Vitry-in-Artois

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

Its inhabitants is the Vitriens .

Geography

Vitry-in-Artois is the place chief of canton of the Pas-de-Calais, with the limit of the North, and which gathers 33 communes. The city itself is spread out over 1878 hectares which correspond at the end of the hills of Artois, of which approximately 250 hectares are urbanized. Average altitude is approximately 48 meters above the sea level.

The commune has a pleasant environment which contrasts with the framework of life of the field. Two wooded solid masses are located at the west and the south-east of the commune. This vegetable medium joins a zone of marsh the west. Geology gave us a fertile ground and the moderate climate supports an intensive agriculture, with the foot of the hills of Artois. There the large plain of the North of France starts.

This cohabitation of mediums has an ecological richness that the common tent to preserve. The commune is cut by Scarpe and the Trunk road 50 which connects Arras and Douai, with the access to the Paris-Lille highway which is located at approximately three kilometers of Vitry. The expansion of the agglomeration is justified by its position in the center of the towns of Arras, Lens, Hénin-Beaumont, Douai, Cambrai and Bapaume.

The river of Scarpe is navigable from Arras to Douai by means of 16 locks. With the Trunk road, one can add to it the railroad which passes to Vitry.

The railway which crosses the agglomeration is the large railway artery of the North of France. Moreover, the airfield located on the Communes of Vitry-in-Artois and of Brebières, is a rather abundant tourist place. Formerly airfield occupied by German, it became an aerodrome in 1968. Today part of the ground is used by the soldiers, the other part is useful for the Flying-club of Vitry. This ground is a theoretical service road of the airport of Lesquin.

History

The origin of its name comes from Celtic, VIC which means " château" and AC which means " at the edge of the eau". " The castle at the edge of the eau" such is the etymological origin of our commune. Vitry-in-Artois undoubtedly existed before the beginning of our era. It was occupied by the Romans, before about year 360 after Jesus-Christ, Saint Martin's day sets up a church there. The threshold of Vitry was dug between Xe and XIIé century under the impulse of the Counts de Flandres. This threshold created a new river, tributary Scarpe of the Scheldt.

Vitry became a strategic place then, because its river allowed the defensive flood of the accesses of the town of Douai, and ensured the operation of its Mills. The drain of Scarpe at the beginning of the XVIIè century made possible, by means of several locks the naviguation, between Arras and Douai. A few decades later, in year 446, the first incursion of the Francs took place. Clodion known as " the chevelu" transformed Vitry into a royal residence and made build a castle. This one will accommodate then Clotaire, wire of Clovis, and his wife Sainte Radegonde.

Bloody fights will oppose their sons. Sigebert, kings d' Austrasie, husband of Brunehilde, there will die assassinated into 575 by the emissary of Frédégonde, marry of Chilpéric, king de Neustrie and brother of Sigebert. Vitry was thus the stay of king Mérovingien Sigebert. Fourteen centuries after the death of king Chilpéric, a team of Vitrois young people is interested in the history of the commune and makes reappear Chilpéric 1st, small son of Clovis. In May 1982, the city with its giant. Since, he visits the communes of the surroundings and each year makes an exit in Vitry, for the Annual stock sale of spring.

------

Population of the commune in 1914: 2.952 Many soldiers “Died for France” during the Great War: 106

Population of the commune in 1940: 2.764 Many soldiers “Died for France” during the war 39-45: 27

During the war of 1870-1871, the Faidherbe general establishes his general headquarter with Vitry-in-Artois (from December 25th to 31st 1870) after the battle of Bridge-Noyelles. During the Great War (1914-1918), the population takes refuge in the network of shelters and underground galleries of the commune. As of on October 2nd, 1914, the city is under the fire of the bombardments. The greatest destruction is undergone on April 12th, 1917. The village is completely destroyed, 768 houses will have to be shaven, alone 5 remain still upright. September 23rd, 1920, the commune receives the Military Cross: “Always was worthy and valiant during the sufferings of the enemy occupation waiting the hour of the delivery stoically”.

Administration

Demography

Places and monuments

Personalities related to the commune

Jean-Philippe LEFEBVRE

See too

Common of the Giant Pas-de-Calais
of North

External bonds

Vitry-in-Artois on the site of the national geographical Institute
Vitry-in-Artois on the site of INSEE
Vitry-in-Artois on the site of Quid
Localization of Vitry-in-Artois on a chart of France and communes bordering
Plane on Vitry-in-Artois on Mapquest

Random links: