Bavay

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Bavay is a town and commune of northern France in the département of Nord, 15 m. E.S.E. of Valenciennes by railway.

[edit] History

Under the name of Bagacum or Bavacum, the town was the capital of the Nervii and, under the Roman Empire, an important center of roads, the meeting-place of which was marked by a milestone, destroyed in the 17th century and replaced in the 19th century by a column. Bavay was destroyed during the barbarian invasions and never recovered its old importance. It suffered much during the wars of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. One of the Roman highways connected Bavay to Tongeren via the relay of Liberchies, and later on continued to Cologne.

[edit] Economy

The town carries on the manufacture of iron goods and of fertilizers.

[edit] References

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

This article is largely based on the article in the out-of-copyright 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, which was produced in 1911. It should be brought up to date to reflect subsequent history or scholarship (including the references, if any). When you have completed the review, replace this notice with a simple note on this article's talk page. Thanks!