Audinghen

Audinghen (Dutch: Oudinghen) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France.

Geography
A farming commune, comprising several hamlets, some 14 mi north of Boulogne-sur-Mer, at the junction of the D940 and the D191 roads. Cap Gris-Nez, the nearest part of France to the English coast, forms the western boundary of the commune.

History
The town was originally named Odingehem, 'home of Odin', by the Vikings who built a temple here dedicated to the Germanic god Odin. Audinghen has been rebuilt several times after being completely destroyed, including:
 * In 1643 or 1644, according to the interpretations, by a party of soldiers of the King of England, who burned the village population inside the church;
 * Three centuries later, in November 1943, by the British, who bombed and totally destroyed the village (then occupied by the German army) and a centre for Organisation Todt.

Sights

 * The church of St. Pierre, dating from the twentieth century.
 * The ruins of the lighthouse at Cap Gris Nez.
 * World War II German defences, part of the Atlantic wall.

Personalities

 * Gabriel Auguste Ferdinand Ducuing, soldier who died here in 1940.
 * Raoul de Godewaersvelde, composer, died here in 1977.