Norrent-Fontes
Encyclopedia
Norrent-Fontes is a commune
in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France
.
and 33 miles (53.1 km) west of Lille
, at the junction of the D94 and D91 roads. The A26 autoroute
passes through the commune.
as Norremum, later as Norrem, in 1211 and then Norrenc in 1240. The hamlet of Fontes was known as Adfondenis in 654. After the French Revolution
, the commune was created from the village of Norrent and the three hamlets of Fontes, Goulay and Malznoi.
Between the two world wars, the commune was home to one of the biggest military airfields in northern France. Abandoned in 1940, the site was reused by the Germans to launch V1
missiles towards London
, in 1944. The remains are still visible from the Rely
road.
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
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
Norrent-Fontes is situated some 10 miles (16.1 km) northwest of BéthuneBéthune
Béthune is a city in northern France, sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department.-Geography:Béthune is located in the former province of Artois. It is situated South-East of Calais, West of Lille, and North of Paris.-Landmarks:...
and 33 miles (53.1 km) west of Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, at the junction of the D94 and D91 roads. The A26 autoroute
A26 autoroute
The A26 is a long French motorway connecting Calais and Troyes. It is also known as the Autoroute des Anglais as it is the main route from the Dover-Calais ferries and the Channel Tunnel to most parts of France and often contains large numbers of British cars, particularly during the summer...
passes through the commune.
History
Known to the RomansAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
as Norremum, later as Norrem, in 1211 and then Norrenc in 1240. The hamlet of Fontes was known as Adfondenis in 654. After the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, the commune was created from the village of Norrent and the three hamlets of Fontes, Goulay and Malznoi.
Between the two world wars, the commune was home to one of the biggest military airfields in northern France. Abandoned in 1940, the site was reused by the Germans to launch V1
V-1 flying bomb
The V-1 flying bomb, also known as the Buzz Bomb or Doodlebug, was an early pulse-jet-powered predecessor of the cruise missile....
missiles towards London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in 1944. The remains are still visible from the Rely
Rely
Rely may refer to:Meaning: Depend*Rely , a brand of tampon*Rely, Pas-de-Calais, a commune in France*Chery Automobile brand, Rely...
road.
Population
| 1962 | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 | 1999 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1280 | 1343 | 1401 | 1490 | 1499 | 1444 | 1460 |
| Census count starting from 1962: Population without duplicates | ||||||
Places of interest
- The church of St. Vaast, dating from the sixteenth century.
- Two old mills and some ancient houses.
- The war memorial.