*DX NEWS* Castles, History & Radio: The DA-RC’s French COTA Adventure

The Delta-Alfa Radio Club is thrilled to announce an exciting series of Castles On The Air (COTA) adventures across northern France, planned to coincide with the European Heritage Days celebrations later this month…

On September 19 and 20, 14DA028 Phil will be taking his portable station on the road for a series of special activations from historic French fortifications and castles, bringing these fascinating heritage sites to the attention of radio operators around the world.

Castles On The Air (COTA) is an activity that combines radio with heritage, encouraging operators to visit and operate from castles, forts and other historic fortified locations…

The aim is to promote interest in these important sites while creating opportunities for radio operators around the world to make contacts with stations operating from them.

For this experienced DXpeditioner, the European Heritage Days provide the perfect opportunity to combine his passion for Freeband Radio with some of northern France’s fascinating historical locations.

Fortress of Seclin

Phil’s first activation will be from the Fortress of Seclin, also known as Fort Duhoux, in Seclin, in the rural countryside of Nord, just south of Lille…

Operating as 14DA/CF59055, Phil will put this historic military site on the air for Freeband operators around the world.

The Fortress of Seclin was constructed between 1875 and 1878 as part of the French Séré de Rivières defensive system, developed to protect Lille and its surrounding approaches following the Franco-Prussian War.

Remarkably well preserved, the fortress retains much of its original defensive layout, including its large surrounding ditch, barracks and other military structures.

The site also has a significant wartime history. It saw service during both World Wars and, during the Second World War, became the site of the execution of 69 members of the French Resistance in 1944.

Today, Fort de Seclin is home to an extensive military museum and remains an important reminder of the military and wartime history of the region.

La Cessoye Castle

The second stop on Phil’s COTA adventure will be La Cessoye Castle in Attiches and from this historic location, Phil will operate as 14DA/CF59LC…

La Cessoye has its origins as a medieval feudal estate and was originally a fief held from the Châtelain of Lille. The estate included a manor built on a fortified mound, together with gardens, meadows, woodland, water and agricultural land.

Historical records document the estate as far back as the Middle Ages, with ownership subsequently passing through several prominent families.

The original castle was burned in 1708, leaving its keep and tower in ruins. Despite the destruction, the site remained an important seigneurial property in Attiches, with historical records from the 17th century identifying the castle as a residence of local nobles.

Phil’s activation will provide Freeband operators with an opportunity to add this fascinating historic location to their COTA logs.

Château Mercier

The final activation planned for the European Heritage Day weekend will take Phil to Château Mercier in Mazingarbe, where he will operate as 14DA/CF62026…

Château Mercier is a magnificent early-20th-century residence with strong connections to the region’s coal-mining history.

Built and expanded between 1901 and 1920 for Louis Mercier, Director General of the Compagnie des Mines de Béthune, the château served as his private residence as well as a prestigious meeting place for senior figures within the mining industry.

The château suffered bombardment during the First World War but was subsequently reconstructed and enlarged. Its impressive park and formal French-style gardens were developed during the 1920s.

Following the nationalization of the coal industry, the building was used as a maternity hospital from 1946 until 1970 before being acquired by the municipality.

Today, Château Mercier serves as Mazingarbe’s Hôtel de Ville (town hall). The château, its park and associated buildings also form part of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Mining Basin UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Phil’s Portable Station

For each activation, Phil will deploy a compact portable Freeband station built around a Yaesu FT-857, KL501 250-watt amplifier, Single Loop Bamby antenna and LiFePO4 battery…

The portable setup will allow Phil to operate from these historic locations while maintaining the capability needed to make contacts with Freeband operators across Europe and beyond.

The DA-RC wishes Phil every success with his European Heritage Day COTA adventure…

We look forward to seeing these historic French locations appearing in Freeband logs around the world.

Listen out for Phil on the bands and be ready to call!