Guide to Nord & Property for Sale in Department 59

The Nord department is situated in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France and shares its borders with Belgium, the North Sea, and the departments of Pas-de-Calais and Aisne. It was created by combining the western halves of the historical counties of Flanders and Hainaut and the Bishopric of Cambrai. The department is known for its rich cultural heritage and distinct French Flemish dialect of Dutch, which is still spoken alongside French as a native language. Similarly, the French Picard dialect, Ch'ti, is also spoken in this region. Nord is the most populated department in France and is home to the metropolitan region of Lille, the department's central city and préfecture. Lille's metropolitan region is France's fourth-largest urban area after Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Other important towns in the department include Valenciennes, Douai and Dunkirk. Lille, along with nearby Roubaix, Tourcoing, and Villeneuve d'Ascq, constitutes the centre of a cluster of industrial and former mining towns that totals slightly over a million inhabitants.

The Heart of the Industrial Revolution

The department of Nord was at the forefront of France's 19th-century industrial revolution and played a significant role in the country's economic growth during that time. However, it suffered severely during World War I and now faces the economic, social, and environmental problems associated with the decline of coal mining, which was the mainstay of the department's economy until recently. Coal mining dominated the department economically, extending through the department's heart from neighbouring Artois into central Belgium. Even though the coal mining industry has declined, the region has continued to grow and develop, becoming a hub for innovation and technology.

Key Information about the Nord 

• Main City/Prefecture: Lille
• Nearest Airport: Lille-Lesquin Airport
• Population: Around 2.6 million (as of the latest census)
• Area: 5,743 sq. kilometres and 2,217 sq. miles
• Landmark: Grand Place General de Gaulle in Lille, surrounded by stunning Flemish-style architecture.  
• Number of Tourists/Year: Approx. 3.5 million, drawn by its cultural festivals, museums and World War I battlefields.

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