Étroeungt is a common French, located in the department of the Northern and the area Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Its inhabitants is called Courbeteux.

Description of the village of Etroeungt

Etroeungt, pretty borough, bathed by water of Helpe minor is located in the middle of the avesnois, area of scrap-metals made up of meadows, trees and dispersed farms. This vast village with the territory which extends on 2509 hectares and with its 1413 inhabitants extremely makes propose with the others the results of intense community life.

Not less than three schools (public and private) allow our small courbeteux (thus one names the inhabitants of Etroeungt because of the billhook, tool whom they used to cut the branches of the hedges) to inform itself in the middle same of the village.

This rural district, preserved its dairy vocation in spite of the loss of its industrial activities (spinning mills and careers…).

Some trade (bakery, grocer, two hairdressing salons), a pharmacy and a post office facilitate the life of the every day.

Where is ETROEUNGT?

Village of the south of the Department of the North of France, Etroeungt is placed on the known road axis which is Main road 2 connecting Paris and Brussels. Located at a score of kilometers of Maubeuge and Belgian border, Etroeungt is distant only of 7 kms Under Préfecture, Avesnes on Helpe. The communal territory of Etroeungt being very wide, it is encircled by 9 communes bordering and goes even until flirter with the Department of Aisne. SNCF railway station nearest is that of Avesnes on Helpe.

History of the village of Etroeungt

This borough has a very rich past. By safety it was built on the rocky outcrop which dominates Helpe. It formed initially part of the country of Nerviens, people of old Gaulle whose civilization was already refined then passed then under the Roman domination. The old agglomeration of Duronum, which went back thus to highest antiquity, was in the west of the current village, on the Roman way of Bavay to Rheims, with the locality Pairée.

This Roman way (also named Chaussée Brunehaut) is one of these roads which were empierrées by the Romans to join Bavay, meeting place and crossroads (geometrical) of seven roadways which moved towards the Rhine, the Ocean, the Alps and the Pyrenees. The hamlet of Warpont holds its etymological origin of the guard bridge, thus named about the station which one placed sometimes to keep the bridge of the Roman roadway on the river of Helpe Mineure.

The castle of Etroeungt was built him also in the west of the village. It is this castle which occupied Bouchard d' Avesnes, which was excommunicated to have married Marguerite of Constantinople, whereas it was engaged in the orders. This adventure started a resounding quarrel between the counts de Flandres and those of Hainaut and caused the arbitration of king Saint Louis. It inspired besides by the painters and constitutes the most famous event of the history of Etroeungt. The baronnie of Etroeungt was thus held by the family of Avesnes since 1212 until 1427 which gave him 14 lords.

Then the village was a frank ground depending on the family of Croy, princes de Chimay, who also gave him 14 lords since 1428 until 1706. In 1659, after the fastening of Avesnes in France, it benefitted from this situation to remain independent and still preserved long years its tax exemptions. It was definitively attached to France in 1678. There were also two forts. In that of the Buffalo, the defenders had passed by the weapons to be itself opposite with the troops of François Ier which prepared to seize Avesnes on Helpe in 1543.

Then the baronnie of Etroeungt passed to the royal family of Orleans since 1706 until the revolution of 1789 which gave him 4 lords.

The Saint Martin's day church overhanging the Place is of 1570. It was often altered, especially in 1776 following a fire. The chorus, more damaged than the remainder of the building, was given to new by the monks of the Abbey of Liessies, then outlet drains of the cure. It was restored in 1854 and 1880.

In 1865, one placed splendid stained glasses at the three windows of the bottom of the chorus. That of the center represents the exact copy of the famous Deposition of the famous Rubens painter. The church on the whole has four furnace bridges including two of XVIIIème devoted to the Virgin and Saint Martin. In 1880, it was again restored internally.

Administration

Demography

Places and monuments

• the laundrette: Etroeungt has several fountains and of the public laundrettes. This one remarkably preserved is out of blue stone of the country. Located at the center of the village, it is accessible only by three small pedestrian paths. The water which runs there is always beautiful quality and limpid. It is unceasingly renewed thanks to a good flow.

• the old mill: Its design shows that in the beginning it is an old mill with flour. In 1839, it becomes a wool spinning mill. In 1898, a company (of which the shareholders are people of the country) acquires of it and makes him produce electricity. Etroeungt is of this fact electrified very early (before Fourmies for example). Its activity ceases in 1939.

• Vaults and oratories: The country lanes of the avesnois are punctuated hundreds of vaults and oratories. The commune of Etroeungt only counts with it 24 oratories dedicated to the Virgin or with various saints disseminated at the edge of the ways.

• the mill of Tatimont: Old hydraulic mill with flour, it was built on a site of any beauty close to the hamlet of Tatimont. It is quite rare not to meet some fishermen come there to throw their lines in Helpe Mineure. Bridge, you will be able to discover a river having preserved its natural and authentic character.

• pedestrian Paths: We are into full Thiérache, country of scrap-metals. All around the village, dispersed farms, hamlets, pastures, hedges, thickets follow one another on an undulating ground to make us discover splendid green landscapes. Hiking trails were arranged to discover them.

• chevrery: The sixty ten goats of Chèvrerie of the Bridge of the Lock produce each year 45000 liters of milk allowing the manufacture of 6 tons cheeses. In addition to the usual circuits of distribution, the products are also sold directly with the farm. The best reception is reserved to the public which can besides attend the draft of the animals. This chevrery is an antenna of the Center of Assistance by the Work of the Bridge the Healthy ones.

• the site of Warpont: Helpe crosses the greens pastures giving a superb pastoral decoration. At this place, the bridge allows the Roman way going from Bavay to Rheims (the Brunehaut Roadway) to cross the river whose banks are marked out splendid and very old willows.

Personalities related to the commune

Sport S

• ACE Étrœungt

communal Events

• Living room of the regional book

See too

• Common of North

External bonds

• Étroeungt on the site of the national geographical Institute
• Étroeungt on the site of INSEE
• Étroeungt on the site of Quid
• Localization of Étroeungt on a chart of France and communes bordering
• Plane on Étroeungt on Mapquest
• old site of Etroeungt