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Arras

Arras is a commune and the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It is the historic capital of the Artois region and an important administrative and commercial center. The Scarpe River runs through the city and contributes to its layout.

Historically, Arras developed as a market town in the Middle Ages and became known for its textile

The Grand'Place and Place des Héros are the city’s central squares, lined with ornate Flemish-Gothic townhouses.

The Boves, a network of chalk tunnels dating from medieval quarries, lie beneath Arras; many are accessible

The town saw heavy fighting during World War I, notably around the 1917 Battle of Arras; a

The English term arras refers to a tapestry wall hanging that derives from Arras' historical tapestry workshops.

and
tapestry
industries,
which
shaped
its
wealth
and
urban
form.
The
Beffroi
d'Arras,
a
15th-century
bell
tower,
stands
on
the
Grand'Place
and
is
a
UNESCO
World
Heritage
Site
as
part
of
the
Belfries
of
Belgium
and
France.
to
visitors
on
guided
tours.
memorial
on
the
outskirts
commemorates
the
missing
of
that
war.