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Town of CominesTourist information office 4/6 rue du Pont at Comines+33 (0)3 20 14 21 51

Ville de Wervicq-SudTown hall 53, rue Gabriel Péri+33 (0)3 20 14 59 20

www.ville-comines.frwww.wervicq-sud.com

Information

Comines and Wervicq-Sud2 towns in the country

Places of worshipRestaurantsEducational

farms

MarinaPicnic areas

Self-catering and B&Bs

Outdoor leisure acti-

Receptionrooms

Tourist informa-tion office

Remarkable sites

StationCultural facilities

Local producersFarm sales

The neighbouring towns of Comines and Wervicq-Sud, nestled in the Lys valley, have built their reputation and wealth over many centuries from farming and the textile industry.

Because they are also border towns, located on the extreme northern edge of the agglomeration of Lille, they have taken advantage of this special situation, at a "meeting point" between two countries, which has not only enhanced the cultural, linguistic and economic aspects of the towns but also left an indelible impression on the people of this area as a result of the vagaries of history.

You will find historical monuments alongside the easily recognisable style of buildings constructed in the post-war period, modern buildings with a futuristic architecture, evidence of the economic and demographic growth of the area, as well as the numerous street names recalling the memory of the darkest times of our history.

Strongly linked by a common past, Comines and Wervicq-Sud have decided to protect and promote this heritage, attracting visitors to these tourist towns with their unspoilt quality of life, well planned facilities and an intense cultural life.

This new tourist guide, created in partnership, will help you get to know the riches of the regions of Comines and Wervicq-Sud and provide you with plenty of information to help you find out more, which, we hope, will encourage you to come and stay with us for a while.

Welcome and we wish you an enjoyable stay at Comines and Wervicq-Sud.

Alain Detournay Mayor of Comines

Jean-Gabriel JacobMayor of Wervicq-Sud

Comines and WerviCq-sud, a Common history

› Historical landmarks ................................. 2› The Lys river, a cross-border link ............... 6› The business sectors of "two towns in the country" .......................................... 7

Worth a visit the heritage

› The Grand’Place of Comines ................... 8› The Dalle-Dumont Park of Wervicq-Sud 10› The urban and industrial heritage ........... 12› The rural and scenic heritage .................. 20› The small religious heritage .................... 24› Military and memorial heritage ............. 28

to do to experienCe

› Festivals and traditions ........................... 34› Calendar of cultural events ..................... 37› The cultural facilities ............................... 38› Looking to get away? What about a walk? ................................. 41› Leisure activities ...................................... 43› Also available in the neighbouring towns 45

praCtiCal information

› Accommodation ..................................... 46› Restaurants ............................................. 47› Reception rooms..................................... 48› Markets, local producers, farm shop ................................................. 49› Transportation ........................................ 50› Places of worship .................................... 51

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Men have settled in the Lys valley from Prehis-toric times. At Comines, they mostly occupied the south bank, less susceptible to flooding while, in Wervicq, they occupied the north bank. At that time, there were only small poc-kets of population.

It was only from the Ancient historic times, and particularly the Gallo-Roman period, that the emergence of our towns can be traced. Wervicq is mentioned in the itinerary of Antoninus (3rd century), then later on the table of Peutinger. The village was then assimilated by Viroviacum,

a stopping point on the roman road linking Boulogne to Cologne. Nearby, a religious community was founded in the rural village of Comines. There then followed a dark period, corresponding to the fall of the Roman Empire when the region suffered from invasions by Germanic tribes that came to settle in Gaul. From the 4th century, Comines and Wervicq gradually vanished from all memory.

We have to wait until 1090 to pick up the trail of the two towns in the writings of the Archbis-hop of Tournai.

Comines and WerviCq-sud: a Common history

Comines and Wervicq-sud are located in an area where water has shaped its history and countryside. the position of these two towns in the centre of the valley of the Lys river has caused their frontiers to move about throughout the centuries...

Church of Wervik (Belgium), on the banks of the Lys

historiCaL Landmarks

Birth

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In the 11th century, Comines, a seigneury with a chateau on the banks of the Lys, became a stra-tegic route of the County of Flanders. Its main economic activity was trade and clothmaking.

From the 13th century onwards, the burghers built a belfry next to the wheat market, that became a symbol of their new powers...In 1456, freedom of trade was granted by Philip the Good in order to revive the clothmaking trade. At the end of the 15th century the seigneury of Comines became the fiefdom of "La Clyte", the family of Philippe de Commynes, the famous chronicler.

Its neighbour was then a small fiefdom of the seigneury of Comines and the flames of past successes were rekindled thanks to the

expansion of its clothmaking industry, the produce of which became very sought after in this period. The goods were despatched to all the other known continents of the time. The town became more wealthy and Froissart, the famous chronicler described it as "a large town with hotels full of sheets, large feathers, gold and money". This positive phase of expansion ended in the 15th century when a much more unhappy era began.

The neighbouring towns had to cope with all sorts of disasters: plague epidemics, fires, wars and numerous pillaging raids, particularly in 1419 and 1436.

Following the departure of its Italian financiers, the clothmaking industry in Wervicq was unable to recover.

Louis XIV's War of the Reunions in the 17th century caused new problems for both agglo-merations. In the aftermath of the conquests of the King of France, the Lys river was also to become a natural frontier between the Northern and Southern parts. Before these events when the county of Flanders still belonged to the Spanish Netherlands, Comines-Nord was put under the Lordship of Ypres and Comines-Sud under the Lordship of Lille. But the two Comi-nes were a single town at the time, just like the two Wervicqs! It was only much later that the twin towns were separated, with three treaties sealing their fate:

• First of all, in 1668, the treaty of Aix-la-Cha-pelle concluded by Louis XIV yielded the land to the North of the river to Spain and appropriated the Southern part for France.

• Then the Northern part was temporarily joined to the kingdom of France in 1678 by the treaty of Nijmegen.

• At the end of the Sun king's reign, the treaty of Utrecht, in 1713, re-established the frontier of the Lys river. The Northern part was under the influence of Austria before belonging to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in 1815, and then becoming part of Belgium in 1830. The Southern part, under French influence, was joi-ned to maritime Flanders (that was later to form the department of the Nord).

However, the two Comines still retained the same town council until the French Revolution.Wervicq-Sud had to wait until the French Revolution to become a truly independent town (separate from Wervik Nord). The parish was created in 1802 in a chapel while awaiting the construction of the first church that was finished in 1827.

tWo toWns at a meeting point BetWeen tWo Countries

the middle ages

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The 16th century saw its continuing decline. The problems of the previous century resulted in the emergence of new social and religious ideas, such as the doctrines of Luther and Calvin, who found a region, under the influence of the Geu-zen confederacy, that was favourable to their cause in the Lys valley.

This bold stand resulted in a bloody repression, marked with a wave of executions that was conducted in the name of the King of Spain from 1566 to 1573 and followed by the des-truction of Wervicq during the "Guerre des Mé-contents" (War of the Discontented) in 1578.

a Clothmaking industry With an anCient history

Comines and Wervicq have been closely linked to clothmaking since the Middle Ages with the production and trade of sheets. Unfortunately the wars of the 16th and 17th centuries, between France and Spain, ruined this border region. However, the production of ribbon grew in Comines while Wervicq specialised in tobacco farming that was introduced by the legendary Jehan Van d’Helle.

