Dunkirk

Its history:
Created by Flemish fishermen in the VIIth century.
The literal meaning of Dunkirk is "the church in the dunes".
Traditionally an industrial town, it has been able to reconcile economic growth (7,000 jobs have been created over 10 years) and the preservation of its living standards and environment within an original "sustainable development" scheme for which it was awarded a first prize in Europe.

Access:
By car
Paris-Lille (A1), Lille-Dunkirk (A25)
1 hr. from Brussels (A16),
2 hrs. from London (via the Channel Tunnel)

By air:
Calais-Dunkirk airport (20 min.) and Lille-Lesquin (50 min.)

By train
By TGV (High-speed train): Paris-Dunkirk in 1 1/2 hrs.

The Mayor is Michel DELEBARRE

He is also a former Minister of State, President of the Regional Council, Nord / Pas-de-Calais, Mayor of Dunkirk and President of the Dunkirk Urban Community.

Other key figures in the town's history
Jean Bart (1650-1702), the most famous of all France's pirates.

Not to be missed:
- The Dunkirk carnival (February to March)
- The "Four days of Dunkirk" (May)
- International flea market (Ascension)
- "Parc Coquelle" Festival (June) - Fort de Petite-Synthe Festival (June)
- "Le Jour des Etoiles" (Day of the stars) (June)
- Firework displays (July-August)
- Open market on 15th August and Blessing of the Sea
- Festival of the "Mouette rieuses" (Laughing seagull) (shows and street festivities in August)
- The "Boucles Dunkerquoises" (September)
- The Saint-Martin Festival (November)
- Cinema Festival (November-December)
- Christmas markets

Specialities:
Every year, Dunkirk welcomes over 6 million tourists to its 7 kilometres of fine, sandy beaches.

Gastronomic speciality: "Potjevlesh" (jellied meats)

Ranked second in 1997 by the newspaper "L'Equipe" challenge for the most sporting towns in France.
Dunkirk has an Olympic-sized pool, an 18-hole golf course, a regional sailing centre, three pleasure ports and an ice rink.

It has also recently obtained numerous distinctions for its cultural dynamism. The town boasts a school of art that is among the best known in France, and a national theatre "le Bateau feu".
Dunkirk is also the home of the Contemporary Art Fund of the Nord / Pas-de-Calais region, and several museums including a museum of the port alongside the three-master "Duchesse Anne".

Higher education:
Dunkirk is the location of the University of the Opal Coast, with over 11,000 students: law, economics, social sciences, arts and languages, preparation for higher commercial schools (HEC, ISCID)

The 3rd port of France:
steel, metallurgy, energy (wind energy centre, nuclear production, gas pipeline Norway/France) Agro-food, BTP, Chemicals, Plastics, Pharmaceuticals, Logistics.

Major companies:
Sollac, Coca-Cola, Dupont de Nemours, Astra, Péchiney, etc.

Projects in progress:
Within the framework of a vast operation of urban development aimed at extending the current town centre by opening it up to the port (Project Neptune), the Bollaert-Marine complex is aimed at increasing the commercial attraction of the heart of a conurbation of some 21,000 inhabitants (cinema complex with 20 cinemas, Go Sport, Virgin, etc.).
Opening in December 1999.

The Dunkirk motto:
" Les Grands Horizons "
(Wide horizons)

The town's site:
www.ville-dunkerque.fr

www.tourisme.fr

Dunkirk has a population of 71,000 inhabitants.

It is the central town within an urban community of 18 communes and over 210,000 inhabitants.

Today, Dunkirk is a port, and industrial and university centre, a seaside resort and a cultural, festive town open to its region, France, and the world, thus meriting its motto of "wide horizons".