Merville, Nord
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Merville Meregem |
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 Merville
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Location within Hauts-de-France region
Merville
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| Coordinates: 50°38′40″N 2°38′28″E / 50.6444°N 2.6411°ECoordinates: 50°38′40″N 2°38′28″E / 50.6444°N 2.6411°E | ||
| Country | France | |
| Region | Hauts-de-France | |
| Department | Nord | |
| Arrondissement | Dunkerque | |
| Canton | Merville | |
| Intercommunality | Flandre Lys | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor (2008–2014) | Jacques Parent | |
| Area1 | 26.96 km2 (10.41 sq mi) | |
| Population (1999)2 | 8,903 | |
| • Density | 330/km2 (860/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 59400 /59660 | |
| Elevation | 12–19 m (39–62 ft) (avg. 17 m or 56 ft) |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Merville (from Dutch: Meregem) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.
Located at the convergence of a canal system and a canalised river, Merville supported an extensive boat building industry, with many different shipyards and chandlers located in the town. The industry went into decline in the post-war era and is today virtually extinct.
During the course of the First World War the village was completely destroyed. The 6th Jat Light Infantry were billeted here in 1915. The Merville Communal Cemetery and Extension is also located here.
The parish church of St Peter in Merville is a very large capacity parish church, whose dimensions make it a prominent landmark, visible at considerable distances from the town. Merville is a parish of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lille.
The diocesan seminary of the Lille diocese was formerly located in Merville. It is also a very large structure, built on four storeys around a central cloister, with large chapel and refectory, and accommodation for over 200 staff and students. With decreasing numbers of vocations the seminary closed in 1970. The extensive buildings were briefly occupied by a community of religious sisters, and then became the Lille diocese's retreat and conference centre, a role in which it is still employed today.
The main town square is dominated by the town hall (Hôtel de Ville), which is built in the Flemish Renaissance style. It incorporates a very tall clock tower, with a working public clock.
The town hall in Merville.
The parish church of St Peter in Merville.
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Wikipedia