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Concept
Béthune
Summary
Béthune (betyn ; archaic Betun and Bethwyn historically in English) is a city in northern France, sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department.
Béthune is located in the former province of Artois. It is situated south-east of Calais, west of Lille, and north of Paris.
Béthune is a town rich in architectural heritage and history. It has, among other features, a large paved square with shops, cafés, and a (133 steps) belfry standing in the center from the top of which the Belgian border can be seen. The chime of the belfry is composed of thirty-six bells. A belfry (French:"beffroi") has stood on the site since 1346. The current belfry plays melodies every 15 minutes, including the ch'ti (regional patois) children's lullaby "min p'tit quinquin" (my little darling). In 2005, the belfry was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France site, because of its architecture and testimony to the rise of municipal power in Europe.
Hugh Hastings (died 1347), King Edward III of England's captain and lieutenant in Flanders, mounted an attack and laid siege to Béthune, with a combined English and Flemish force, during a diversionary raid as part of Chevauchée of Edward III of 1346. After religious persecution, the of Bethune's inhabitants moved to Scotland, where some still live today. They then went to North Carolina, USA to hope for a better life in farming. The Flemish component proved undisciplined and the siege was abandoned in failure before the end of August.
During the War of the Spanish Succession in July–August 1710, Béthune was besieged by forces of the Grand Alliance. The town eventually surrendered after a vigorous defence conducted by Antoine de Vauban (1654-1731), a relative of the famous military engineer Vauban.
In World War I, Béthune was an important railway junction and command centre for the British Canadian Corps and Indian Expeditionary Force, as well as the 33rd Casualty Station until December 1917.
Official source
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