Maubeuge [key], city (1990 pop. 35,225), Nord dept., N France, on the Sambre River near the Belgian border. Railroad and heating equipment, machine tools, glass, and china are major manufactures. An abbey was founded on the site of Maubeuge by St. Aldegone in the 7th cent. During World War I the city was held by the Germans. Its position on an extension of the Maginot Line resulted in heavy destruction in World War II. Still standing are remains of fortifications built in 1685 by the famous military engineer Sébastien Vauban.
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