Dompierre-sur-Authie


Dompierre-sur-Authie is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
It is slowly depopulating like most of the countryside towns of this region, with the last shop and last hairdresser in the village having closed in the 1990s. Nevertheless, there is a strong identity and social life in the town, which retains its own primary school.

Geography

The commune is situated on the D119 road, on the banks of the river Authie, the department border with the Pas-de-Calais, some north of Abbeville. The railway line, part of the Réseau des Bains de Mer system opened on 19 June 1892 and closed on 10 March 1947. Dompierre-sur-Authie was the northern terminus of the branch from Abbeville. The station is still standing and recognisable as such, though it is now a private dwelling.

History

There are two buildings in the town which are described as chateaux. The town is mentioned in the Appendix of Heinz Guderian's memoirs 'Panzer Leader', and it is clear that Guderian moved his units through Dompierre on 22 May 1940 and briefly had his HQ stationed there when moving from Abbeville in the direction of Montreuil-sur-Mer.

Population