From 1870, with the advent of steam-powered looms, manufacturers began to replace the manual looms, resulting in improved producti-vity levels. This growth accelerated in the 19th century with the arrival of the railway (from Lille to the two Comines).

The sector flourished in this period until 1914. At Wervicq-Sud, clothmaking left no less of an impact. The first industrial revolution led to the growth of a new town. The clothmaking factories that were built in the region attracted many foreign workers, particularly from Belgium to this real hive of activity that grew on the frontier bridge.

During the war, the factories were plundered by the occupying forces or destroyed in the

fighting. After the conflict, the clothmaking industry then rose from the embers thanks to the German looms and the compensation gran-ted for war damages. But a certain number of factories were not rebuilt or relocated elsewhere in the Lys valley. The recovery was hard.

From the 1970s, the industry experienced a long-term crisis, caused by the increasing competition from abroad, of course. Currently about ten ribbon factories are still operating at Comines in France and two clothing businesses are still located in Wervicq-Sud.

Comines and WerviCq-sud: a Common history

Stained glass windows of Comines

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tWo World Wars

The scene of numerous battles throu-ghout history, Comines and Wervicq-Sud were not spared in the 20th century. During the Great War, Comines found itself very close to the front lines. Located just behind the front, Wervicq-Sud was used as a resting place and a hospital for the German soldiers.

Having been shelled on several occasions, the towns were evacuated in May 1917 before being totally destroyed in the fighting between the British and the Germans. Largely rebuilt in the neo-Flemish style of the region, Comines France reconstructed its age-old heritage and built new buildings without abandoning its traditional roots. The post-war reconstruction was more difficult in Wervicq-Sud where the population only returned little by little.

In May 1940, the British and the Germans confronted each other once again on the land of our two towns, during the Battle of the Lys and the Battle of the Ypres-Comines Canal. The locks and bridges were destroyed, Comines and Wervicq-Sud were occupied. Comines suffe-red eight aerial bombing raids, two of which claimed lives. The British troops, welcomed as liberators, finally entered Wervicq-Sud on 4 September 1944, followed by Comines France and Comines Belgium on 6 September 1944.

the groWth of the toWns

After the Second World War, new districts were created to the south and east of the railway line that skirted the town, expanding the land occupied by Comines southwards. Sports and school facilities, and a place of worship were built in these new districts. The "Comines II" thermal power station was built in 1951. Wer-vicq-Sud benefited from the economic boom of the 1950s. Despite the industrial crisis, the economic fabric of the Wervicq region was still enjoying the benefits of a strong clothmaking industry.

In terms of demographics, the population of both towns never stopped growing, reaching a population of almost 4,700 in 2005 in Wervicq-Sud and 12,000 in Comines. The housing deve-lopments occupying new districts in the centre of town, as well as on the outskirts and on the banks of the Lys, confirmed this expansion.

neW infrastruCtures

For about fifteen years, numerous facilities sprang up to meet the demand of the population in terms of sports, recreational activities, culture, etc. Two recreational zones were created in Co-mines, wastelands were redeveloped and a range of walks were developed based on four marked and cleared circuits.

"Le Nautilys", Comines concert hall

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Comines and Wervicq-Sud are located to the north of the city of Lille. Both of them share the same unusual feature in that they have "twin" towns on the other side of the Lys river:

- The entity of Comines-Warneton, has bilingual (French-Dutch) status and is go-verned by the Province of Hainaut

- The Town of Wervik, is Dutch-speaking and is located in the Province of Wes-tern Flanders. These towns experienced a common history until the treaty of Utrecht finally decided upon the River Lys as the border.

Despite the political and linguistic divide, the towns have learnt to live at the same pace and conduct shared projects in areas as varied as the treatment of water, the development of tourism, the conservation of the heritage, organising cultural events... Finally, the people of Comines and Wer-vicq, whether they are French or Belgian, regularly cross the Lys, for their recreational activities, their family outings or their busi-ness trips and meet even more easily, now, thanks to the opening of the frontiers in 1995 with the application of the Schengen agreement.

Comines and WerviCq-sud - a Common history

the lys river, a Cross-Border link

Comines France and Comines Warneton, separated by

7 © Jean-Marc Delespierre - Photographic club of Wervicq-Sud

Despite the vicissitudes of history, Comines and Wervicq-Sud have succeeded in preserving and updating their heritage, the identity of the region and their know-how... There are a variety of business sectors operating in Comi-nes and Wervicq-sud. Although the tertiary sec-tor is dominant, both towns have also retained significant farming and industrial operations. Currently, there are about ten businesses in the textile industry in Comines and two in Wervicq-Sud, specialised in high-tech products. Similarly, Comines has a thriving food industry that is well known throughout France (button mushrooms, vegetable canning and frozen foods, biscuits...). Two activity parks have also been created:

"Comines, a new Energy", in 1993, on the wasteland of two thermal power stations and the "Maurice Schumann" zone, in 2003, on farmland.

About twenty farms are still operating at Co-mines and six at Wervicq-Sud, despite the drop in their number in the 20th century. Lastly, rural accommodation, educational farms and horse riding schools have established themselves in the country, thereby broadening the range of agricultural activities.

the eConomiC seCtors of "tWo toWns in the Country"

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the town hall and its belfry Rebuilt in the style of the Flemish Renais-sance, the town hall was opened in 1929. Louis Marie Cordonnier, a local architect succeeded in unifying two monuments thanks to the combination of brick and stone and the use of the same architectural language: turrets with little pinnacles, dormer windows, decorative spikes, slate roof. Inside, you can admire a remarkable series of windows that portray the successive Lords of the town, the Spoon Festival and the main activity of Comines, ribbon-making.

The town hall became a listed national heritage building of France ( ) in 2001 and its belfry entered the UNESCO World Heritage list ( ) in 2005 with 22 other belfries of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Somme regions.

Town hall: open all year round The belfry is not open to the general public (except for the ground floor during office opening times).

Worth a visit / the heritage

the grand plaCe (main square) of Comines

Comines town hall and belfry

located near to the lys river and the frontier bridge, the grand place is the historical heart of Comines. Completely destroyed during the first World War, all that was left of the town was a pile of ruins. the grand place was redesigned as a consequence, enlarged and lined with new constructions: flemish houses as well as a town hall and a church were built, now facing each other. unmissable!

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The building, that has a regional style and currently houses the "maison du patrimoine" heritage offices and its tourist information office, was built in the interwar period.

In 1995, it was renamed the "André Schoon-heere" heritage museum when it was renovated to deal exclusively with culture, tourism and heritage issues. It is the home of the "Amis de Comines" (Friends of Comines) association and also houses the town's historical archives. It pays tribute to André Schoonheere, a local historian who devoted his entire life to making the history of his town meaningful to everyone.

