W DRODZE DO DEPARTAMETU CÔTES-DU-NORD

The collapse of the November Uprising in autumn of 1831 forced about 5,000 people to emigrate. They sought refuge in Western Europe, mainly in France. Upon arrival in France, the former insurgents were placed in institutions called dépôts and placed under the supervision of the Ministry of War. The largest institutions were built in Avignon and Besançon, then in Lunel, Le Puy, Lons-le-Saunier, Salins, Bourges, Bergerac and Chateauroux. In the spring 1833, the French authorities decided to dissolve this institutions, counting several hundred people, and to dispersed the Poles on the territory of almost the whole France. Group of Besançon was sent to Normandy and Brittany, including Brittany Department of Côtes-du-Nord, where they arrived in June of 1833. In August 1833, after the collapse of the plans of General Józef Bem to create a Polish Legion in Portugal, joined them a group of Polish officers from the city of Nantes. Polish emigrants had start a new life in new reality on the distant French province.