Origin and Chief Historical Events.
The first mention in history of Dunkirk goes back to the 10th century.
As early as the 12th century, it proved to be an "Apple of Discord"
between the kings of France and the counts of Flanders. Few towns have
had such a stirring history. Ten times besieged, it was taken by Condé
in 1646. Recaptured at a later period by the Spaniards, it was given
back to the French by Turenne, after the battle of the Dunes (1658).
Louis XIV ceded it to his ally Cromwell, but redeemed it from Charles
II of England in 1662.
The Dunkirkian corsairs--most famous among whom was Jean-Bart
(1651-1702)--inflicted such losses on the English, that the Treaties
of Utrecht and Paris (1713 and 1763) provided for the destruction of
the port. In 1793, the town was besieged for the last time. By holding
out for three weeks against 40,000 men under the Duke of York, it
enabled General Houchard to reach Hondschoote, where the English were
decisively defeated. This feat of arms was commemorated by the device:
"_Dunkirk deserved well of the country_, 1793", which was inscribed on
the city's coat-of-arms.
During the Great War of 1914-1918, Dunkirk was an extremely important
revictualling centre for the Allied troops. It also played a great
part in helping to keep the mastery of the North Sea, and as such, was
constantly bombarded by the enemy. It was to reach Dunkirk and Calais,
that the Germans made their furious thrusts at Ypres and on the Yser.
Of all the towns not directly in the front-line, Dunkirk was probably
the one which suffered most. It was bombarded once by Zeppelins,
seventy-seven times by aeroplanes and four times by warships. Lastly,
a 15in. naval gun posted twenty-three miles away, shelled the town at
regular intervals from April 1915 onwards. In all, more than eight
thousand shells fell in the town, killing five hundred people and
wounding over one thousand others. In spite of all, the town maintained
considerable activity throughout the war.
The damaged and destroyed buildings were rapidly cleared away or
repaired. Under bombardment, the shipbuilding-yards turned out three
vessels of 19,000 tons. Munitions of war were also manufactured in
very large quantities. The following _citation_ in the Army Order
of October 17, 1917, which is to be incorporated in the city's
coat-of-arms, was well deserved:
[Illustration: +Quai de la Citadelle struck by a 15in. shell.+]
_Subjected for three years to violent and frequent bombardments,
Dunkirk was able, thanks to the admirable coolness and courage of her
inhabitants, to maintain and develop its economic life in the interests
of National Defence, thereby rendering invaluable service to the Army
and Country. This heroic city is an example to the whole nation._
The Croix de la Légion d'Honneur was conferred on Dunkirk by President
Poincaré on August 11, 1919.
[Illustration: +Building a bomb-proof shelter in front of the
Station.+]
[Illustration: +Protecting the mechanism of the Locks from the Shells.+]
A Visit to Dunkirk.
_Follow the arrows along the streets indicated by thick lines in the
plan below._
_Starting-point: =Place Jean-Bart= in the middle of which is_ a statue
of Jean-Bart (1844) _(photo below)_.
[Illustration: +Statue of Jean-Bart.+]
[Illustration: +Church of St. Éloi.+]
_Take Rue de l'Eglise (Rue Clemenceau) in which, immediately to the
right, stands_ the =Church of St. Éloi= with the =Belfry= opposite.
Built in the 16th century, +St. Éloi Church+ contains a nave flanked
by four side-aisles. The first bays, nearest the façade, having being
pulled down, the belfry--an old watch-tower, which formerly abutted
on the church--is now separated from it by the width of the street.
The façade was rebuilt in 1890. In the interior are a fine +XVIII+th
century pulpit, some old paintings, and the tomb of Jean-Bart _(left
aisle)_ _(photo, p. 29)_. The right aisle was torn open by the shells
_(photo below)_.
[Illustration: +The Belfry, and ruined side aisle of St. Éloi Church.+
_Exterior._ _Interior._]
[Illustration]
The =Belfry=, a large square tower of brick, 190 feet high, was built
in 1440. It contains a peal of bells. From the top, there is a very
fine view.
The entrance is on the rear side of the tower.
_Take Rue des Bassins, opposite the church, and turn to the right along
Rue de La Panne, in which stands_ the +Church of John-the-Baptist+.
[Illustration: +Church of John-the-Baptist.+]
This 18th century church contains some fine paintings. On the altar:
The _Consecration of Dunkirk to the Virgin_ (Elias); in the chancel,
_The Death of Mary the Egyptian_ (G. de Crayer); _The Holy Family_
(Erasme Quellin); _The Holy Family_ (Le Guide); _Jesus crowned with
thorns_ (Van Dyck). In the nave: _Paintings by Elias and de Janssens_.