Maison du patrimoine (heritage offices): from Tuesday to Friday from 9.30am to 12noon and from 2pm to 5.30pm, and on Monday and Saturday during the high season.

the church of saint-Chrysole was rebuilt between 1922 and 1938 by the architect, Maurice Storez who joined forces with the monk Dom Paul Bellot to work on the decora-tive aspects of the building. Designed in a stunning neo-Byzantine style, using reinforced concrete which permits the construction of new interior spaces and larger openings, the church is a symbol of modern art and successful post-war reconstruction. What's more, the building was listed as a Historical monument in 2002.

Saint-Chrysole Church: exceptionally open to the general public. Weekly mass on Sunday at 10.30am (more information at the presbytery)

Take a walk in the public park, a real haven of peace located between the church of Saint-Chrysole and the Lys river. The park and its bandstand were rebuilt

at the end of the 1920s and in the begin-ning of the 1930s. Check out the old forti-fied wall, only remains of the surrounding wall of the former hospital and church that surrounded the gardens of the medieval chateau of Comines, destroyed in 1674.

Check them out by going on the "Grand Place" heritage discovery trail that can be downloaded from www.ville-comines.fr

Comines public park

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On entering the park, located on the rue de Lin-selles, explore a vast public park that stretches out from the white chateau and former home of the Dalle family. This is a great place for all sorts

of family activities or just lazing about. In the centre, the property is divided up into enclosed plots of farmland maintained by the members of the "Hier-Wervicq" (Wervicq yesterday) association, the head office of which is located

Worth a visit / the heritage

the dalle-dumont park of WerviCq-sud

located on the so-called "montagne" (mountain) in the former property of the dalle-dumont family purchased by the town in 1972, this magnificent park covering about 30 acres is the town's green jewel. Walking along the various winding pathways, you can explore the three remarkable sections that make up this recreational area that is so dear to the people of Wervicq...

Museum of small farming jobs - Dalle Dumont Park - Wervicq-Sud

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in "the barn", of the museum of small farming jobs.You can also discover a little fishing lake that is jointly managed by the "Carpillons Wervicquois (little carps of Wervicq) club".

Visitors will enjoy the peace that surrounds the place, while relaxing at the water's edge or having a drink at a table and enjoying the Sunday afternoon events offered at the barn, while looking at the amazing landscape of the plain of Flanders.

Lastly, to the West, in the woods, covering an area of about 20 acres, there are a variety of activities available. The more sporty will ex-plore the tree-tops from the dizzying heights of the tree climbing adventure course, while those who love their history can discover a german monument of 1915 as well as some military fortifications dating back to both World Wars, dotted along the trails.

With a broad range of tree types (oaks, elm, ash, beech, cherry trees...), the park is also a real treat for walkers and nature-lo-vers who will relish the feeling of well-being you get there.

Idyllic surroundings in the Lys valley...

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sainte-marguerite at Comines: The founda-tion stone of the church of Sainte-Marguerite was laid on 19 March 1858. Father Derveaux became the 1st priest of the parish that was founded on 13 June 1864.

Check them out on the "Les chouettes" (owls) circuit that can be downloaded from the www.ville-comines.fr

Worth a visit / the heritage

the urBan and industrial heritage

Comines and Wervicq-sud have successfully preserved the memory of their rich past as a frontier town and former jewel of the textile industry. although largely rebuilt after the first World War, both towns have succeeded in preserving and updating their architectural identity. Currently, the wealth of the urban and industrial heritage is quite astounding, with plenty of stunning discoveries to be made: stately homes, terraced workers' houses, frontier bridges as well as the curious architectural features of the textile factories. for its architecture or its history, take another look at this excellent and very varied heritage site that will not fail to astound you...

the ChurChes:

Saint-Chrysole Church, Comines

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notre-dame de l’immaculée Conception (our lady of the immaculate Conception) at Wervicq-Sud: The church was built between 1872 and 1875, and was the work of the archi-tect, Maillard. Made of brick and stone, its style is evocative of "neo-Roman" buildings.

Its layout is in the style of a basilica with three naves, a transept and a chancel. It houses a bell that dates back to 1638. 33% of the funding for its construction was made through anony-mous donations.

notre-dame du sacré Cœur (our lady of the sacred heart), also known as the "chapel of the Old God", at Comines: founded on 28 No-vember 1965 in the presence of representatives of the Bishop, this chapel is a place of worship that built for about 300 people, giving it the nickname of the "third church of Comines".

saint-Chrysole at Comines:(see page 9)

Check them out by going on the "Grand Place" heritage discovery trail that can be downloaded from www.ville-comines.fr

the puBliC serviCe monuments during the "interWar period"

Both towns experienced urban development with the construction of numerous "public ser-vice" facilities from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century. Given that they were destroyed during the Great war, they were rebuilt at their original location or on new wasteland areas.

the hospital - rest home of Comines 77, rue de Quesnoy at Comines

In the 12th century, the former hospice-hospital of Comines was located on the site of the pre-

sent public park. Given its age and the damage caused by the all too frequent flooding of the Lys river, it was replaced by a new hospital in 1906, on the edge of the rue de Quesnoy. Va-rious additional services such as an orphanage, a maternity ward and a crèche were added to the hospital. After the Great War, the hospital was replaced by a new building constructed on two floors in the "Flemish Renaissance style". The hospital was equipped with all the latest mod-cons. From the 1980s onwards, it was converted into a nursing home and follow-up care services. Currently, it also provides an assisted living service at people's own homes.

the former town hall of Wervicq-sud, 15, rue de l’Abbé-Bonpain

This building was built in the aftermath of the First World War opposite the church. It is currently used for accommodation but one can recognise its former function by the republican motto that is still visible on the facade. This building, the architecture of which is in the local style using bricks and stone has a crow-stepped gable, topped with a stone bouquet.

Former town hall of Wervicq-Sud, private collection

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The former Hotel of the fire services, 22, rue de l’Industrie at Wervicq-Sud

The former fire station was located in a town house that is typical of the post-war recons-truction period. You can spot a fountain nearby that was built in 1956 to pay tribute to the fire fighters of Wervicq-Sud.

This mosaic work was completed by J. C. Huyghe, like that of the former estaminet (Flemish inn) called "Au Progrès" (To Progress), built in about 1926 in brick and stone. You can still see the sign, to this day.

WorTH a visiT / THe HeriTage

The post office, rue Pasteur

The railway station, avenue de Versailles

The village school, of the centre, rue Pasteur

The former Caisse d’epargne bank, rue Léon Gambetta/avenue du Maréchal Leclerc

Check it out by going on a discovery trail of heritage sites "from the chateau to the station" that can be downloaded from www.ville-comines.fr

The Crédit du Nord bank, rue de la République: The building is constructed on a pillbox dating back to the First World War.

