Le Portel
Encyclopedia
Le Portel is a commune
in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.
town situated about 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of Boulogne town centre, at the junction of the D236 and D119 roads. It has a beach and the white cliffs of the English coast can be seen across the sea on clear days.
. It became an independent municipality on June 13, 1856 by an imperial decree of Napoleon III.
In the 19th century, flint
tools were discovered in the centre of the village, by the river near the Hamel Bridge, evidence of the long occupation of the site. A Gallo-Roman cemetery has been excavated in the hamlet of Châtillon.
Of agricultural origin, it grew rapidly during the 19th century because of fishing, along with the nearby port of Boulogne-sur-Mer
. Sailors of Portel were as numerous as those of Boulogne before World War I. In 1841, two Le Portel sailors were on the ship Belle Poule
, that brought back the remains of Napoleon.
During the Second World War, on 8 and 9 September 1943, Le Portel suffered as part of Operation Fortitude
, a diversionary manoeuvre by the Allies
to fool the Germans
into believing the possibility of a landing on the English Channel. The bombings, which destroyed nearly 90% of homes, also killed more than 500 people. On 12 August 1944, Charles de Gaulle
was at Le Portel for its liberation. The town received the Croix de guerre
with silver star for its sacrifice.
, France Stockelsdorf
, Germany Kawara, Burkina Faso
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 of France.
Geography
Le Portel is a tourist, fishing and light industrialLight industry
Light industry is usually less capital intensive than heavy industry, and is more consumer-oriented than business-oriented...
town situated about 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of Boulogne town centre, at the junction of the D236 and D119 roads. It has a beach and the white cliffs of the English coast can be seen across the sea on clear days.
History
Le Portel translates as "the little port." The original Le Portel was a hamlet east of the town of OutreauOutreau
Outreau is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Outreau is a large industrial town and port situated adjacent to, and west of Boulogne, on the N1, N142 and D19 roads...
. It became an independent municipality on June 13, 1856 by an imperial decree of Napoleon III.
In the 19th century, flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
tools were discovered in the centre of the village, by the river near the Hamel Bridge, evidence of the long occupation of the site. A Gallo-Roman cemetery has been excavated in the hamlet of Châtillon.
Of agricultural origin, it grew rapidly during the 19th century because of fishing, along with the nearby port of Boulogne-sur-Mer
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
. Sailors of Portel were as numerous as those of Boulogne before World War I. In 1841, two Le Portel sailors were on the ship Belle Poule
Belle Poule
-Ships:The ships are:* the 26-gun frigate Belle Poule , famous for her duel against the English frigate HMS Arethusa on 17 June 1778, which started the French intervention in the American War of Independence; the British 64-gun ship of the line HMS Nonsuch captured her in 1780 and she was broken up...
, that brought back the remains of Napoleon.
During the Second World War, on 8 and 9 September 1943, Le Portel suffered as part of Operation Fortitude
Operation Fortitude
Operation Fortitude was the codename for a World War II military deception employed by the Allied nations as part of an overall deception strategy during the build up to the 1944 Normandy Landings...
, a diversionary manoeuvre by the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
to fool the Germans
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
into believing the possibility of a landing on the English Channel. The bombings, which destroyed nearly 90% of homes, also killed more than 500 people. On 12 August 1944, Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
was at Le Portel for its liberation. The town received the Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
with silver star for its sacrifice.
Population
Places of interest
- Two twentieth century churches.
- Fort de l'Heurt, built from 1803/1805 by order of Napoleon Bonaparte.
- Fort d'Alprech, built in 1883.
- The lighthouseLighthouseA lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
. - The Fort de Couppes 1883 .
- The Atlantic WallAtlantic WallThe Atlantic Wall was an extensive system of coastal fortifications built by Nazi Germany between 1942 and 1944 along the western coast of Europe as a defense against an anticipated Allied invasion of the mainland continent from Great Britain.-History:On March 23, 1942 Führer Directive Number 40...
German fortress.
Notable people
- Alfred DesenclosAlfred DésenclosAlfred Desenclos was a French composer of classical music. Desenclos was a self-described "romantic" whose music is highly expressive and atmospheric and rooted in rigorous compositional technique....
, composer, was born here. - Lucien LeducLucien LeducLucien Leduc was a French football midfielder and a manager.-Titles:*As a player**French championship in 1947 with CO Roubaix-Tourcoing**Coupe de France 1949 with RC Paris*As a coach...
, football player, was born here.
Twin towns
Portel-des-CorbièresPortel-des-Corbières
Portel-des-Corbières is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, France Stockelsdorf
Stockelsdorf
Stockelsdorf is a municipality in the district of Ostholstein, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated directly northwest of Lübeck. There is a large glass pyramid in the town center, which is a greek restaurant. Stockelsdorf has one primary- and one middle-school.-Partner towns: Le Portel,...
, Germany Kawara, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...