Armentières is a commune in the Nord department in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole.The motto of the town is Pauvre mais fière (Poor but proud).GeographyArmentières lies on the Belgian border, northwest of the city of Lille, on the right bank of the river Lys.HistoryIn 1668, the town became French, along with most of the rest of French Flanders. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, Armentières acquired fame, being the “City of Fabric”. The industrial weaving, spinning and brewing grew in Armentières, benefitting from the presence of water.Armentières particularly suffered at the time of the World Wars. However, the town did receive two Military Crosses (one for World War I and the second for the Second World War) and the Legion d'Honneur. In Armentières and in the neighbourhoods, the military cemeteries are places of remembrance for the casualties of the World Wars. "Mademoiselle from Armentières" was a popular song among Allied soldiers in World War I.