Douai, Medieval commune in Nord department, France
Douai is a commune in the Nord department that stretches along the Scarpe River and features a Gothic belfry rising above the old town rooftops. Cobbled streets wind through the center, where brick houses from the 17th and 18th centuries line small squares.
The town grew during the Middle Ages as a trading center for textiles under Flemish rule, before being taken by French troops in 1667. Later the area developed into a center for coal mining, which shaped the surrounding landscape well into the 20th century.
The local name derives from a Celtic word for water, a reminder of the marshy landscape that once shaped the area. Today residents gather in the square facing the belfry, where weekly markets take place and small cafés invite visitors to linger.
The old town is easy to explore on foot, since most sites sit within a compact area. The railway station offers direct connections to larger cities like Lille and Paris, making arrival straightforward.
The local university welcomed English Catholics fleeing persecution in the 16th century and trained priests who later returned secretly to England. The Collegium Anglicum became an important refuge for exiles from the British Isles.
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