Seclin

Seclin is 10 km south of Lille and has about 13.000 inhabitants. "The Flemish" and "The Flat Land" are two titles of the famous writer Jacques Brel, which exactly describe the landscape and mentality of people living in and somewhat between the Roman and German culture.
In 843 the contract of Verdun was signed which divided Franconia and made this region part of West Franconia, although it was highly influenced by Germany.

Later, it belonged with equal rights to the German Empire as well as to France. In this time and even earlier first evidence for the existence of Seclin can be found.

The hospital, which was founded by the Countess Marguerite de Flandre in 1246 is used for senior day care today, as well as the church St. Piat are two examples of Seclin's sights. In 1531 the tower of the church was finished. 65 years later it got a glockenspiel. The revolution from 1789 left its marks in the town. The church was closed and used as accommodation for the canton's management. The community cemetery was set up. Luckily Seclin was not involved in the trouble with the Austrian troops.

The 20 th century brought two bad wars to the town. In the First World War the Germans destroyed factories and bombed the church's tower. On September 2 nd, 1944, 26 hostages died in a massacre in the Fort of Seclin. With signing the German-French Friendship Contract under Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer many sister city-partnerships were formed, such as the one between Apolda and Seclin. The following years brought the economic breakdown to the town, which was traditionally strong in the textile and coal industry. The building of a highway helped the economy to recover. The town changed to a modern service centre.