Guise is a historic commune in northern France, prominently known as the ancestral home of the noble House of Guise, whose medieval castle ruins still stand within the town. Beyond its aristocratic connections, Guise was the birthplace of notable figures such as Camille Desmoulins (1760–1794), a journalist significant in the French Revolution, and World War I heroine Jeanne Macherez.

A particularly unique aspect of Guise is the Familistery of Guise, or Social Palace, an innovative industrial and communal residential complex built by Jean-Baptiste Godin starting around 1856. Inspired by the philosopher Charles Fourier's ideas, this cooperative project aimed to enhance workers' social well-being and was owned and managed by them from 1880 until 1968. Furthermore, Guise holds military historical significance as the site of the Battle of St. Quentin on August 29, 1914, a key engagement during World War I.