Bullecourt
Encyclopedia
Bullecourt is a commune
in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region
in France
.
between Arras
and Bapaume
and east of the A1
motorway. This satellite photograph shows Bullecourt just north of centre. Quéant
is the larger of the two villages near the eastern edge. The A1 and the high-speed (TGV) railway line run up the western edge. To the south of Bullecourt, a now closed local railway line snakes from east to west.
In 620, it was the birthplace of Saint Vindicien, a follower of Saint Eligius
, known in French as Saint Eloi. Vindicien became successively, bishop of Arras and bishop of Cambrai. He is regarded as the founder of the abbey named after his mentor, Mont St Eloi, of which Bullecourt became a lordship.
The village has twice been completely destroyed: in 1543 and in 1917. As a result of events in the latter year, Bullecourt is part of Australia
n, ANZAC history. This arose as part of the Battle of Arras
in the spring of 1917, when Bullecourt lay at the southern end of the battle front. See Australian 4th Division (World War I)
. The 62nd Division was part of the same battle in the sector adjoining that of the ANZACs and facing the part of the Hindenburg Line
which lay in the village itself. They returned to the sector formerly occupied by the Australians, later in May.
s and dugouts, from the period of the Hindenburg Line, there is also an underground shelter from the 17th century.
The church of St. Vlaast was rebuilt after 1918.
There is a museum of objects collected from the periods of the world wars.
The village festival is held on the first Sunday of June and there is a festival in honour of the Australians on the last Saturday in April.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
in France
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...
.
Geography
Bullecourt lies on the Upper Cretaceous plain of ArtoisArtois
Artois is a former province of northern France. Its territory has an area of around 4000 km² and a population of about one million. Its principal cities are Arras , Saint-Omer, Lens and Béthune.-Location:...
between Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
and Bapaume
Bapaume
Bapaume is a commune and the seat of a canton in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming and light industrial town located 10 miles south of Arras at the junction of the A1 autoroute and the N17 and N30 national roads its location is...
and east of the A1
A1 autoroute (France)
The A1 Autoroute, also known as l'autoroute du Nord , is the busiest of France's autoroutes. With a length of , it connects Paris with the northern city of Lille. It is managed by the Société des Autoroutes du Nord et de l'Est de la France...
motorway. This satellite photograph shows Bullecourt just north of centre. Quéant
Quéant
Quéant is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Quéant is situated southeast of Arras, at the junction of the D14 and D22 roads...
is the larger of the two villages near the eastern edge. The A1 and the high-speed (TGV) railway line run up the western edge. To the south of Bullecourt, a now closed local railway line snakes from east to west.
Transportation
Bullecourt lies in the triangle made by the A1, A2 and A26 motorways and that made by the N17, N30 and D939 roads.History
There were remains from the Gallo-Roman period and the village was mentioned under the name "Bullecortis", in 1096.In 620, it was the birthplace of Saint Vindicien, a follower of Saint Eligius
Saint Eligius
Saint Eligius is the patron saint of goldsmiths, other metalworkers, and coin collectors. He is also the patron saint of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers , a corps of the British Army, but he is best known for being the patron saint of horses and those who work with them...
, known in French as Saint Eloi. Vindicien became successively, bishop of Arras and bishop of Cambrai. He is regarded as the founder of the abbey named after his mentor, Mont St Eloi, of which Bullecourt became a lordship.
The village has twice been completely destroyed: in 1543 and in 1917. As a result of events in the latter year, Bullecourt is part of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n, ANZAC history. This arose as part of the Battle of Arras
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
in the spring of 1917, when Bullecourt lay at the southern end of the battle front. See Australian 4th Division (World War I)
Australian 4th Division (World War I)
The Australian 4th Division was formed in the First World War during the expansion of the Australian Imperial Force infantry brigades in February 1916. In addition to the experienced 4th Brigade were added the new 12th and 13th Brigades...
. The 62nd Division was part of the same battle in the sector adjoining that of the ANZACs and facing the part of the Hindenburg Line
Hindenburg Line
The Hindenburg Line was a vast system of defences in northeastern France during World War I. It was constructed by the Germans during the winter of 1916–17. The line stretched from Lens to beyond Verdun...
which lay in the village itself. They returned to the sector formerly occupied by the Australians, later in May.
Main sights
While there were many bunkerBunker
A military bunker is a hardened shelter, often buried partly or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks...
s and dugouts, from the period of the Hindenburg Line, there is also an underground shelter from the 17th century.
The church of St. Vlaast was rebuilt after 1918.
There is a museum of objects collected from the periods of the world wars.
Economy and village life
The economy is one of general farming with the raising of beef. The village has an agricultural cooperative.The village festival is held on the first Sunday of June and there is a festival in honour of the Australians on the last Saturday in April.