Pas de Calais
Pas-de-Calais is a département of northern France.
Administration
Pas-de-Calais constitutes, along with the neighbouring département of Nord, the region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais.
History
Pas-de-Calais was created in 1790 out of the former provinces of the coastal Boulonnais and Artois to the east.
Some of the costliest battles of World War I were fought here. At Vimy Ridge is Canada's most important memorial to its fallen soldiers.
The Pas-de-Calais was also the subject of Operation Fortitude during World War II, which was an Allied plan to deceive OKW that the invasion of Europe was to occur here, rather than in Normandy.
Geography
Its principal towns are, on the coast, Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer, and in Artois, Lens, Liévin, Arras and Saint-Omer.
Some of the municipalities of the department include: Annay-sous-Lens, Aubigny-en-Artois, Audruicq, Barlin, Bénifontaine, Bertincourt, Bourthes, Cambrin, Carency, Cauchy-à-la-Tour, Croisilles, Dainville, Desvres, Divion, Dourges, Douvrin, Équihen-Plage, Fauquembergues, Fruges, Givenchy en Gohelle.
Economy
Demographics
Culture
Miscellaneous topics
