Loos-en-Gohelle

Loos -en- Gohelle is a commune with 6713 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) in the Pas -de- Calais, in the Nord -Pas -de -Calais. It belongs to the district of Lens, the District of Lens -Nord -Ouest and the metropolitan region Lens- Liévin.

Geography

Loos is located in the north of France. The municipality borders on its south-eastern edge directly to the city of Lens, and together with this and several surrounding communities a closed settlement pattern.

History

The place was in 1071 for the first time mentioned. The community name bears since 1937 an addition, which relates to its environment in order to prevent confusion with Loos in the department of Nord.

During the First World War, the Battle of Loos (Battle of Loos ) was held from September 25 1915 to October 14, 1915 in the surroundings of the village. The poet Charles Sorley (1895-1915) was killed during this battle on 13 October near Hulluch by a sniper. The Musée Alexandre Villedieu recalls the events of that time.

In Loos coal was mined from 1855 to 1986. Two waste heaps dominate the landscape today. Also one of the fields in the municipal coat of arms refers to this fact: two Bergman pimples intersect behind a miner's lamp.

On June 30, 2012, the mines of the Nord-Pas de Calais region, including the slag heaps of Loos were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.