The scalbert Dupont bank, rue d’Hurlupin (near to the Grand'Place)

The former Desire Ducarin swimming pool, municipal baths, rue de Quesnoy (currently closed to the public)

Enjoy a walk along the "des tilleuls" (limetree) circuit and download it at www.ville-comines.fr

other monuments, built or rebuilt in the interwar period, with remarkable design features can be explored at Comines thanks to the heritage trails and walking circuits that are available:

Municipal baths (former Désiré Ducarin swimming pool)

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the "ruBaneries-îlots" (riBBon-making islands)The ribbon-making islands emerged at Comines and Wervicq-Sud at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

These are composed of a collection of several buildings, some of which have upper floors, enclosed by brick walls. The roofs of the works-hops are constructed in a "saw-tooth" style: both slopes of the roof have different inclines, covering the building with a "saw-tooth" roof.

The shorter slope is often glazed to increase the amount of natural light inside. The multi-colou-red facades are often splendid to look at.

These are just some of the remarkable archi-tecture that can be seen at working or partially redeveloped sites:

at Comines:

- lambin and ravau factory, rue Traversière

- dmr factory, rue Carnot

Check them out by going on a discovery trail of heritage sites "from the chateau to the station" that can be downloaded from www.ville-comines.fr

at WerviCq-sud:

- Cousin, brothers factory, rue de l’Industrie and rue de l’Abbé Bonpain

- planorga factory, rue Abbé Bonpain

- vandenhove factory, rue Abbé Bonpain

the "Workers'", or "terraCed", houses

Both towns have numerous so-called "wor-kers'" or "terraced" houses, in the town centre or the outskirts, bearing witness to the industrial development of both communities, that was accompanied by a population explosion from the 19th century onwards.

Some of the more remarkable terraces are:

- the so-called "Workers' houses " district, rue de la Victoire, de l’Apothicaire and Philippe de Commynes at Comines. They were built by the hospital administration, spurred on by the mayor, Désiré Ducarin, at the dawn of the First World War, on the edge of the town centre, thereby forming and entirely new district. They were partially rebuilt in the interwar period.

Check them out on the "des becques" (streams) circuit and download it at www.ville-comines.fr

So-called "terraced" housing, rue du Vieil Dieu, Comines

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- the rows of workers' houses, avenue du rivage, beside the Lys at Wervicq-Sud

Located close to the Cousin establishment, the row of workers' houses were laid out according to an architectural scheme whereby low houses with double-sloped roofs alternate with double houses constructed under a single gable dating back to the post-war reconstruction period.

- the row of workers' houses, rue Gabriel Péri at Wervicq-Sud

Located opposite the town hall, this row of workers' houses was built from 1936 to replace a section of the temporary accommodation that was built in the aftermath of the first global conflict. This row is unusual in that it is decorated with the coats of arms of the town at both ends. The Vanrullen estate is located behind these houses. It is also known as the "Cité jardins" (Gardens estate) and was built on the location of the last remaining temporary housing between 1951 and 1954.

Numerous "terraced" and town houses with remarkable architectural design features are worth exploring at Comines on the heritage discovery walk "from the chateau to the station", to be downloaded on the www.ville-comines.fr website

the large properties

Just like genuine chateaus, the large properties of industrialists and persons of repute are loca-ted in vast gardens. In most cases, they were severely damaged as a result of the Great War. But some survived and were occupied by indus-trial machinery or converted for use as public or social facilities.

Those buildings that were converted for public service use or for the people of Wervicq-Sud include the following:

- the town hall, 53 rue Gabriel Péri

This stately home (formerly "the chateau Van-dermersch") has housed the offices of the town hall since 1965. When it was purchased, it bore the name of the "Closeraie". This house is typi-cal of the influence of Norman architecture with its faux half-timbering that was achieved by the paintwork that uses various colours. Some sections in the lower part close to the porch are made of bricks with stone quoins. 4000 m2

of gardens encircle the chateau. It has a remar-kable cedar tree.

Open from October to March from 8am to 6pm and April to September from 8am to 8pm.

- the chateau dalle-dumont, rue de Linselles

Far from being the kind of chateau one might picture in the imagination, the white chateau refers to a large building, a detached home at the centre of about 30 acres of land.

This home was built in 1910 at the request of the Derville family. It is in a "neo-classical" style with a porch and Tuscan columns. It was requisitioned by the Germans in 1914 for use as a field hospital called the "Lazaret". For the record, Adolf Hitler was treated there on the night of 13 to 14 October 1918 and stayed there until the Armistice to recuperate while the artist Max Beckmann was a male nurse there.

Alphonse Dalle-Dumont bought the house in 1919 and moved the German cemetery that was located in the gardens. The town purchased

Worth a visit / the heritage

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the white chateau in 1972 on condition that it would be converted to be used for cultural, social and educational purposes. Currently, some local associations have set up permanent offices on the site: fine art studios, a dance school or "Le fil et la guinde" (the thread and the throwline) association, joint community body for the promotion of culture; it is a venue for cultural events as well as private functions.

- the chateau demeestere, 22, rue des Frères Hollebecque, right at the centre of the town

The chateau Demesteere is surrounded by a landscaped garden and a lake, the entire plot covering over 5 acres. An old house that used to belong to a large family that dealt in the local textile industry, this estate now houses an inde-pendent living facility since 1986: the "L’Orée du Bois" residence, for elderly people.

the "frontier Bridges"

at Comines : A link across the Lys between the "twins" that has been around since ancient times, the Comi-nes bridge has witnessed many ups and downs. The current bridge dates back to 1951.

at WerviCq-sud: After an eventful history, the current bridge, was opened on 11 September 1955. Symbol of the connections and communication between different nations, it was chosen by the "Sri chinmoy peace committee", on 6 June 1991, to appear in a list of 400 sites dedicated to world peace.

Dalle-Dumont chateau, Wervicq-Sud

the urBan and industrial heritage

industrial heritage

historical monument

remarkable site

urban heritage

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The plains are dotted with plenty of farms, old and new. Traditional farms with a courtyard, open on one side, called "censes", that are occasionally built on low mounds (slightly raised constructions, located on a bank surrounded with water). At Comines, several remains of

these low mounds can still be seen close to the "Montagne" (mountain) as it is called by the people of Wervicq.

Take full advantage of the pleasures of the countryside thanks to the many available farms

Worth a visit / the heritage

the rural and sCeniC heritage

Comines and Wervicq-sud combine the attractions of town life with the charm of the countryside... even if it has declined over time, farming still dominates the landscape with its vast plains set aside for growing crops or breeding livestock. however these areas are lined with suburban, industrial and recreational zones.

© Jean-Marc Delespierre - Photographic club of Wervicq-Sud

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that have now been converted into accommo-dation: rural self-catering cottages and B&Bs. If you want to take a break from the daily grind, why not explore the towpaths and the country trails...

Comines and Wervicq-Sud grew up beside the Lys river and therefore benefit from beautiful hedged farmland, with a complex system of water courses (streams, lakes, ditches, ponds...) for water drainage, and dense vegetation (hed-ges, lines of different tree species...) creating a sense of order. A little piece of heaven!

The agriculTure

At Comines and Wervicq-Sud, although the farming sector is considerable, the number of working farms has declined in the 20th century as a result of land being abandoned for other uses or consolidated into bigger farms, as well as the effects of agricultu-ral crises and sociological change:

- at Comines, there were about one hundred farms in the 1950s. Now there are only about twenty.- at Wervicq-Sud, the proportion is about 20 farms in the 1950s for 6 today.

