Saint-Omer
In the 7th century, a man named Audomar arrived in a landscape of water and reeds. He established an abbey called Sithiu near the river Aa. This settlement grew into the town now known as Saint-Omer. The Vikings attacked the area around 860 and again in 880. They laid waste to the place before the locals built fortified walls ten years later. The name changed from Sithiu to St Omer during the 9th century. The town sat on borders disputed by French, Flemish, English, and Spanish powers for most of its history.
Arnulf of Flanders conquered the County of Artois in 932. Saint-Omer became part of the County of Flanders for the next three centuries. Philip I defeated Count Arnulf III at St Omer in 1071. Robert the Frisian then became the Count of Flanders until his death in 1093. In 1127, William Clito granted the town a communal charter. It was the first town in West Flanders with city rights. The town lost its textile industry leadership to Bruges later. Philip II of France captured Joan and Ferdinand in 1212. They signed the Treaty of Pont-à-Vendin which yielded Artois to France. A large battle occurred in the suburbs in 1340 between an Anglo-Flemish army and French forces under Eudes IV. From 1384, the town belonged to the Burgundian Netherlands. Louis XIV forced the town to capitulate after a seventeen-day siege in 1677. The peace of Nijmegen confirmed the annexation by France in 1678. Jacqueline Robin risked her life bringing provisions into the town during the 1711 siege by the Duke of Marlborough.
Fr Robert Persons SJ established the College of Saint Omer in 1593. Its purpose was to educate English Roman Catholics who faced penal laws at home. The college operated there until 1762 when it moved to Bruges. It relocated again to Liège in 1773 before finally settling at Stonyhurst, Lancashire in 1794. Former students included John Carroll, his brother Daniel, and his cousin Charles. John Carroll became the first bishop in the United States. He founded Georgetown University. Daniel Carroll signed the Constitution of the United States. Charles Carroll of Carrollton was the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence. All three cousins studied at this Jesuit institution.
On the 8th of October 1914, the British Royal Flying Corps arrived in Saint-Omer. They established a headquarters at an aerodrome next to the local race course. For four years, the base served as a focal point for all RFC operations. No. IX Squadron RAF formed at Saint-Omer on the 14th of December 1914. No. 16 Squadron RAF formed on the 10th of February 1915. During World War II, the Luftwaffe used the airfield. Douglas Bader parachuted from his Spitfire during an aerial battle over France. He lost an artificial leg while bailing out. A Luftwaffe hospital treated him initially. The RAF dropped him another leg during a bombing raid.
The old cathedral was constructed almost entirely in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. A heavy square tower finished in 1499 surmounts the west portal. The church contains a colossal statue of Christ seated between the Virgin Mary and St John dating from the 13th century. This statue originally belonged to the cathedral of Thérouanne. It was presented by Emperor Charles V. The fortifications improved by Vauban were demolished during the last decade of the 19th century. Boulevards replaced them. A section of ramparts remains intact on the western side converted into a park known as the jardin public. The cathedral houses a huge Cavaillé-Coll organ which is still playable. Part of St Bertin church remains with arches and a lofty tower serving to adorn a public garden.
Over the better part of the last century, the economy depended largely on one enterprise called Arc International. This glass maker satuated in the neighbouring town of Arques. The economy diversified over the past 50 years. Major employers include Alphaglass and Brasserie de Saint-Omer. Les Fromageurs de Saint Omer operates there too. La Societe des Eaux de Saint Omer provides water services. Centre Hospitalier Région de Saint-Omer serves the population. Bonduelle employs many residents. In 2020, there were 2,147 enterprises in the town itself. Historically, the economy developed in wetlands outside the city known locally as le marais. The Marais Audomarois is currently listed as a UNESCO heritage site. Cauliflower is a notable product exported throughout Europe. Other crops for which the area is known are carrots, endive, and watercress.
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Common questions
When did Audomar establish the abbey that became Saint-Omer?
Audomar established an abbey called Sithiu near the river Aa in the 7th century. This settlement grew into the town now known as Saint-Omer.
What happened to Saint-Omer during the Viking attacks of the 9th century?
The Vikings attacked the area around 860 and again in 880 before locals built fortified walls ten years later. The name changed from Sithiu to St Omer during the 9th century.
Who founded the College of Saint Omer and when was it established?
Fr Robert Persons SJ established the College of Saint Omer in 1593. Its purpose was to educate English Roman Catholics who faced penal laws at home.
Which famous figures studied at the Jesuit institution in Saint-Omer?
Former students included John Carroll, his brother Daniel, and his cousin Charles. John Carroll became the first bishop in the United States while Daniel Carroll signed the Constitution of the United States.
How did World War I affect the airfield operations in Saint-Omer?
On the 8th of October 1914, the British Royal Flying Corps arrived in Saint-Omer and established a headquarters at an aerodrome next to the local race course. No. IX Squadron RAF formed at Saint-Omer on the 14th of December 1914.
What significant historical documents are held by the public library in Saint-Omer?
The public library holds one of three French copies of the 42-line Gutenberg Bible which originally came from the library of the Abbey of Saint Bertin. In November 2014, experts found a previously unknown Shakespeare First Folio in this library.