To defend its territory and constitute its army, the French Republic engaged into deep military reforms after French-Prussian war. Numerous military buildings were then built or modernized.

Between 1914 and 1918, the Nord and Pas-de-Calais geographical areas met numerous difficulties. About 70% of the Nord and 25% of the Pas-de-Calais had to face a strong German occupation. On the west part of the front line, the territory became a strategic place for the allied armies, landing on Calais, Boulogne and Dunkerque. With such terrible...

The unexpected and lasting resistance of Maubeuge during its siege in 1914 led to a controversy around General Fournier through the twentieth century.

Biographic dictionary of the archaeologists of the region "HAUTS DE FRANCE", native of our five departments or who searched there as these officers of the German or British troops. We will thus find known names as Boucher de Perthes, Auguste Mariette but also names of numerous volunteer archaeologists.

The obligation made for people of law to lead the beggars in the prisons of the closest city raises the question of the confinement in the big cities of the provinces of the North. In France, the royal State believes to remedy these difficulties by the edict of June, 1662 ordering the creation of a general hospital in every city of the kingdom. The

From 1940 till the end of the Second World War, the Nord Pas-de-Calais region faced numerous waves of destruction. Reconstructing the area presented itself as a difficult process and complicated an already problematic situation, for indeed, as early as 1939, some Northern cities were already in desperate need of modernization.

From 1565 till 1569, a major rebellion took hold of the Flandre, Hainaut and Artois provinces. Noblemen came together and militated against the policies led by the king of Spain, Philip II, and his ministers. Soon, the rebels were given the nickname "Les Gueux" (or beggars), a derogatory term which they yet proudly reclaimed.