Currently, farming has taken on a variety of dif-ferent forms: predominantly composed of small and medium-sized polyculture and/or breeding farms, as well as small farms specialising in market gardening or horticulture and large farms with intensive agricultural operations. The land is essentially devoted to growing cereals, fodder, potatoes, beetroot as well as pastures (and tobacco in the past). Most of the livestock farms breed cattle and pigs. Incidentally, similar farming operations tend to stick to certain geo-graphical areas (place names). These operations are largely passed on within the family.

farms ThaT are remarkable in Terms of Their archiTecTure

- ferme du Vieux soldat (farm of the old soldier), chemin du Grand Perne at Comines - the oldest farm of Comines, dated to the beginning of the 18th century.

- halot farm, chemin du Halot at Comines - dating to 1777 but partially rebuilt.

- hel farm, chemin du Hel at Comines - rebuilt after the Great War.

- iberian farm, impasse de la Lys at Wervicq-Sud, located 20 metres from the Lys, it appears on a military map of 1744 "Wervik Quartier du Roy" (Wervik, the King's district). It appears as the "cense de Cuvellier" and currently houses a school of dressage and stables for horses, "the Iberian workshops of the Lys river". Discover the beauty of the Lusitano horse breed. Stéphane Dupont +33 (0)3 20 39 30 50

Halot Farm, Comines

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Worth a visit / the heritage

the "becques" (streams)

The landscape is criss-crossed with a dense network of small streams called "becques", that are very useful for transferring rainwater and draining fields and pastures.

They form a key part of a network composed of ponds, ditches and the Lys river. The becques are also used to take excess surface water from the Mount of Wervicq-Sud and Linselles. The small water course called the Becque des Bois crosses a major part of the region.

the ponds and lakes

For the most part, the ponds were man-made for cattle watering or for fishing and hunting. They are currently on the wane.

They are, however, part of a heritage that needs to be preserved, particularly for their importance in maintaining the water course network with the becques, ditches and the Lys river. A place of refuge and food for many animals, these ponds are teeming with life.

the banks of the lys

To explore the rich diversity of the flora and fauna, take a walk along the banks of the Lys using the former towpaths, that have been cleared for walkers and cyclists. You can go as

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The wayside crosses

aT comines:

- wayside cross, route de Lille, Sainte-Mar-guerite district: Christ on the cross, erected by the parish in 1931

- wayside cross, route de Wervicq: Christ on the cross, mentioned in some documents dating to the 19th century (restored in the 1990s).

aT wervicq-sud:

- duflo wayside cross, 101 rue Gabriel Péri: it appears on the land register at the end of the 19th century and is unusual in that it is men-tioned in the terms of the property deeds of residents who are still required to maintain the cross in perpetuity.

The wayside crosses in the cemeteries of both towns are also worth visiting

The chapels

aT comines:

- notre-dame de délivrance chapel, also known as "des Bois" (of the woods), chemin du Rossignol : devoted to Our Lady of Deli-vrance, who is invoked for a happy birth or the liberation of prisoners. Rebuilt after the Great War and restored in 1994.

- notre-dame des Grâces chapel, 109 rue d’Hurlupin : dedicated to Our Lady of Grace. Built at the beginning of the 20th century and restored in 1990.

- notre-dame du rosaire chapel, rue de Lille : dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. Built in 1946.

- notre-dame du rosaire chapel also known as the "Goeman" chapel, chemin de Sainte-Margue-rite : dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. Built in 1882.

- "chapelle à la vierge", route d’Armentières : dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and for-merly incorporated in a farm building. Built after the Great War.

- ave maria chapel, also known as "de la rouge porte" (chapel of the red door), 1560 chemin du Hel : dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Built in the second half of the 20th century.

- chapel known as "du hel", 281 chemin du Hel : dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. Attached to the "du Hel" farm that was rebuilt in the aftermath of the First World War.

aT wervicq-sud:

- notre-dame des sept douleurs chapel, rue du Bas-Chemin : to which young pre-gnant women are particularly devoted. Destroyed in 1963 and rebuilt in a new style.

- sainte-anne chapel, rue Abbé Bonpain : dating to the end of the 19th century, rebuilt in 1928 and restored in 1990.

- notre-dame de la déli-vrance chapel, rue de Linselles : dates back to the 19th century, was rebuilt in 1950 and destroyed in 2009 (due to be rebuilt in 2010)

- notre-dame de lourdes chapel, rue Jean Jaurès: dated to the end of the 19th century, rebuilt after 1960.

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Worth a visit / the heritage

the small religious heritage

as you wander along the country trails, you often come across wayside crosses, chapels or alcoves, that are typical of the farming regions of the present and the past. this small religious heritage is also present across the countryside, on the outskirts of town or near to the main traffic routes.

Notre-Dame du Rosaire Chapel, Comines

Numerous alcoves can be found on facades or in the gables of houses and farms.

They often feature as decorative elements that are incorporated in the architecture. In the re-gion of Comines, there are about thirty of these embellishments, and Wervicq-Sud has five. The etymology of the names, streets and place-names are also noteworthy features: chemin

du Vieil Dieu at Comines for example or rue de l’Abbé Bonpain at Wervicq-Sud.

Take a walk and check out these small scattered features of the local heritage, that bear witness to the charm of these two towns in the country, and the zeal and religious traditions of the past.

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the Wayside Crosses

at Comines:

- Wayside cross, route de Lille, Sainte-Mar-guerite district: Christ on the cross, erected by the parish in 1931

- Wayside cross, route de Wervicq: Christ on the cross, mentioned in some documents dating to the 19th century (restored in the 1990s).

at WerviCq-sud:

- duflo wayside cross, 101 rue Gabriel Péri: it appears on the land register at the end of the 19th century and is unusual in that it is men-tioned in the terms of the property deeds of residents who are still required to maintain the cross in perpetuity.

The wayside crosses in the cemeteries of both towns are also worth visiting

the Chapels

at Comines:

- notre-dame de délivrance chapel, also known as "des Bois" (of the Woods), chemin du Rossignol : devoted to Our Lady of Deli-vrance, who is invoked for a happy birth or the liberation of prisoners. Rebuilt after the Great War and restored in 1994.

- notre-dame des grâces chapel, 109 rue d’Hurlupin : dedicated to Our Lady of Grace. Built at the beginning of the 20th century and restored in 1990.

- notre-dame du rosaire chapel, rue de Lille : dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. Built in 1946.

- notre-dame du rosaire chapel also known as the "goeman" chapel, chemin de Sainte-Margue-rite : dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. Built in 1882.

- "Chapelle à la vierge", route d’Armentières : dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and for-merly incorporated in a farm building. Built after the Great War.

- ave maria chapel, also known as "de la rouge porte" (chapel of the red door), 1560 chemin du Hel : dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Built in the second half of the 20th century.

