Bavay

Bavay ( Flemish: Beuken ) is a commune with 3480 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) in the department of Nord, in the Nord -Pas -de -Calais.

Geography

Bavay is part of the Regional Park Avesnois. West of the town is the nature reserve of the Carrière Nerviens.

History

Bavay was the capital of the Celtic tribe of Nervians under the name Bagacum Nerviorum and an important road junction in the Roman Empire. Among other things, the Via Belgica ran through Bagacum. At the intersection of ( also known under the collective term Chaussée Brunehaut ) Road was a milestone, which was destroyed in the 17th century and replaced by a column in the 19th century. During the Migration Period, the city was destroyed and no longer regained its former importance. While she was in the Middle Ages as part of the county of Flanders to France, she fell with this at the House of Burgundy and by the marriage of Mary of Burgundy Philip the Fair to the House of Habsburg. Since the Reannexion large parts of the old county of Flanders by Louis XIV Bavay is French again. Because of its border position, it frequently suffered during the wars of the 15th, 16th and 17th century between the French Crown and the House of Habsburg.

Economy

The city hosts Hardware and fertilizer factories and a brewery.