Vitry-en-Artois
| Vitry-en-Artois | |
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 Vitry-en-Artois
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Location within Hauts-de-France region
Vitry-en-Artois
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| Coordinates: 50°19′35″N 2°59′02″E / 50.3264°N 2.9839°ECoordinates: 50°19′35″N 2°59′02″E / 50.3264°N 2.9839°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Hauts-de-France |
| Department | Pas-de-Calais |
| Arrondissement | Arras |
| Canton | Vitry-en-Artois |
| Intercommunality | Osartis |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2008–2014) | Personne |
| Area1 | 18.78 km2 (7.25 sq mi) |
| Population (2006)2 | 4,441 |
| • Density | 240/km2 (610/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 62865 /62490 |
| Elevation | 41–72 m (135–236 ft) (avg. 48 m or 157 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.
Vitry-en-Artois is a commune and in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France.
Vitry-en-Artois is situated some 12 miles (19.3 km) northeast of Arras, at the junction of the N50, D39 and the D42 roads. The river Scarpe flows through the town, which is also served by the SNCF railway. The World War II German airfield was later used by the Americans, then after the war, was put to commercial use as the local aerodrome.
The origin of the name comes from the Celtic, ‘’Vic’’ which means "castle" and ‘Ac’’ which means "at the water's edge". It appears later as "Victoriacum" mentioned in the 7th century. Middle stone age tools have been found in the area.
It was occupied by the Romans, until around the year 360 AD when Saint-Martin built a church here.
Aerial photography has revealed an isolated circular ditch monument at Vitry. The Merovingian villa of Vitry was an important Neustrian seat, preferred to Arras. At Vitry, even as the nobles of Neustria were raising Sigibert I in triumph on his shield, he was murdered by hirelings of his brother Chilperic's third wife, Fredegunda, November–December 575. His son, the infant Clotaire II was taken to safety from the palace at Cambrai to Vitry to be raised in seclusion and security, according to Gregory of Tours.
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Wikipedia