- Chapel known as "du hel", 281 chemin du Hel : dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. Attached to the "du Hel" farm that was rebuilt in the aftermath of the First World War.

at WerviCq-sud:

- notre-dame des sept douleurs chapel, rue du Bas-Chemin : to which young pre-gnant women are particularly devoted. Destroyed in 1963 and rebuilt in a new style.

- sainte-anne chapel, rue Abbé Bonpain : dating to the end of the 19th century, rebuilt in 1928 and restored in 1990.

- notre-dame de la déli-vrance chapel, rue de Linselles : dates back to the 19th century, was rebuilt in 1950 and destroyed in 2009 (due to be rebuilt in 2010)

- notre-dame de lourdes chapel, rue Jean Jaurès: dated to the end of the 19th century, rebuilt after 1960.

Worth a visit / the heritagethe rUraL aND reLigioUs arChiteCtUraL heritage

rural heritage

religious heritage

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military and memorial heritage

the first World War left its mark. one of the most visible evidence of this are the pillboxes that take pride of place. they were built under the german occupation during the British bombing raids. lastly, the french war memorials erected after the war pay tribute to the large number of civilian and military casualties, while one german cemetery and two memorials built during the great War serve as a reminder of the fact that the war affecting families on all sides...

Worth a visit / the heritage

German military cemetery - Wervicq-Sud

As well as clearing caves to provide shelter during the bombing raids, the German occupant built pillboxes during the British bombing raids. Civilians and prisoners were forced to take part in the construction of these pillboxes, that were made with materials that were shipped in using the inland waterways or railways.

These constructions, built in reinforced concrete, are laid out in different ways and are relatively small in size. Numerous pillboxes that can be seen on the land registry after the war have since been destroyed or buried. At Comines, there are still about a dozen left, dating back to the First World War, largely located in rural areas, on private plots of land, near to paths

the military heritage

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and crossroads or near to the railways. At Wervicq, about ten remain, built mainly during the Great War. They are located in the woodland of the Dalle Dumont estate.

funeral and memorial heritage

at Comines:

- french war memorial (bell tower of the church of Saint-Chrysole), Grand place, built in the interwar years. Designed by the architect, Louis Marie Cordon-nier and sculpted by Adolphe Masselot, this monument stretches across two sides of the base of the church's bell tower. It represents Comines, using the allegorical figure of a dra-ped women against a shield bearing the town's coat of arms, placing a laurel wreath on the head of a French soldier lying at her feet. In the background, the Grand Place is visible as it was before its destruction, with its 1623 belfry, the town hall of 1701 and the former church. On the other side, are inscribed the names of the civilian and military casualties of the Great War. The bell tower houses a bell called the "cloche des morts" (bell of the dead) paying tribute to all the victims of the Great War.

german war memorial (North Cemetery), rue du Bas-Chemin, built in the interwar years. This monument is a memorial stone that bears a cross on which are inscribed the names of the military casualties of Comines. It is located in a circular space where the aisles of the "old" ce-metery converge and where there are numerous memorial plaques.

german war memorial (South Cemetery), rue de Lille, built in the interwar years. The monu-ment is a memorial stone on which the helmet of a French soldier rests. The memorial shows the names of the "children who died for the nation" that came from the Sainte-Marguerite district.

German war memorial, central cemetery, Comines

- former german military cemetery and war memorial (North Cemetery), rue du Bas-Chemin, built during the First World War. The cemetery was arranged in about 1856-1860, rue du Bas-chemin, when burials were discontinued in the cemetery of Saint-Chrysole church.

An adjoining plot was requisitioned by the occupying authorities to bury about 6,000 Ger-man soldiers. A war memorial was built there in a style reminiscent of the architectural works of Wilhelm.

Its four columns support a stepped pyramid on which are engraved in the stone, symbolic representations of eagles and crowns as well as a German inscription that refers to the Bible: "Niemand hat grossere Liebe denn die dass er sein Leben lasset für seine Freunde » ("Greater love has no man than the man who gives up his life for his friends").

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In the 1950s, the German cemetery was abandoned (its graves were transferred to Saint Laurent Blangy near to Arras) and it became an extension of the civil cemetery (North) but the German monument was preserved.

at WerviCq-sud:

german war memorial, Place de Gaulle. The monument, unsophisticated and bare, represents

a grief-stricken Marianne, draped in an ancient style of dress, lying against a laurel wreath and the helmet of a

French soldier. At the top, a stained glass window represen-ting the cross of the soldier lights up when a former soldier dies.

- german war memorial, church of the Immaculate Concep-tion, Place de Gaulle. Monument on a black marble bac-king with a design showing two palm branches to which the "Croix du Combattant" (Combatant Cross) is hung to the left and the "Légion d’Honneur" (Legion of Honour) medal is hung to the right.

On either side, two columns are engraved with the names of the military casualties of the Franco-Prussian and First World Wars. At the centre, in high relief with a pieta composed of four people on which is mounted a central plaque with the inscription "to the memory of the child-ren of Wervicq-Sud who died for France".

- other french war memorials, cemetery of the centre. Two black marble plaques framing a bas-relief that represents a soldier wearing a helmet kneeling down and carrying a torch in his right hand. The names of

the military casualties of the Franco-Prussian War (of Madagascar), the 1895 War and the First and

Second World Wars.

At the bottom of the plaque, 18 memorial stones bear the inscription "died for France" as well as the name and date of the buried soldier's death.

Worth a visit / the heritage

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- german war memorial, woodland of the Dalle-Dumont estate, built during the First World War. Designed by the German architect, Wilhelm Kreis, this colossal monument decorated with patriotic bas-reliefs was erected in 1915, without the use of any mechanical aids, to pay tribute to the Ger-man soldiers who died on the front lines. The inscription reads "Den gefallenen Kameraden 1914-1915. Die Ihr den Tod Im heiligen Kampf fand’t Ruth auch in fremder Erd Im Vaterland " "To fallen comrades in 1914-1915. You who died during the sacred battle, you rest in your homeland even if your bodies lie in foreign lands". »

- german military cemetery, slope of the Montagne of Wervicq-Sud. This cemetery has 2,458 graves of German soldiers who were

killed during the First World War and are buried close to the Dalle chateau. The graves were moved after the war to the current location of the cemetery. An association takes care of the maintenance of the site. Among the metal crosses (that have replaced the original wooden crosses), you will notice about ten memorial stones under which the bodies of Jewish Ger-man soldiers rest. You can also take a look at a cross and a pillbox. Nature appears to blend in with the graves; it is the symbol of the eternal rest of the deceased.

Check them out on the "Montagne" and "des Becques" circuits that can be downloaded on the www.ville-comines.fr and www.wervicq-sud.com websites

Both towns bear the signs of many other conflicts. monuments, cemeteries, statues as well as the names of the streets and places act as permanent reminders of the past:

- monuments "To the memory of the children who died for France" during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 are located in the cemeteries of Comines (North cemetery) and Wervicq-Sud.

- the French monuments erected after the Great War pay tribute to the casualties of the Second World War and other decolonisation conflicts of the 20th century.

- town square memorials to war veterans (rue du cimetière in Comines / rue Gabriel Péri and allée des acacias in Wervicq-Sud, for the war veterans of North Africa).

