Le Quesnoy

 town, commune - administrative division, draw only border

Le Quesnoy is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. Le Quesnoy's inhabitants are known as Quercitains.

Le Quesnoy is a well-preserved walled fortress town from the 17th. century, redesigned by Vauban. The city has about 5,000 inhabitants.

The town grew around a strategically located 12th-century castle, now demolished. Interestingly, in the light of the events of 1918, the Count of Zealand was one of the residents of the castle.

The fortifications were periodically improved or extended until late into the 19th century, when recent developments in artillery made them obsolete. They were not destroyed subsequently, though the town suffered damage in both world wars.

The name Le Quesnoy derives from the Picard dialectal version of "le chêne", "le quesne" (oak tree) and "chênaie" (oak-planted area).

Details at www.fortified-places.com/quesnoy.html