commune
A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to:
Administrative-territorial entities
* Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township
** Communes of ...
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
A village located 2 miles (3 km) east of Arras at the junction of the D37 and D42 roads.
History
Initially, Athies was called ''Atheiae'', a word taken from Latin which means ’’hut’’, which indicates than it was a marshy area with shacks for fishermen or
peat
Peat (), also known as turf (), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem covers and is the most efficient ...
-gatherers.
In 1493, the village was looted and burned by German soldiers from the garrison of Arras.
A castle stood at the place now called "the Barony". The old church that was destroyed during the 1914-18 war had been built in 1786 just before the
French Revolution
The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in coup of 18 Brumaire, November 1799. Many of its ...
. Whilst many churches were destroyed during this time, this new church was spared. The village was invaded several times over the centuries, especially by the Spanish in the 17th century and was all but destroyed during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
.
Population
Sights
* The Scottish Monument. Along the Arras - Douai road, the N50, stands a monument created on orders of officers of the 9th Scots Division in memory of the sacrifices made during the First World War.
* The church of St.Christopher, dating from the twentieth century.
* The
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...