Athies, Pas-de-Calais

Athies () is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.

Geography

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-gatherers. <br> In 1493, the village was looted and burned by German soldiers from the garrison of Arras. <br> 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. Whilst many churches were destroyed during this time, this new church was spared. <br>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.

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 cemetery.

See also

• Communes of the Pas-de-Calais department

References

External links

• Athies official website
• Commonwealth war graves – Athies cemetery
• The Scottish monument