Caudry

At the centre of the Cambresis (between Cambrai and Le Cateau), Caudry is a city full of ressources which combines rural attractions with the assets of a dynamic industrial activity. Until the French Revolution, Caudry was still a simple village surrounded by fertile lands belonging to the Church. During this period, population’s activity consisted in agriculture and textile. It was in the middle of the XIX century that the town soared thanks to the making of lace and tulle. In fact, thanks to Andre Carpentier and to the Tofflin’s brothers, this handcrafted activity industrialized by the putting up of steam engine then by the setting  up of the first professions which made the costume lace.

So, the town enjoyed an economic prosperity, its population reached about 10 000 inhabitants in 1900. After the throes of the war and different economic crisis, Caudry still counted around ten competitive  textile companies which exported more of 80% of its output.  Thanks to its quality and its creativity, the lace made in Caudry is internationally named as “Lace of Calais” which permited achieve a prestigious world of the haute couture and it worthed the label of “Town and Art professions”. This know-how and all the secrets of this fabrication are now presented at the Lace and Embroidery Museum set up in the former locals of the Carpentier company.

Since 1960, the industrial activity of the town has branched out and has welcomed cosmetology, farm-produce factories and also manufactured goods.

Caudry is also known as a place of devoutness at St Maxellende. A basilica is dedicated to Ste Maxellende and preserves its relics exposed in golden brass and in chased silver, a gothic goldsmith’s masterpiece of the second half of the XIV century. Nowadays, Caudry is a town of about 14 000 inhabitants. Its town centre opens to a nice place where the town hall stands up in freestone. Pedestrian streets, flowerbeds, water-jet and numerous shops contribute  to make more attractive this square where is situated the cultural pole of the town which assembles the cinema “Le Millenium” and the theater.

In outskirts, Caudry is composed of an active commercial centre and of a favorable place for the relaxation and for the walk, the Riot Val, place of water and greenery which extends to a dozen of hectares.