Neuville-Saint-Vaast

Neuville-Saint-Vaast (French pronunciation: [nøvil sɛ̃ va]) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France^[3] 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) south of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial dedicated to the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The Memorial was built on Hill 145, the highest point of the ridge^[4] to commemorate the battle and the Canadian soldiers who lost their lives during the First World War. The Memorial is also the site of the Canadian Cemetery No. 2, Neuville-St.-Vaast and Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery, Neuville-St.-Vaast.^[5][6]

Neuville-Saint-Vaast
Commune
Town hall and the church
Coat of arms
Location of Neuville-Saint-Vaast
Neuville-Saint-Vaast Show map of France Neuville-Saint-Vaast Show map of Hauts-de-France
Coordinates: 50°21′22″N 2°45′32″E
Country	France
Region	Hauts-de-France
Department	Pas-de-Calais
Arrondissement	Arras
Canton	Arras-1
Intercommunality	CU Arras
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Jean-Pierre Puchois[1]
Area 1	12.59 km2 (4.86 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	1,626
• Density	130/km2 (330/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	62609 /62580
Elevation	81–144 m (266–472 ft) (avg. 107 m or 351 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The Neuville-St Vaast German war cemetery (also called Maison Blanche) is the largest in France from WWI, with 44,833 buried here.^[7]

Geography

Neuville-Saint-Vaast is 4 miles (6 km) north of Arras. Vimy Ridge rises from Neuville-St.-Vaast to its high point at Hill 145 (the location of the Canadian Memorial), where there is a steep drop off.^[6]

History

In World War I, Neuville-Saint-Vaast was the location of intense mining activity by the tunnelling companies of the Royal Engineers. In March 1916, the New Zealand Tunnelling Company relieved the French 7/1 compagnie d'ingénieurs territoriaux in the "Labyrinth" sector of the Western Front. The German "Labyrinth" stronghold was located near Neuville-Saint-Vaast, between Roclincourt and Écurie and not far from Notre Dame de Lorette.^[8] On 29 March 1916, the New Zealand Tunnelling Company exchanged position with the 185th Tunnelling Company and moved to Roclincourt-Chantecler, a kilometre south of their old sector.^[8] The 176th Tunnelling Company moved to Neuville-Saint-Vaast in April 1916 and remained there for a considerable time,^[9] as did the 172nd Tunnelling Company, which was relieved at Neuville-Saint-Vaast by the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company in May 1916.^[9]

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	927	—
1975	973	+0.69%
1982	1,129	+2.15%
1990	1,295	+1.73%
1999	1,400	+0.87%
2007	1,477	+0.67%
2012	1,510	+0.44%
2017	1,526	+0.21%
Source: INSEE[10]

Places of interest

• Canadian National Vimy Memorial
• Neuville-St Vaast German war cemetery

Notable people

• Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, sculptor, died in the fighting here on the 5 June 1915.
• François Hennebique, an inventor of reinforced concrete, was born here on the 26 April 1842.

See also

• Communes of the Pas-de-Calais department
• Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery
• Canadian Cemetery No. 2
• Neuville-St Vaast German war cemetery
• Battle of Vimy Ridge