Cucq
Encyclopedia
Cucq is a commune
in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France
.
, Merlimont
and Berck
was either marshland or tidal.
Little by little, the sea withdrew and the marshes were covered by sand and the dunes.
The grass-covered dunes of Cucq and Trépied are the result of centuries of coastal movement. The sand of the lower beach, blown by the wind at low tide, accumulated to form a cordon of dunes along the coast.
meant "height, hill" or in Latin "fortified". The town was originally situated on a dune slightly higher than others in the vicinity, from which the comparison and the name of Cucq or Cuck or Cucques has evolved.
Trépied is so-called because of the triangular outline of the town.
. 1600 hectares of the warrens of Trépied were sold in 1837 to Jean-Baptiste Daloz. Pine
trees were planted over the entire plot of land. Most of this area became better-known later as Le Touquet
, a separate commune, in 1912.
On the banks of the river Canche
, the harbour of Trépied once boasted more than thirty fishing boats. 150 men lived from the sea, supplying fish to the markets of Amiens
, Abbeville
and Beauvais
.
From 1914 to 1920, plans for the foundation of Stella-Plage were put on hold by World War I
but from 1925, Stella was inaugurated as a "Climatic Station" and attracted holiday-makers from Paris
and Lille
.
World War II
saw Stella razed to the ground, save for two villas, that remained intact at the end of the conflict.
of Le Touquet).
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Geography
Cucq is made up of three villages: Cucq itself, the second village of Trépied in the north and the coastal resort of Stella-Plage to the west.History
During the Merovingian period, the terrain presently occupied by Cucq, Le TouquetLe Touquet-Paris-Plage
Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, commonly referred to as Le Touquet, is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It has a population of 5,355....
, Merlimont
Merlimont
Merlimont is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Merlimont lies on the coast of France, facing northwards to the English Channel. Long, wide sandy beaches and huge sand-dunes are the most obvious features.-Population:-References:*...
and Berck
Berck
Berck, sometimes referred to as Berck-sur-Mer, is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France and lies within the Marquenterre regional park, an ornithological nature reserve...
was either marshland or tidal.
Little by little, the sea withdrew and the marshes were covered by sand and the dunes.
The grass-covered dunes of Cucq and Trépied are the result of centuries of coastal movement. The sand of the lower beach, blown by the wind at low tide, accumulated to form a cordon of dunes along the coast.
Origins of the names of Cucq and Trépied
Cucq or Cuc in CelticCeltic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
meant "height, hill" or in Latin "fortified". The town was originally situated on a dune slightly higher than others in the vicinity, from which the comparison and the name of Cucq or Cuck or Cucques has evolved.
Trépied is so-called because of the triangular outline of the town.
Creation of Le Touquet
In 1819, the government decided to sell the land of the former domain of the Abbey of St. Josse, confiscated at the time of the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. 1600 hectares of the warrens of Trépied were sold in 1837 to Jean-Baptiste Daloz. Pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
trees were planted over the entire plot of land. Most of this area became better-known later as Le Touquet
Le Touquet-Paris-Plage
Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, commonly referred to as Le Touquet, is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It has a population of 5,355....
, a separate commune, in 1912.
On the banks of the river Canche
Canche
The river Canche is one of the rivers that flow from the plateau of the southern Boulonnais and Picardy, into the English Channel. The Somme is the largest example. The basin of the Canche extends to 1,274 square kilometres and lies in the southern end of the département of Pas-de-Calais...
, the harbour of Trépied once boasted more than thirty fishing boats. 150 men lived from the sea, supplying fish to the markets of Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
, Abbeville
Abbeville
Abbeville is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Location:Abbeville is located on the Somme River, from its modern mouth in the English Channel, and northwest of Amiens...
and Beauvais
Beauvais
Beauvais is a city approximately by highway north of central Paris, in the northern French region of Picardie. It currently has a population of over 60,000 inhabitants.- History :...
.
Stella-Plage
During the 20th century, Stella-Plage started to emerge as a tourist town.From 1914 to 1920, plans for the foundation of Stella-Plage were put on hold by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
but from 1925, Stella was inaugurated as a "Climatic Station" and attracted holiday-makers from Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
.
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
saw Stella razed to the ground, save for two villas, that remained intact at the end of the conflict.
Population
Places of interest
Early each February, the beach is the scene of the motor-bike races known as the Enduropal (formerly the EnduroEnduro
Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on courses that are predominantly off-road. Enduro consists of many different obstacles and challenges...
of Le Touquet).
Notable people
- Matthieu BatailleMatthieu BatailleMatthieu Bataille is a French judoka.-Achievements:-References:* on JudoInside.com...
, judo champion of France 2006 and bronze medallist at the Judo World Championship 2007 - Pauline ParmentierPauline ParmentierPauline Parmentier is a professional tennis player from France. Her career high was #40, achieved on 21 July 2008 and her highest ranking in doubles was World Number 146 on 15 June 2009.-Background:...
, professional tennis player - Michael Curtis "Yogi" StewartMichael Stewart (basketball)Michael Curtis "Yogi" Stewart is a retired American basketball player who last played for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA...
, played in the NBA basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
league for the Atlanta HawksAtlanta HawksThe Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:... - Pauline CrammerPauline CrammerPauline Crammer is a French football player currently playing for Hénin-Beaumont of the Division 1 Féminine. Crammer plays as a striker.-Career:...
, women's football player - Ophélie DavidOphélie DavidOphélie David is a French freestyle skier specializing in ski cross, an event in which she is the reigning six-time world champion in, and has won four consecutive times at the Winter X Games as well as being ranked number one in the world in since 2004.David began her career as an alpine skier,...
, skier