- British soldiers, killed in action (Battle of the Lys) during the Second World War, are buried in the cemeteries of Comines and Wervicq-Sud.

- a memorial stone, unveiled on 6 September 2007 (Place du 6 Septembre) commemorates the Liberation of Comines on 6 September 1944 by the troops of the 7th British Armou-red Division. The memorial stone is made of granite and has an engraving of a tank to symbolise the liberation.

- in the formal reception room of the town hall of Comines, you can admire the "Croix de Guerre" (war cross) medal, awarded to the town in 1920. It can be seen in the represen-tation of the town's coat of arms on various buildings (facades, stained glass windows...).

- many streets bear the name of military casualties, resistance fighters and key local or national figures of the various conflicts.

Worth a visit / the heritagemilitary and memorial heritage

first World War pillbox (presumed period)

first World War pillbox

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festivals and traditions

to do / to experienCe

Jehan van d’helle festival

At the Jehan Van d’Helle Festival, Wervicq-Sud takes a look back at the town's former glory days, in the 16th century, as the main tobacco-growing centre of Europe. The Jehan Van d’Helle giant parades around the town. According to the legend, he was responsible for

introducing tobacco farming to the town which led to it becoming a the main hotbed for the production of tobacco in Europe.

When Jehan, an adventurer-trader returned from Florida, he presented the first tobacco plants to the court. He lived at the "Marriage"

When they celebrate their rich historical past, Comines and Wervicq-sud know how to host a party. they dress in colourful costumes. they move to the rhythm of the bands. the fête des louches (spoon festival) at Comines and the Jehan van d’helle festival at Wervicq-sud each hark back to local legend. they have become genuine traditions on which the identity of the two towns is based: a heritage to be experienced and preserved! so, don't hesitate! go with the flow and enjoy the outlandish aspects of the festival, join the parade of floats and giants... a unique event that will bring a smile to your face!

Spoon throwing from the town hall of Comines

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chateau at the Montagne with his wife Sabine de Snuf and their two children, Sot'ch and Turlutte.Every day, Jehan would sit in his armchair to ins-pect his plantations so that he could hunt down any intruders who sought to rob him of his pre-cious plants. To stay awake, he would smoke his pipe continuously until one day, on the Feast of the Ascension, he unfortunately fell asleep and set his own beard alight. Spotting the smoke, his wife rushed to his side, put the fire out and threw his pipe out the window. That day, she saved her husband from certain death.

For a long time, this event was celebrated with a splendid parade, the highlight of which were the giants, processing through the streets of

the town in all its pomp and closing with the pipe throwing event that is eagerly awaited by the onlookers who attend the event in their hundreds.The commemoration of Jehan Van d’Helle, regarded as a local hero, has since become a big annual festival that brings all the local popula-tion together to partake in numerous activities.

fête des louChes (spoon festival)

Each year, Comines relives this ancient tradition: the throwing of the spoons. Passed on from generation to generation, numerous legends are thought to have given rise to this event, the most commonly told being that of the Lord of Comines, imprisoned in the dungeon of the old castle by his usurper. He is believed to have thrown spoons bearing his coat of arms to alert the local population of his presence.

To commemorate this event, Comines kept the tradition of throwing spoons on the market day that follows the Feast of Saint-Denis. Many other historical interpretations have suggested that this custom dates back to Jean I de la Clyte. Imprisoned by the English following the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, he was freed for a consi-derable ransom paid by the people of Comines.

The story goes that, in order to thank them, his son Jean II requested and obtained, in 1456, the right to trade freely on the Feast of Saint-Denis, which was the market day. As for the spoon throwing event, it is said to have begun for commercial reasons: to open the day on which merchants were granted freedom of trade, street peddlers would throw a few handfuls of spoons, hoping to draw the onlookers.

The spoon throwing event has now become a long-standing tradition, having been an occa-sional event in the past. It was only in 1884 that an organisation committee was created specially for the Spoon Festival. Today, the parade of lan-terns that marks the beginning of the autumn

Jean Van d’Helle Festival, Wervicq-Sud

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and the festivities of the Spoon Festival, inclu-ding the spoon throwing event from the town hall beside the belfry and the parade of giants, are local traditions that have become part of regional custom...the giants

at Comines:

p’tite Chorchire* is a ribbon-making worker. He bears the nickname of a swindler whose boat was called the little witch allowed him to cross the Lys unhindered.

grande gueloute* is the wife of p’tite Chorchire. She is particularly well known for speaking loudly.

* *although these are the names that these giants have today, they had different identities in the past and their names were reversed over time.

Burchard is a Lord of Comines. He joined the First Crusade in 1099.

messire de Comines evokes the Confrérie de la Franche Louche. He wears the costume coloured red and gold to represent the colours of the Clyte family from whom Philippe de Comines came.

saint-Chrysole is the saint who evangelised the valley of the Lys and founded the first Christian commu-nity at Comines.

at WerviCq-sud:

Jehan van d’helle appeared for the first time in 1954. According to local legend, he was born in a bunch of tobacco leaves.

Other than the traditions that are celebrated each year during the two famous festivals of Comines and Wervicq, other customs with religious roots continue to be celebrated today such as the novena to Saint-Chrysole at Comi-nes, the Feast of Saint-Catherine in the textile businesses...

Similarly, numerous associations continue an-cient cultural and sporting customs in the two towns such as music, archery...

to do / to experienCe

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Calendar of Cultural events

hikes and heritage

Every year, in May, in Comines and Wervicq-Sud

Whether you are nature-lovers, curious about heritage, tireless walkers or you simply enjoy an outing, you will find what you are looking for on this annual weekend. An action-packed programme that encourages you to look at the surrounding urban and rural landscape in a new way: an ideal way of getting to know all diver-sity and beauty of the region.

Jehan van d’helle

Every year, on the Feast of the Ascension, at Wervicq-Sud

Make the most of the Jehan Van d’Helle festivities. To do: fun fair, shows with a theme, blessing of the animals.

heritage, Culture, tourism Course

Every year, in September, in Comines and Wervicq-Sud.

Treat yourself to the events and exhibitions, that are open to all ages, with this fascinating cour-se. The two towns make use all the resources at their disposal including history, architecture and geography, to promote an aspect of their heritage while hosting cultural events (concerts, conferences, shows...) on various themes.

The European heritage days are one of the high points of this course that is sure to amaze you...

fête des louChes (spoon festival)

Every year, on the second Sunday of October at Comines

The Spoon Festival lasts for three days. On Saturday, the lantern procession and the spoon throwing event for the children open the programme of festivities. On the Sunday, the festival reaches its climax with an impressive procession composed of vignettes illustrating the legends and the history of the town, with a parade of giants. Then, the famous wooden spoons shower down upon the crowd assem-bled outside the town hall. Finally, on the Monday, a market commemorates the Medie-val market that was inaugurated in 1456 by Philip the Good, during which merchants were granted freedom of trade. An unmissable event!

