Félix Kir
Encyclopedia
Canon Félix Kir was a French
Catholic priest, resistance fighter and politician.
He was born at Alise-Sainte-Reine
on the Côte-d'Or
. He entered a small seminary at Plombières-lès-Dijon
in 1891 and was ordained 1901. He then worked as a parish priest. During the occupation of France during World War II
, he took an active part in the French Resistance
, helping with the escape of 5,000 prisoners of war from a camp at Longvic
. He was arrested and condemned to death, but he was released because of his status. He continued organising operations, and was seriously wounded, but escaped interrogation by the Gestapo
.
In 1945 he was made a knight of the Légion d'honneur
and was elected mayor of Dijon
and to the French National Assembly
. He remained mayor of Dijon
up to his death.
A local drink, then locally known as 'blanc-cassis,' consists of white burgundy wine, traditionally Aligoté
, mixed with Crème de Cassis
, a sweet, blackcurrant-flavored liqueur. Kir habitually served this local drink to delegations and so the drink itself is now known internationally as Kir. An artificial lake built to the west of Dijon was also called Lac Kir. (47°19′40"N 4°59′56"E)
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...
Catholic priest, resistance fighter and politician.
He was born at Alise-Sainte-Reine
Alise-Sainte-Reine
Alise-Sainte-Reine is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in Bourgogne in eastern France.It is thought to be the site of the ancient city of Alesia, where Caesar defeated the Gauls under Vercingetorix in the Battle of Alesia...
on the Côte-d'Or
Côte-d'Or
Côte-d'Or is a department in the eastern part of France.- History :Côte-d'Or is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was formed from part of the former province of Burgundy.- Geography :...
. He entered a small seminary at Plombières-lès-Dijon
Plombières-lès-Dijon
Plombières-lès-Dijon is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France.-Population:-Personalities:*Chantal Sébire, teacher* Paillet, Julien , 1771-?...
in 1891 and was ordained 1901. He then worked as a parish priest. During the occupation of France during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he took an active part in the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
, helping with the escape of 5,000 prisoners of war from a camp at Longvic
Longvic
Longvic is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France.-Population:-References:*...
. He was arrested and condemned to death, but he was released because of his status. He continued organising operations, and was seriously wounded, but escaped interrogation by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
.
In 1945 he was made a knight of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
and was elected mayor of Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
and to the French National Assembly
French National Assembly
The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
. He remained mayor of Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
up to his death.
A local drink, then locally known as 'blanc-cassis,' consists of white burgundy wine, traditionally Aligoté
Aligoté
Aligoté is a white grape used to make dry white wines in the Burgundy region of France, and which also has significant plantings in much of Eastern Europe including Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Bulgaria. With , it was the 22nd most planted vine variety in the world in 2004...
, mixed with Crème de Cassis
Crème de Cassis
Crème de cassis is a sweet, dark red liqueur that is made from blackcurrants.Several cocktails are made with crème de cassis, including the very popular wine cocktail, kir.-Origin and production:...
, a sweet, blackcurrant-flavored liqueur. Kir habitually served this local drink to delegations and so the drink itself is now known internationally as Kir. An artificial lake built to the west of Dijon was also called Lac Kir. (47°19′40"N 4°59′56"E)