Does the name Flines-lez-Raches ring a bell? Flines-lez-Raches is a French commune in the Nord department. It sits in the Hauts-de-France region. Let’s delve into the story of this town.
Flines-lez-Raches history is long. Its name has evolved over time. Before 1802 it was simply Flines. From 1803 to 1806 it was Flines-lez-Marchiennes. Then from 1807 to September 1813 it became Flines-lez-Raches. For a period it was once again Flines-lez-Marchiennes. Since February 1848 it has been known as Flines-lez-Raches.
The name Flines may come from the Germanic verb flean. Fleean and flihen mean to flow. Flines sits on the left bank of the Scarpe. It is near the vast marsh of the Six-Villes. This made Flines prone to flooding.
Legend says children once found Roman coins in a lake. This lake was called the Mer de Flines. About 400 coins were discovered. They dated from different periods of the Roman Empire. Some coins were Gaulish. Two were made of gold. An ancient boat was also found here.
Archaeological digs in 2008 uncovered a tile production center. It dates back to the Gallo-Roman era. This discovery was made on the boulevard des Alliés. The site included several buildings dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries. These buildings were tile workshops. One measured 6.50 meters by 20 meters. It had a tile-paved floor. There were also traces of terracotta pipes.
During World War I Flines-lez-Raches was occupied by German troops. This started in September 1914. The town became a rear base. The Kommandantur was set up opposite the town hall. A curfew was imposed. The Germans requisitioned supplies. These included livestock food wood and metals. In 1917 they stripped the church of its bells.
The Maison des Dames de Flins became a barracks. Later it was a Lazarett a military hospital. The Duthoit-Soufflet refractory brick factory became a stable. It housed cavalry horses. The Desprez farm became a dairy farm. It included a cheese production workshop. The Lespagnol brewery was requisitioned. It became a slaughter center for the German army. The Halimbourg-Akar clothing factory became a repair shop. Here weapons and cannons were fixed. The Dubus earthenware factory became a prison. Schools were used as warehouses. They stored food and military equipment. A cinema for the troops operated in the École Saint-Michel’s hall.
Flines-lez-Raches has several notable sites. These include the Saint-Michel church and the Notre-Dame-de-Pellevoisin church. Also worth a look is the Mer de Flines. It is a place known for artifacts buried within it. The town was once crossed by a railway line. Today only the station building remains. An old abbey was demolished during the Revolution.
Flines-lez-Raches is also known for its folklore. The town’s giants are named Prosper Prosperine Marcel and Saint-Michel.
Flines-lez-Raches has a rich history and unique character. The town’s story is etched in its heritage. It is also seen in its resilience through times of conflict. Flines-lez-Raches is a place where the past and present intertwine. Its residents are called Flinois.