Béthune

Presentation

Béthune is a pleasant and rich city for its architectural heritage and its history. It has enter others a superb still paved place, around which the trade and coffees give life to the city.

In the center, proudly draws up the belfry like still taking care on the inhabitants (height 33 m, 133 steps). Its inimitable chime is composed of 35 bells.

Geography

Béthune was built on a modest headland (altitude : 42 m) which marks the last undulation of the hills of the Artois, located in the south. In the north of the city, with the “Low-Country of Béthune”, starts to extend the vast plain from the Flanders S.

Béthune is served by the A26 Troyes - Calais via Rheims and Arras, is said the “highway of the English”, by the line of train Arras-Dunkirk and also for the transport of freight, by the channel with large gauge the Dunkirk-Scheldt. The airport nearest is that of Lille-Lesquin.

In the car, Béthune is with approximately 2:00 of Paris, 30 min of Arras (its chief town) and 40 mn of Lille. Several direct daily connections by TGV on the Paris-Dunkirk way put Béthune at 90 mn of the capital of France. It is also possible to take the TGV with Arras (second station TGV of the area being with only 45 min train of Paris).

History

VI-VII century: First traces of dwelling

Towards 502, the bishop of Arras makes build the church St Vaast, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin

In 940: first hard copies mentioning the seigniory of Béthune

In 970: first mention of the castle.

XIIe century: Coveted, the town of Béthune is defended by its middle-class men against the Flemish army. The borough strengthened on 25 ha opened by five doors. The fortifications of the city are improved and reinforced with the wire of the centuries.

In 1222, the castle is rebuilt and surrounded by three walls out of three sides.

In 1297, Guy de Dampierre, Count de Flandre defies the King of France, Philippe IV the Beautiful one. The king seizes the strongest places of the Flanders. The middle-class men of Béthune benefit from it to revolt against the authority of the Count de Flandre and to submit themselves to king de France.

XIV - XV century (one hundred year old War): The béthunois defend with tenacity the Flemish city of the attacks of the armies. In reward, the middle-class men of Béthune allow them the construction of a belfry with right of bell and prison. The 1st belfry out of wooden is destroyed in a fire. It is rebuilt out of sandstone in 1388

In 1500 , Béthune is under the Spanish domination. Charles Quint reinforces the fortifications and makes move the church St Vaast in the strengthened enclosure. He arranges the channel of Lawe.

Béthune knows an important expansion with the development of industry clothier and the trade of the grain. That supports the installation of many trade associations: dyeing, tannery…

In 1645, the city is besieged by the Spanish troops and must capitulate. Louis XIV puts an end to the Spanish claims by the Treaty of the Pyrenees ( 1659 ) and the ramparts of the city are reinforced under the direction of Vauban.

But the wars do not cease. The army of the Allies, ordered by the Dutchmen, besieges the city in 1710 and Béthune is Dutchwoman during nearly 3 years.

Like all the kingdom of France, Béthune undergoes the agitation of the Revolution: expulsion of the religious congregations, exile of the aristocratic families, insurrections.

Economy

Historical and middle-class city, where the agricultural markets were held, Béthune does not change during the rise of the carboniferous at the 19th century mining downtown. It receives certainly the seat of a company of coal stroke but no well is installed on its territory. On the other hand of many rural villages surrounding know the mining metamorphosis, contributing to form a true agglomeration around Béthune which thus reinforces its role of center of trade and services.

The city accommodates in the Années 1960, within the framework of the reconversion Industrie of the field, several large mechanical or chemical factories. Béthune becomes in particular, after Clermont-Ferrand, the second site French for the manufacture of Pneu matic (of the mark Bridgestone , formerly Firestone ).

The Agribusiness industry is represented by an important unit of transformation of potatoes (frozen chips, dehydrated mashed potatoes, etc) which treats 120.000 tons per annum coming from the farms of the area.

Béthune is also of long time a port of shipping.

It is the seat of the Chamber of commerce and industry of Béthune, which manages in particular the river port of Béthune-Beuvry.

Administration

Béthune belongs to the Communauté of agglomeration of the Artois which gathers 58 common, that is to say 200 000 inhabitants, it is also the chief town of a district which counts 279 783 inhabitants divided out of 14 cantons.

Demography

Famous characters

Jean Buridan, (°1300 +1358), Philosopher, was the instigator of religious skepticism in Europe.
Antoine Busnois, (°1430 +1492), Type-setter and Poet.
Pierre de Manchicourt, Flemish type-setter born in Béthune towards 1510 and died in Madrid towards 1562.
Nicolas Fauvergue (born the October 13rd 1984), Football or (attacker of the Lille OSC).
Jerome Leroy (born the November 4th 1974), professional footballer. Winner of the Trophy of the Champions: 1998; Finalist of Supercoupe d' Europe: 1996; Finalist of the Cut of the Cuts: 1997; Finalist of the Coupe de France: 2003; Trophy player of the month UNFP-Channel +-L' team: August 2005, Coupe de France 2007
Rene Georgin (1888-1978), grammairien.
the Torturer of Béthune is actually the torturer of Arras which moved with each execution. The famous author “of the Three Musketeers”, Alexandre Dumas evokes Béthune and returns celebrates his imaginary torturer, executor of démoniaque MILADY.
Jacques Mellick, mayor (P.S.) of Béthune and former deputy of Pas-de-Calais.
Tronchet, strip cartoonist.

Historic buildings

the Belfry, built in 1388, historic building since 1862, classified with the world heritage of UNESCO since July 15th, 2005,
the town hall, classified historic building in 2001,
frontages and roofs of the Town square and the street Gross-Head,
the Église Saint-Vaast (the current church replaces that destroyed in 1918 which had been built by ordinance of Charles Quint),
the cellars, called “boves”, which were used as shelters in Béthunois at the time of the First World War,
the Hotel of Beaulaincourt, registered like historic building as of 1947, classified in 1974,
the old church of Récollets, registered with the inventory of the historic buildings since 1973,
the Saint-Ignace Tower, artillery turn of the 15th century, registered with the inventory of the historic buildings since 1969
the old Chambors barracks,
the old bookstore Baker,
the Saint-Pry bastion,
the grid of honor and the bandstand of the public garden,
the frontage of the house located 21 rue de la Délivrance,
the Saint-Vaast college, 141 rue Paul Doumer,

Information resulting from: Mérimée, database of the Ministry for the culture

Events not to be missed

MAY: Week End Z' Up arts: The festival of the streets puts fires at the hearts. *SEPTEMBRE: Week End Béthune Retro

Twinnings

See too

Brotherhood of Charitable of Saint-Éloi
Artois
County of Artois
Common of the Giant Pas-de-Calais
of North

External bonds

the Official Directory of the Tradesmen and Craftsmen of the Town of Béthune.
the blog of Jacques Mellick, centered on the projects of Béthune
the inheritance béthunois (Nordmag)
the site of the city
Hospital of Béthune
the Community of Agglomeration of Artois
www.chti.org
Béthune on the site of the national geographical Institute
Béthune on the site of INSEE
Béthune on the site of Quid
Localization of Béthune on a chart of France and communes bordering
Plane on Béthune on Mapquest

Photograph gallery

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