NÅ“ux-les-Mines

Nœux -les -Mines is a commune with 12,242 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Pas -de- Calais, in the Nord -Pas -de -Calais. It is the capital of the eponymous canton in the Pas -de- Calais, with around 25,000 inhabitants. The place is also part of the Communauté de Communes de Nœux et Environs ( CCNE ), which consists of six municipalities.

History

The first known name of today's Nœux -les -Mines was in the 4th century Vitris. This settlement was destroyed by the Normans in 882. In the 10th century a new village was built on the same site, the Noewe was named. It was in the small province of La Gohelle, which belonged to the province of Artois himself. In the vicinity of the village, especially agriculture was operated, but there are also signs that related activities such as grain milling, sugar manufacture or brewing beer were exercised.

Because of spelling mistakes was from Noewe over time initially Noeux -lez- Béthune. After 1850 discovered an underground coal reserves and in 1851 began work on the first coal mine was - at that time Noeux had about 1100 inhabitants - the place obtained in 1887 its current, related to the mining names. The community has since experienced a strong increase in population up to 14070 in 1962., The coal mines were closed 1956-1968.

One of the old dumps has been converted into an artificial ski slope, which went into operation in 1996.

Personalities

Nœux -les -Mines is the birthplace of the French football player Raymond Kopa and was from 1925 residence of the Polish-born French painter Ladislas Kijno.