Istres

Istres is a town with 42 943 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) in the French department of Bouches -du -Rhône in the Provence- Alpes- Côte d' Azur.

History

The city is 966 mentioned the peacemakers: for the first time as Ystrio on a map of Conrad. Findings, however, show that people settled at this point since the 5th century BC. In the 12th century, the city stronghold of the Lords of Beaux.

Air Force Base

Istres is known by the Air Force Base Base aérienne 125 Istres -Le Tube. The 5000 meter long airstrip was also an emergency landing of the Space Shuttle. Also found here trials of the Airbus 340-600 instead. The French Air Force, stationed mainly aircraft types Dassault Mirage 2000 and Boeing C -135. The base is also the location of nuclear weapons, the force de frappe. Internationally known is also the flight test center of the SNECMA on the site.

Twinning

Istres is connected by a twinning with the German town of Radolfzell am Bodensee in Baden- Württemberg.