Béthune

Béthune is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, where the Lawe River meets the Aire Canal. The central square is dominated by a medieval belfry rising 47 meters (154 feet) high, surrounded by buildings with Flemish and Art Deco elements.

The town suffered heavy damage in May 1918 from German bombardments, which killed over 100 civilians and destroyed much of the medieval fabric. Reconstruction shaped the townscape with a mix of traditional and modern design elements that remain visible today.

Local residents keep alive a tradition of parading large figures through the streets, where men hidden under enormous skirts push these structures while music plays. These processions connect generations and show the communal spirit of the people.

The railway station offers seven daily TGV connections to Paris, along with regional trains to neighboring towns in northern France. The central market square and surrounding streets are easy to explore on foot.

The belfry lost its original clock, but local craftsmen installed a new clock face with modern mechanisms during reconstruction. The canals that thread through the town were originally laid out to transport coal from nearby mines.

Location: arrondissement of Béthune

Location: Pas-de-Calais

Location: Communauté d'agglomération de Béthune-Bruay, Artois-Lys Romane

Elevation above the sea: 25 m

Shares border with: Annezin, Beuvry, Essars, Fouquereuil, Fouquières-lès-Béthune, Verquigneul, Verquin

Address: Béthune, France

Website: https://bethune.fr

GPS coordinates: 50.53095,2.63933

Latest update: December 13, 2025 18:21