Le Parcq () is a

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 ...

in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region 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 ...

Geography

Le Parcq lies about 18 miles (29 km) southeast of

Montreuil-sur-Mer Montreuil (; also nl, Monsterole), also known as Montreuil-sur-Mer (; pcd, Montreu-su-Mér or , literally ''Montreuil on Sea''), is a sub-prefecture in the Pas-de-Calais department, northern France. It is located on the Canche river, not far fr ...

, on the N39 road, in the valley of the

Ternoise The river Ternoise (; nl, Ternaas) is one of the small chalk streams that flow from the plateau of the southern Boulonnais and Picardy, via the Canche, into the English Channel. The basin of the Ternoise extends to and lies in the southern en ...

river.

Administration

On 1 January 2007, Le Parcq became part of the arrondissement of Montreuil, with the other communes of the then canton of Le Parcq. Previously, Le Parcq was in the arrondissement of Arras.Commune du Parcq (62647)
INSEE At the French canton reorganisation which came into effect in March 2015, the canton of Le Parcq was disbanded and its communes became part of the canton of Auxi-le-Château.Décret n° 2014-233 du 24 février 2014 portant délimitation des cantons dans le département du Pas-de-Calais
/ref>

Population

History

The establishment of Le Parcq dates from the founding of a castle (on the south border of the village to

Vieil-Hesdin Vieil-Hesdin (Eng: Old-Hesdin) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France. Geography Vieil-Hesdin is situated 6 kilometres southeast of Hesdin, on the banks of the river Canche on the D 340 highway. His ...

) by

Baldwin I of Constantinople Baldwin I ( nl, Boudewijn; french: Baudouin; July 1172 – ) was the first Emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople; Count of Flanders (as Baldwin IX) from 1194 to 1205 and Count of Hainaut (as Baldwin VI) from 1195-1205. Baldwin was ...

or Baudouin IX, Count of Flanders in about 1208. It was a wooden enclosure surrounded by walls within which wild animals were placed in large numbers. In 1329, portcullises were installed at all the gates of the castle. Unfortunately, in 1335, Edward III destroyed the castle just before the start of the Hundred Years War. This destruction was continued in 1337 by

Charles III of Navarre Charles III (1361 – 8 September 1425), called the Noble, was King of Navarre from 1387 to his death and Count of Évreux from 1387 to 1404, when he exchanged it for the title Duke of Nemours. He spent his reign improving the infrastructure of ...

who brought down the walls. In 1395, Philip II of Burgundy restored the castle walls. Several people were employed daily to feed the animals in the park which also had a vast falconry centre and two fishing lakes. The park totalled 940

hectare The hectare (; SI symbol: ha) is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to a square with 100- metre sides (1 hm2), or 10,000 m2, and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. An acre is ...

s with a perimeter of approximately 8 miles (13 km), opening onto the outside world by many gates. After the destruction of

in) 1553 by

Charles V Charles V may refer to: * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) * Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain * Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise * Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (1643–1690) * Infa ...

, the park was, at the initiative of

Philippe V of France Philip V (c. 1293 – 3 January 1322), known as the Tall (french: Philippe le Long), was King of France and Navarre (as Philip II) from 1316 to 1322. Philip was the second son of King Philip IV of France and Queen Joan I of Navarre. He was grant ...

, made the parkland available to those displaced by the fall of the old town, who wished to build new homes on the parkland. To attract more people, tax benefits were given, on February 25, 1586 to all those moving into the area. Thus, the park became a village, originally known as Parc-lès-Hesdin. The municipality was formally recognized in 1670 and on February 8, 1816, Le Parcq also became chef-lieu of the canton by royal decree.

Places of interest

* The Château d'Estruval * The sixteenth century church of St.Nicholas. * Notre Dame de Bon Secours chapel dating from 1871 * Notre Dame du Chêne chapel. * Château of

dating from the eleventh century.

References