On the northern side of the church are the cloister and modern chapel
of St. Philomène (shrine).
_Keep along Rue de la Panne; follow Quai des Hollandais, and turn to
the right into Place d'Armes, in which stands_ the =Hôtel-de-Ville=.
[Illustration: +Quai des Hollandais and the Hôtel-de-Ville.+]
The Hôtel-de-Ville was rebuilt in 1896-1901 of brick and stone
(architect, L. Cordonnier). On the first floor are statues of
illustrious Dunkirkians. Just below the roof there is an equestrian
statue of Louis XIV. The tower is 250 feet high.
[Illustration: +Fishing-boat Dock.+ _In the background:_
+Hôtel-de-Ville and Belfry.+]
_Take Rue du Quai, on the left, to the large square in front of the
port, in which is the =Fish-Market (Mynk)=. (See sketch-map, p. 27.)_
The port of Dunkirk.
[Illustration: +General View of Dunkirk and the Docks.+]
One of the busiest fishing and coast-trading ports in France,
Dunkirk is especially important by reason of its import trade. The
raw materials required for the industries of Northern France are
discharged there, whilst iron ore, oil and metals are exported. Since
the beginning of the 19th century Dunkirk has steadily grown and the
fortifications have twice had to be extended (1861-1906). The ruined
industries of the North and the competition of the Rhine may retard
this growth, but the port's natural situation will always ensure a fine
future for it. In 1920, the docks covered an area of about 100 acres,
whilst the total length of the wharves was about six miles.
[Illustration: +Trystram lock.+]
The port consists of a series of parallel docks, i.e., the extended
rear port, the naval dock, the commerce dock, and wet-docks 1, 2, 3, 4,
connected by the Freycinet dock. All these docks lie at right-angles to
the great water-line formed by the grounding port and outer harbour,
into which the channel debouches. Dunkirk also possesses extensive
naval stocks provided with five large dry docks and a launching dock
fifteen acres in extent _(See plan, p. 24.)_
[Illustration: +The Outer Port of Dunkirk and the Channel.+]
_To visit the port, cross the bridges over Citadelle Lock and Western
Lock; turn to the right along the quay, passing behind the wet-docks
and skirting the graving-docks._ On the right, on the other side of the
grounding port, the naval dock-yards come into view. _Cross the bridge
of Trystram Lock, which connects up Freycinet Dock with the channel,
then turn immediately to the right and cross the small bridge opposite
the lighthouse, leaving the latter on the left. Skirt the channel
(about 230 yards long and 27 yards wide), as far as the two booms
which terminate it._ There are several observation-posts and armoured
concrete machine-gun shelters near the lighthouse.
_Return to the square in front of the port and follow the quay, on the
left, as far as Rue Carnot on the right, which leads to the Chapel of
Notre-Dame-des-Dunes. (See itinerary, p. 27)._
This chapel is a favourite pilgrimage. The fisherwomen of Dunkirk made
it the headquarters of their Sisterhood.
[Illustration: +Statue of Victory.+]
_A little further on stands_ the =Statue of Victory= commemorating the
siege of 1793. This monument is the work of Ed. Lormier (1893) and was
erected on the site of the old ramparts.
_Follow the tram-lines to =Malo-les-Bains=_, Dunkirk's beach.
_Return to Rue Carnot and take Rue des Vieux-Remparts on the left to
Place du Theatre, where turn to the left into Rue Benjamin-Morel, in
which stands =The Museum= (photo below.)_
[Illustration: +The Museum.+]
_Take Rue Jean-Bart on the right, behind the theatre, then Rue Thévenet
on the left, leading back to Place Jean-Bart. Cross the latter
diagonally to Rue Alexandre III (see Itinerary, p. 27) which leads to
Place de la République._ Here stands the monument erected to the memory
of the Dunkirkians who fell fighting for their country. _(L. Morice,
1906.)_
_Cross Place de la République, then Place du Palais-de-Justice, turn to
the right along Quai du Port au Bois then cross the bridge on the left
(see Itinerary, p. 27). Take Rue de Paris on the left, in which stands
=St. Martin's Church=._ This modern church, primitive Gothic in style,
is flanked by two towers with spires.
[Illustration: +Church of St. Martin and Rue de Paris.+]
_The tourist leaves Dunkirk by Rue de Paris and Rue des 4-Ecluses,
which prolongs it, to follow the itinerary of the first day._
[Illustration: A VISIT TO THE YSER BATTLEFIELD AND THE BELGIAN COAST.
_First Day:_