Clairmarais

Clairmarais
Commune
Romelaëre nature reserve

Coat of arms
Clairmarais
Location within Hauts-de-France region
Clairmarais
Coordinates: 50°46′27″N 2°18′03″E / 50.7742°N 2.3008°E / 50.7742; 2.3008Coordinates: 50°46′27″N 2°18′03″E / 50.7742°N 2.3008°E / 50.7742; 2.3008
Country France
Region Hauts-de-France
Department Pas-de-Calais
Arrondissement Saint-Omer
Canton Saint-Omer
Intercommunality Pays de Saint-Omer
Government
 • Mayor (2001–2008) Nicole Heneman
Area1 18.02 km2 (6.96 sq mi)
Population (1999)2 689
 • Density 38/km2 (99/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code 62225 /62500
Elevation 1–34 m (3.3–111.5 ft)
(avg. 9 m or 30 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Clairmarais is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France.

Geography

A farming village situated in reclaimed marshland, 2 miles (3 km) northeast of Saint-Omer, on the D209 road. The Neufosse Canal, which connects the Aa and Lys Rivers, passes by the commune.

Population

Historical population of Clairmarais
Year196219681975198219901999
Population397410480598687689
From the year 1962 on: No double counting—residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) are counted only once.

History

A Clairmarais fisherman

It owes its origin to the famous Cistercian abbey founded by St. Bernard in 1140. He gave the village the name of Claromarisco (later to be Clarus Mariscus and then Clermarez) because of the huge marshes and many rivers in the vicinity. The Dutch Klaarmares and West Flemish Cleremeersch names reflect the nature of the terrain, too.
Clairmarais became a fully-fledged common in 1790 when the abbey was going to be destroyed and sold as a national asset during the French Revolution.

Places of interest

  • The church of St.Bernard, dating from the nineteenth century.
  • A windmill.
  • Vestiges of the 13th century abbey including the remains of the entrance to the abbey with gatehouse buildings, a chapel and dovecote.
  • The eighteenth century Cistercian farm of Cloquette.
  • The cave of Notre-Dame de Lourdes which is host to a pilgrimage on August 15. It is the largest in France, north of the Seine.
  • The National nature reserve of Romelaëre.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ JO; Decree No. 2008-220 of 5 March 2008 covering creation of the national nature reserve "Romelaëre Lakes" Nord and Pas-de-Calais
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