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 |
History
Béthune is located in the former province of Artois.
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.
Notable people
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
See also
References
External links
- Béthune city council website (in French)
- Béthune on Heritage Towns
- "Histoire de Béthune" (in French)
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