Billy-Berclau

Billy-Berclau (Bili-Bérclo) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France.

Geography
A small town 10 mi east of Béthune and 12 mi southwest of Lille, at the junction of the D163 and N47 roads. It is situated at the junction of the Canal de la Deûle and the Canal d'Aire. Light industry and a little farming have replaced the coal mining of the past.

History
The town was completely destroyed during World War I. On 27 March 2003, an explosion at the dynamite factory killed four people.

Sights

 * The church of Notre-Dame, rebuilt, as was most of the town, after World War I
 * The remains of a Prévôté building (once belonging to an abbey)
 * The Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery
 * A German World War I cemetery