Auchel is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France.

Geography

An ex-mining town, nowadays a light industrial & farming commune, situated 8 mi southwest of Béthune and 34 mi southwest of Lille, at the junction of the D183 and the D183E roads.

History

Following the discovery of coal deposits in the area in 1851, the town grew as the demand for coal increased in France. This old mining town had close to 15,000 inhabitants in the 1950s. The coal recession in the late 1960s lead to a constant decline in population, despite the efforts of the municipality to attract and keep people here during and after the recession.

Population

The inhabitants are called Auchellois.

Sights

International relations

Auchel is twinned with:

Notable people

Auchel is the birthplace of: