beauvais dates from 1664; cotton and woollen goods and toys are the main products. Market-gar dening and trade in grain and wine are carried on. The town is the seat of a bishop, a prefect and a court of assizes ; it has tri bunals of first instance and of commerce.