Armentières
Encyclopedia
Armentières is a commune
in the Nord department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France
. It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole
, and lies on the Belgian
border, northwest of the city of Lille
, on the right bank of the river Lys
.
The motto of the town is Pauvre mais fière (Poor but proud).
, spinning
and brewing
grew in Armentières, benefitting from the presence of water.
Armentières particularly suffered at the time of the World Wars. However, the town did receive two Military Crosses (one for World War I
and the second for the Second World War) and the Legion of Honor. In Armentières and in the neighbourhoods, the military cemeteries are places of remembrance for the casualties of the World Wars. Mademoiselle from Armentières
was a popular song amongst Allied soldiers in World War I
.
During World War I, in April 1918, German forces shelled Armentières with mustard gas. British troops were forced to evacuate the area but German troops could not enter the commune for two weeks because of the heavy contamination. Witnesses to the bombardment stated that the shelling was so heavy that liquid mustard ran in the streets.
with:
Communes of the Nord département
The following is a list of the 652 communes of the Nord département, in France.*Communes of the Nord department, A-K*Communes of the Nord department, L-Z...
in the Nord department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole
Urban Community of Lille Métropole
The Urban Community of Lille Métropole is the intercommunal structure gathering the commune of Lille and that part of the Lille metropolitan area that lies in France....
, and lies on the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
border, northwest of the city of Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, on the right bank of the river Lys
Lys River
The Leie or Lys is a river in France and Belgium, and a left tributary of the Scheldt. Its source is in Pas-de-Calais, France, and it flows into the river Scheldt in Ghent, Belgium. Its total length is ....
.
The motto of the town is Pauvre mais fière (Poor but proud).
History
In 1668, the town became French like the rest of French Flanders. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, Armentières acquired fame, being the “City of the Fabric”. The industrial weavingWeaving
Weaving is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. The other methods are knitting, lace making and felting. The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the lateral threads are the weft or filling...
, spinning
Spinning (textiles)
Spinning is a major industry. It is part of the textile manufacturing process where three types of fibre are converted into yarn, then fabric, then textiles. The textiles are then fabricated into clothes or other artifacts. There are three industrial processes available to spin yarn, and a...
and brewing
Brewing
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source in water and then fermenting with yeast. Brewing has taken place since around the 6th millennium BCE, and archeological evidence suggests that this technique was used in ancient Egypt...
grew in Armentières, benefitting from the presence of water.
Armentières particularly suffered at the time of the World Wars. However, the town did receive two Military Crosses (one for World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the second for the Second World War) and the Legion of Honor. In Armentières and in the neighbourhoods, the military cemeteries are places of remembrance for the casualties of the World Wars. Mademoiselle from Armentières
Mademoiselle from Armentières
"Mademoiselle from Armentières" was a song that was sung during World War I. It is also known by its ersatz French line, Hinky Dinky Parley Voo . It was considered a sexy song, and when sung on the radio and TV, as in The Waltons, typically only the first verse was sung...
was a popular song amongst Allied soldiers in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
During World War I, in April 1918, German forces shelled Armentières with mustard gas. British troops were forced to evacuate the area but German troops could not enter the commune for two weeks because of the heavy contamination. Witnesses to the bombardment stated that the shelling was so heavy that liquid mustard ran in the streets.
Heraldry
Twin towns — Sister cities
Armentières is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
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