Béthune

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

See also Mary McLeod Bethune

For the person, see Norman Bethune

Béthune is a city and commune of northern France, sous-préfecture of the Pas-de-Calais département. It is the administrative center of the Communauté d'agglomération de l'Artois, which gathers 58 communes, and has a total population of approximately 200,000. In the 1999 census, Béthune had a population of 27,808.

Contents 1 History 2 Sights 3 Miscellaneous 4 External links

[edit] History

Béthune is located in the former province of Artois.

[edit] Sights

Béthune is famous for its Beffroi (tower in the central square of the city).

[edit] Miscellaneous

Béthune was the birthplace of:

• Jean Buridan, probably born in Béthune (1300-1358), philosopher who sowed the seeds of religious scepticism in Europe
• Antoine Busnois, born near Béthune (c.1430-1492), composer and poet of the early Renaissance Burgundian School
• Jérôme Leroy (1974-?), Former captain of RC Lens and current Beitar Jerusalem midfielder in Israel.
• Pierre de Manchicourt (c. 1510-1564), composer of the Renaissance.
• Nicolas Fauvergue (born October 13, 1984), footballer

Béthune is also associated with the following historic personalities:

• Maximilien de Béthune, duc de Sully (1560 - 1641), French general and statesman.
• Conon de Béthune (c.1150 - 1220), crusader and "trouvère" poet

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Béthune

• Béthune city council website (in French)
• http://www.theotherside.co.uk/tm-heritage/towns/bethune.htm
• "Historique de Béthune" (in French)