Again,now on firmly in family territory,we have arrived at Caudry, about 1h11 from Lille, Many memories now visiting older brother of my dear late wife Martine,,, and many visits before moving west o Morbihan, It has been a while to gather strengths but glad finally here, This is the continuation of wonderful sights in the dept 59 Nord of the region of Hauts de France, and in my belle France , Therefore, let me tell you about the curiosities of Caudry !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The town of Caudry is located in the département 59 or Nord in the region of Hauts-de-France of my belle France. Caudry shares with Calais the title of the world Capital of Lace of Calais design to go into high fashion garments. The town is ,also, named City of Occupations and Arts in 1995. It is located about 14 km from Cambrai, and 62 km from Lille , 9.5 km from Cateau-Cambrésis, 28 km from Valenciennes and 32 km from Saint-Quentin. It is south of the D643 road, ( old N43) that links Cambrai with Charleville-Mézières.
The Hôtel de Ville or city/town hall of Caudry. The main body of the city/town hall was built in 1875 and it was in 1911 that the two wings were added to the building. It was also at this time that the pediments that crown it were made. During , WWI, the German Kommandatur was established there, and the building was damaged by shrapnel. Today, this elegant neoclassical building dominates the town square at Place General de Gaulle.
The theater of Caudry is open to all artistic disciplines. It has 500 seats and a 13-meters opening stage, it mainly hosts shows included in the Scènes Mitoyennes program but also amateur theater or dance performances with local associations and schools as well as conferences. Its optimum acoustic quality and comfort, on stage and in the room, make it an exceptional place for live performances. Indeed family have played here especially the wife’s brother !!
Right by the above theater you have the Cinema Le Millenium is located in the heart of the town and open since May 30, 2001. And yes , we were there on opening time !!! memories of local family gathering and goings out, Of course, do not remember the movie lol !! Originally equipped with a 193-seat room, it was expanded with a second screen room of 407 seats,
Let me tell you more about Caudry and a bit of history I like. If the origins of Caudry are not precisely known, they seem to date back at least to the Merovingian era, since it is at this time that the numerous stories that have been told place the martyrdom of Maxellende , According to this story Maxellende, from a family landed aristocracy was born in Villa Calderiacensis, today Caudry. In the 8C the relics of the saint were transported to the Saint Martin abbey in Cambrai. It was in the 10C that Bishop Rothard had the shrine installed in the cathedral of Cambrai and Maxellende became, with Saint Géry, the secondary patroness of the diocese. Finally, in the 11C, the relics were donated by the bishop Gérard at the Saint-André du Cateau abbey (see post) which he had founded. They only returned to Caudry during the French revolution, in 1791.
Caudry was annexed by the Kingdom of France with the whole of Cambrésis by the Treaty of Nijmegen signed in 1678, after the capture of Cambrai by Louis XIV in 1677. When the departments were created in 1793, Caudry was attached to the district of Cambrai in the Nord department. In 1794, an army of the Convention commanded by General René-Bernard Chapuis attempted to free Landrecies besieged by Austro-English allies. On April 26, the French columns encountered the enemy southeast of Caudry, between Audencourt and Tronquoy, and were severely beaten.
In 1826, Placide Gabet installed the first loom in Caudry. As early as 1833, the Statistical Directory of the Nord Department reported in Caudry 20 cotton fabric factories, 7 tulle factories and a tulle loom factory. In 1838, Théophile Tofflin began manufacturing fancy tulle. From 1850, looms powered by steam was done here. The first guipure loom was installed in 1865, Prosperity finally came in the 1880s: the industrial growth of France, the taste for luxury, the craze for lace in women’s fashion favored the Caudresian industry,
During the Great War or WWI, Caudry and Cambrésis were occupied by German troops for almost the entire duration of the conflict. German troops entered the town on the morning of August 27, 1914. Requisitions were numerous, and factory equipment was looted, notably for copper, lead, tin which the Germans lacked. The city was liberated by the 37th English division on October 10, 1918. The WWII, in September 1939, put a further halt to the economic recovery of the late 1930s. The city suffered a new German-Nazis occupation from May 18 1940, The American 5th Armored Division entered Caudry on September 3, 1944, Despite the resumption of the manufacture of tulle, lace and embroidery after the two wars, 60% of the companies existing in 1914 had disappeared by 1953.
Caudry has an underground passage dug in the chalk, probably around the 10C, intended to shelter the population or livestock during invasions . Remained ignored until 1847, it was made accessible following a collapse and restored by Jean -Adolphe Prioux, the mayor at the time. This underground went in three directions. The part of the underground located under Rue de la Paix had 14 rooms on either side of a main gallery located 13 meters deep over a length of 74 meters. This gallery was 1.40 meters wide and 2.10 meters high. In 1916-1917, subsidence of the ground on the square allowed the Germans to rediscover a large part of the underground which was cleared and shored up. The whole thing was used as an ammunition depot. During their retreat in 1918, the Germans blew up the entrance and part of the cavity.
The city of Caudry and its theater: https://www.caudry.fr/fr/se-cultiver-a-caudry/le-theatre.html
The local Cambrai-Caudry tourist office on the city hall:: https://www.tourisme-cambresis.fr/hotel-ville-caudry.html
The official Cinema Le Millenium : http://le-millenium.fr/
There you go folks, a dandy wonderful road warrior ride that we love it much, This time in the north of France and just lovely, Family area and memories flashing, but glad I did it . Again, hope you enjoy the post on the curiosities of Caudry as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 