Béthune
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Bethune.
Coordinates: 50°31′49″N 2°38′27″E / 50.53027°N 2.64083°E
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Commune of Béthune |
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 Grand'Place |
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| Location | |
  Béthune
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| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Nord-Pas-de-Calais |
| Department | Pas-de-Calais |
| Arrondissement | Béthune |
| Canton | Béthune-Nord and Béthune-Sud |
| Intercommunality | Artois |
| Mayor | Jacques Mellick (2002-2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 18–42 m (59–140 ft) (avg. 26 m/85 ft) |
| Land area1 | 12.97 km2 (5.01 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 27,808 (1999) |
| - Density | 2,144 /km² (5,550 /sq mi) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 62119/ 62400 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Béthune (archaic Dutch: Betun) is a city in northern France, sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department.
Contents |
[edit] History
Béthune is located in the former province of Artois.
[edit] Sights
Béthune is famous for its Belfry (tower in the central square of the city), from the top of which the Belgian border can be seen.
[edit] Personalities
Béthune was the birthplace of:
- Jean Buridan, philosopher
- Antoine Busnois, composer and poet of the early Renaissance
- Jérôme Leroy, former captain of RC Lens and current FC Sochaux midfielder in France
- Pierre de Manchicourt, Renaissance composer
- Nicolas Fauvergue, footballer
Béthune is also associated with the following historic personalities:
- Maximilien de Béthune, duc de Sully, general and statesman
- Conon de Béthune, crusader and trouvère poet
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Béthune city council website (in French)
- Béthune on Heritage Towns
- "Histoire de Béthune" (in French)
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