So, I thought I'd show everyone where exactly in France I was born. It's a sort of smallish city (140, 000 ppl) called Belfort, also the name of the surrounding region. The name Belfort is derived from the Latin word "bellus" meaning beautiful, and "fortis" meaning strong, and refers primarily to the stronghold at Belfort. An Austrian possession, Belfort passed to France by the Peace of Westphalia (1648) and was fortified. The region is called Franche-Comté (the former "Free County" of Burgundy) is a région and a traditional province of eastern France. (Answers.com)

The city of Belfort is the capital of the Territoire de Belfort. It has kind of an interesting history. Incorporated in 1922, it is made up of that part of the former province of Alsace which was retained by France between 1871-1919. The territory was spared German annexation on the ground that people there were French-speaking, unlike those in the rest of Alsace. The mauve colored building on the left is the city hall.

Belfort lies in eastern France, in hilly country close to the German border that was fought over for centuries. A major fortress town since the 17th century, it commands the Belfort Gap, or Burgundy Gate, between the Vosges and the Jura mtns. In the old city center, one can hardly overlook the extensive city fortifications which were not abandoned until the First World War. The top photo is taken from the very top of the fortification, looking down on the city. (Wikipedia)

Jews were first permitted to reside in the city of Belfort in the 1300s. Their numbers lessened in following years due to widespread expulsion from France during the Black Death. By the time of the Nazi occupation of World War II, there were 700 Jews in the town, of which 245 were killed. (Virtual Jewish History) The Belfort region had been a quiet zone since the initial bloody WWI battles of 1914-15. It was one of the few places where the French had driven the Germans back on their own soil, as the area surrounding the city was part of German Alsace. During World War II, however, the French were not able to hold the Germans back. French soldiers reported capture in Belfort in 1940. The community was not returned to France until 1944 when the British liberated the region from the Nazis.

The Lion of Belfort is a sculpture by Frédéric Bartholdi, architect of the Statue of Liberty in New York, located in Belfort, France. Look how huge it is! It's magnificent in real life. It was finished in 1880 and is entirely made of pink sandstone. The blocks it is made of were individually sculpted then moved under Belfort castle to be assembled. The sculpture is 22 meters long and 11 meters high and dominates the local landscape. A copy of the statue stands in the center of Denfert-Rochereau square in Paris, and another in the Jardin botanique de Montréal. (Info from Answers.com)

The lion symbolizes the heroic resistance of Belfort during a 108 days long Prussian assault (from December 1870 to February 1871). The city was protected from 40,000 Prussians by merely 17,000 men (only 3,500 were from the military) while the rest of Alsace was taken by the Prussians. The siege is commemorated by the huge statue. The many Alsatians who then took refuge in the town contributed significantly to its industrial growth. Instead of facing Prussia to the east as was intended, it was turned the other way because of German protestations. (Info from Answers.com) Drew says that's what makes it French-**whatever!**

I have been there twice that I remember. Once at 12, once at 17. But my photos are all regular film so I couldn't put them up here. I have one of me in front of the city hall with men in traditional sailor outfits. Like sailor berets-priceless. And it is the ultimate irony I was born there, in a military town! But I think it's an interesting place. Anyway, there was your history lesson for the day. Don't worry there won't be a quiz.