Bullecourt | |
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 The church andSouvenir Français monument, in Bullecourt | |
 Coat of arms | |
 Location of Bullecourt | |
  Bullecourt  Bullecourt | |
| Coordinates:50°11′35″N2°55′43″E / 50.1931°N 2.9286°E /50.1931; 2.9286 | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Hauts-de-France |
| Department | Pas-de-Calais |
| Arrondissement | Arras |
| Canton | Bapaume |
| Intercommunality | CC Sud-Artois |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2020–2026) | Eric Bianchin[1] |
Area 1 | 6.43 km2 (2.48 sq mi) |
| Population (2022)[2] | 227 |
| • Density | 35.3/km2 (91.4/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 62185 /62128 |
| Elevation | 74–104 m (243–341 ft) (avg. 92 m or 302 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Bullecourt (French pronunciation:[bylkuʁ]) is acommune in thePas-de-Calaisdepartment department in theHauts-de-Franceregion region of northernFrance.[3]
Bullecourt is situated on theUpper Cretaceous plain ofArtois betweenArras andBapaume, east of theA1motorway.satellite photograph The nearby village ofQuéant is located near the eastern edge. The A1 motorway and thehigh-speed (TGV) railway line run along the western edge. To the south of Bullecourt, a now-closed local railway line runs from east to west.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 264 | — |
| 1975 | 245 | −1.06% |
| 1982 | 248 | +0.17% |
| 1990 | 260 | +0.59% |
| 1999 | 251 | −0.39% |
| 2009 | 243 | −0.32% |
| 2014 | 248 | +0.41% |
| 2020 | 227 | −1.46% |
| Source: INSEE[4] | ||
Bullecourt is located within the triangle formed by the A1, A2, and A26 motorways, and by the N17, N30, and D939 roads.
Archaeological remains from the Gallo-Roman period have been found in the area. The village was first mentioned in 1096 under the name "Bullecortis".
In 620, it was the birthplace ofSaint Vindicien, a follower ofSaint Eligius, known in French as Saint Eloi. Vindicien successively becamebishop of Arras andbishop of Cambrai. He is considered the founder of the abbey named after his mentor,Mont St Eloi, of which Bullecourt became a lordship.
The village has been completely destroyed by war twice: in 1543 during theNinth Italian War (1542–1546) and in 1917, during theFirst World War.
In early 1917, during the northern hemisphere spring, theFirst attack on Bullecourt (11 April 1917) and theBattle of Bullecourt (3–17 May 1917) became significant events, particularly in themilitary history of Australia. The village was located at the southern end of an active front and formed part of theHindenburg Line. In the First Battle of Bullecourt, two brigades of the4th Australian Division attacked German positions in Bullecourt, supported by 12 tanks but lacking artillery support. Under heavy fire, the Australians were forced to retreat. The 4th Australian Brigade sustained 2,258 casualties (killed, wounded, or taken prisoner) out of approximately 3,000 infantry. German losses were 750 killed, and they captured 27 Australian officers and 1,137 other ranks. In the subsequentBattle of Bullecourt, an attack on both flanks of the village was carried out by the2nd Australian Division and the62nd (2nd West Riding) Division. Bullecourt was recaptured, but the anticipated breakthrough on the Hindenburg Line did not occur. Total Australian and British casualties amounted to 14,000. TheMusée Jean et Denise Letaille (established in 2012) commemorates this fighting.[5]
In addition to numerousbunkers and dugouts from the Hindenburg Line period, there is also an underground shelter dating from the 17th century.
The church of St. Vlaast was rebuilt after 1918.
There is a museum displaying objects collected from the World War periods.
The economy is primarily agricultural, involving general farming and cattle raising. The village has an agricultural co-operative.
The village festival is held on the first Sunday of June, and a festival in honour of the Australians takes place on the last Saturday in April.
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