Neuville-Saint-Vaast
| Neuville-Saint-Vaast | |
|---|---|
|
Town hall and the church | |
  Neuville-Saint-Vaast | |
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Location within Nord-Pas-de-Calais region  Neuville-Saint-Vaast | |
| Coordinates: 50°21′22″N 2°45′32″E / 50.3561°N 2.7589°ECoordinates: 50°21′22″N 2°45′32″E / 50.3561°N 2.7589°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie |
| Department | Pas-de-Calais |
| Arrondissement | Arras |
| Canton | Vimy |
| Intercommunality | Artois |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2008–2014) | Jean-Pierre Puchois |
| Area1 | 12.59 km2 (4.86 sq mi) |
| Population (2006)2 | 1,520 |
| • Density | 120/km2 (310/sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 62609 / 62580 |
| Elevation |
81–144 m (266–472 ft) (avg. 107 m or 351 ft) |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Neuville-Saint-Vaast is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.
Geography
Neuville-Saint-Vaast is situated 4 miles (6 km) north of Arras, at the junction of the D49 and D55 roads. The A26 autoroute passes through the commune.
History
In World War I, Neuville-Saint-Vaast was the location of intense mining activity by the tunnelling companies of the Royal Engineers. In March 1916, the New Zealand Tunnelling Company relieved the French 7/1 compagnie d'ingénieurs territoriaux in the "Labyrinth" sector of the Western Front. The German "Labyrinth" stronghold was located near Neuville-Saint-Vaast, between Roclincourt and Écurie and not far from Notre Dame de Lorette.[1] On 29 March 1916, the New Zealand Tunnelling Company exchanged position with the 185th Tunnelling Company and moved to Roclincourt-Chantecler, a kilometre south of their old sector.[1] The 176th Tunnelling Company moved to Neuville-Saint-Vaast in April 1916 and remained there for a considerable time,[2] as did the 172nd Tunnelling Company, which was relieved at Neuville-Saint-Vaast by the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company in May 1916.[2]
Population
| 1962 | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 | 1999 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 918 | 927 | 973 | 1129 | 1295 | 1401 | 1520 |
| Census count starting from 1962: Population without duplicates | ||||||
Places of interest
- The church of St.Laurent, rebuilt, as was all of the village, after World War I.
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries.
- The war memorial.
Notable people
- Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, sculptor, died in the fighting here on the 5 June 1915.
- François Hennebique, an inventor of reinforced concrete, was born here on the 26 April 1842.
See also
- Communes of the Pas-de-Calais department
- Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery
- Canadian Cemetery No. 2
- Neuville-St Vaast German war cemetery
References
- 1 2 Byledbal, Anthony. "New Zealand Tunnelling Company: Chronology". Retrieved 5 July 2015.
- 1 2 "The Tunnelling Companies RE". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Neuville-Saint-Vaast. |
- Official website of the commune (French)
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission British cemetery at Neuville-Saint-Vaast (La Targette)
- Neuville-Saint-Vaast on the Quid website (French)
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