Neuville-Saint-Vaast

Neuville-Saint-Vaast
Commune
Town hall and the church
Town hall and the church
Coat of arms of Neuville-Saint-Vaast
Coat of arms
Location of Neuville-Saint-Vaast
Map
Neuville-Saint-Vaast is located in France
Neuville-Saint-Vaast
Neuville-Saint-Vaast
Neuville-Saint-Vaast is located in Hauts-de-France
Neuville-Saint-Vaast
Neuville-Saint-Vaast
Coordinates: 50°21′22″N 2°45′32″E / 50.3561°N 2.7589°E / 50.3561; 2.7589
CountryFrance
RegionHauts-de-France
DepartmentPas-de-Calais
ArrondissementArras
CantonArras-1
IntercommunalityCU Arras
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Jean-Pierre Puchois[1]
Area
1
12.59 km2 (4.86 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
1,603
 • Density130/km2 (330/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
62609 /62580
Elevation81–144 m (266–472 ft)
(avg. 107 m or 351 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Neuville-Saint-Vaast (French pronunciation: [nøvil sɛ̃ va]) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France[3] 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) south of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial dedicated to the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The Memorial was built on Hill 145, the highest point of the ridge[4] to commemorate the battle and the Canadian soldiers who lost their lives during the First World War. The Memorial is also the site of the Canadian Cemetery No. 2, Neuville-St.-Vaast and Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery, Neuville-St.-Vaast.[5][6]

The Neuville-St Vaast German war cemetery (also called Maison Blanche) is the largest in France from WWI, with 44,833 buried here.[7]

Geography

Neuville-Saint-Vaast is 4 miles (6 km) north of Arras. Vimy Ridge rises from Neuville-St.-Vaast to its high point at Hill 145 (the location of the Canadian Memorial), where there is a steep drop off.[6]

History

In World War I, Neuville-Saint-Vaast was the location of intense mining activity by the tunnelling companies of the Royal Engineers. In March 1916, the New Zealand Tunnelling Company relieved the French 7/1 compagnie d'ingénieurs territoriaux in the "Labyrinth" sector of the Western Front. The German "Labyrinth" stronghold was located near Neuville-Saint-Vaast, between Roclincourt and Écurie and not far from Notre Dame de Lorette.[8] On 29 March 1916, the New Zealand Tunnelling Company exchanged position with the 185th Tunnelling Company and moved to Roclincourt-Chantecler, a kilometre south of their old sector.[8] The 176th Tunnelling Company moved to Neuville-Saint-Vaast in April 1916 and remained there for a considerable time,[9] as did the 172nd Tunnelling Company, which was relieved at Neuville-Saint-Vaast by the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company in May 1916.[9]

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968927—    
1975973+0.69%
19821,129+2.15%
19901,295+1.73%
19991,400+0.87%
20071,477+0.67%
20121,510+0.44%
20171,526+0.21%
Source: INSEE[10]

Places of interest

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ INSEE commune file
  4. ^ "Fast Facts - Canadian National Vimy Memorial - Veterans Affairs Canada". 20 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Canadian National Vimy Memorial, France". The Great War UK. 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2017. The ridge runs in a direction from Givenchy-en-Gohelle in the north-west to Farbus in the south-east.
  6. ^ a b "Canadian National Vimy Memorial, France".
  7. ^ "Neuville-Saint-Vaast German Military Cemetery "La Maison Blanche"".
  8. ^ a b Byledbal, Anthony. "New Zealand Tunnelling Company: Chronology". Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  9. ^ a b "The Tunnelling Companies RE". The Long, Long Trail. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  10. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
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