BéTHUNE

'Béthune' is a city and commune of northern France, ''sous-préfecture'' of the Pas-de-Calais ''département''. It is the administrative center of the Communauté d'agglomération de l'Artois, which gathers 58 communes, and has a total population of approximately 200,000. In the 1999 census, Béthune had a population of 27,808. The commune has a land area of 12.97 km² (5.008 sq mi).

Contents

History

Sights

Miscellaneous

External links

History

Béthune is located in the former province of Artois.

Sights

Béthune is famous for its ''Belfry'' (tower in the central square of the city).

Miscellaneous

Béthune was the birthplace of:

★ Jean Buridan, probably born in Béthune (1300-1358), philosopher who sowed the seeds of religious scepticism in Europe

★ Antoine Busnois, born near Béthune (c.1430-1492), composer and poet of the early Renaissance Burgundian School

★ Jérôme Leroy (1974-?), Former captain of RC Lens and current FC Sochaux midfielder in France.

★ Pierre de Manchicourt (c. 1510-1564), composer of the Renaissance.

★ Nicolas Fauvergue (born October 13, 1984), footballer
Béthune is also associated with the following historic personalities:

★ Maximilien de Béthune, duc de Sully (1560 - 1641), French general and statesman.

★ Conon de Béthune (c.1150 - 1220), crusader and "trouvère" poet

External links

★ Béthune city council website (in French)

★ http://www.theotherside.co.uk/tm-heritage/towns/bethune.htm

★ "Histoire de Béthune" (in French)