Hikes and heritage

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at Comines:

maison du patrimoine (heri-tage offices) "andré schoonheere"tourist information office 4/6, rue du Pont

+33 (0)3 20 14 21 51

From Tuesday to Friday from 9.30am to 12noon and from 2pm to 5.30pm, as well as on Monday

and Saturday during the high season

The tourist information office is at your disposal for all enquiries: finding out more about the heritage sites, where to eat and stay, local knowledge and cultural activities, sports and recreation... The tourist information office has wheelchair access and is equipped with a hea-ring loop system. As for the heritage museum, it hosts art exhibitions or exhibitions on local history.

It also houses the offices of the "Amis de Comines" (friends of Comines) association that will be happy to help you in your historical or genealogical research.

Association des "Amis de Comines"Tel. +33 (0)3 20 39 05 74 (chairman)amisdecomines@gmail.com The Maison du patrimoine is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2pm to 5pm (Thursdays by appointment).

municipal music schoolRue de Wervicq

+33 (0)3 20 39 27 89

Open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 2pm to 9pm, Wednesdays from 10am to 8pm

and Saturdays from 10am to 3pm

From an introductory to a full training course, the School of Music has options that are suita-ble for all age groups. The entire teaching staff is composed of professional musicians.

to do / to experienCe

Maison du patrimoine (heritage offices) / Tourist information office,

the Cultural faCilities

39

the nautilysRue Kléber Loquet

+33 (0)3 20 74 37 40

Open from Monday to Friday from 10am to 12noon and from 2pm to 11pm, and on Satur-days from 1pm to 7pm

Amateurs or professionals are welcome to this den of "amplified music". A place where real work, research and art work are carried out, the Maison de la Musique provides accommo-dation, for shorter or longer periods of time, for artists looking for a place to finish off an album or adapt their work for a theatrical show. What's more, the four rooms provide musicians with a comprehensive, high-performance and practical support structure for rehearsals.

The Nautilys, together with the municipal music school, combine to form the "Maison de la Musique".

municipal school of fine arts19, rue de la VictoirePrefabricated building no. 3

+33 (0)3 28 36 90 83

Open on Wednesday from 10am to 12noon and from 1.30pm to 4.30pm (children's les-sons) and Saturday (alternate weeks) from 10am to 6pm (adult workshops)

Looking to put a bit of colour in your life? The municipal fine arts school is made for you! Throughout the school year, benefit from high-quality teaching by attending workshops that are suited to the level of the participants. You can sign up whether you are from Comines or not.

municipal library "georges de hallewyn"Rue des Arts

+33 (0)3 28 36 91 26

Opening hours:- In school time: Tuesday and Thursday from 2pm to 6pm, Wednesday from 9am to 11am and from 2pm to 6.30pm, Friday from 2pm to 6.30pm and Saturday from 2pm to 5pm- In holiday time and in July: tuesday and thursday from 2pm to 18pm, wednesday from 9am to 12noon and from 2pm to 6.30pm, Friday from 2pm to 6.30pm Saturday from 2pm to 5pm- During the month of August: Tuesday and Thursday from 2pm to 5pm, Wednesday from 9am to 12noon and from 2pm to 6.30pm

Over 20,000 books await you in the library! The library organises regular events aimed at children and adults: dictation competitions, "Lire en fete" (celebrate reading) campaign, Fairy tale hour, exhibitions on various themes... Plenty of opportunities to learn while having fun!

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at WerviCq-sud: municipal school of fine artsChateau Dalle, 1st floor, rue de LinsellesOpening hours:Tuesday from 6pm to 9pm (adults)Wednesday from 10am to 12noon (children)

municipal music school « patrick gallois »Avenue des Sports, Espace 2000Tel. +33 (0)3 20 14 59 27

municipal media libraryAvenue des sports, Espace 2000Tel. +33 (0)3 20 14 59 28

Opening hours: Tuesday and Friday from 2pm to 6pm, Wednesday from 8.30am to 12noon and 2pm to 6pm, Saturday from 9am to 12noon and from 2pm to 5pm.

In addition to 10,000 works, novels and do-cumentaries included, highly eclectic musical records including rock, classical and world music genres, two terminals with internet access for documentary research purposes, two CD Roms that can be consulted or borrowed and a press area for reading regional newspapers such as La Voix du Nord and Nord Éclair, as well as maga-zines on a variety of themes, particularly Géo, Science et Vie, Pays du Nord, Top santé and for young people Phosphore, J’aime lire and plenty of other titles.

CybercentreEcole Pasteur, left side entrance, 13 avenue Pasteur

Opening hours: lessons on Tuesday from 6pm to 8pm, Wednesday from 10am to 12noon, multimedia lessons on Thursday from 6pm to 8pm, free admission from 2pm to 7pm. The cybercentre, equipped with about ten computers with high bandwidth internet access, enables people of all ages, expert users or be-ginners to explore this amazing media tool that is the internet, to learn or become more advan-ced in the use of the basic computing tools such as word processing, spreadsheets, e-mails and also enjoy the pleasures of new digital technolo-gies, particularly photography and video.

the museum of small farming jobs21, rue de Linselles - Parc Dalle.Open from the end of April to the end of Sep-tember, on Sundays from 2pm to 7.30pm

Thanks to its renovated interior decoration and its plentiful collection of farming objects, check out what it was like to live in the country between 1850 and 1940. Located in a workers' house, that was restored by the members of the "Hier Wervicq" (Wervicq Yesterday) associa-tion, this little museum is totally enchanting. And why not extend your visit by taking a walk in the animal park or enjoying a meal at the estaminet (Flemish inn)?

to do / to experienCe

41

• "Entre becques et montagne" circuit (between the streams and the hill circuit)(27 km cycling circuit, starting from the Grand Place of Comines)

Cycle through the bucolic scenery of Wervicq-Sud and Comines, with its becques (streams), farms, chapels and self-catering cot-

tages...

Using the towpaths, cycle to the top of the "Montagne"...

Circuits registered by the PDIPDR (departmen-tal map of walking and hiking routes):

• Circuit des Chouettes (owl's circuit) ( 5 km walk, starting from the church of Sainte- Marguerite in Comines)

Beginning in the Sainte-Marguerite district, enjoy this enchanting walk through the countryside of Comines.

You may be lucky enough to see a little owl, quite common in this district...

Looking to gEt away? what about a waLk?

Explore the rich natural diversity of Comines and wervicq-Sud, these two towns in the country that have become a real joy for walkers... grab a walking brochure at the tourist information office of Comines or in the Espace 2000 at wervicq. you can also download them directly from the website of the town of Comines, www.ville-comines.fr or from the website of the town of wervicq-Sud, www.wervicq-sud.com.

"Entre becques et montagne" (between the streams and the hill), 27 km cycling circuit

42

• Circuit des tilleuls (lime-tree circuit)(10 km walk, starting at Comines station)

On this walk, you can learn to recognise the different species of trees and shrubs that line the paths and country roads of Comines as well as those that border the different farm plots (poplar, willow, limetree, alder...). A

nature walk!

• Circuit de la montagne (montagne circuit) (5 or 7 km walk for the whole family, starting from the church of Wervicq-Sud)

In the vicinity of the "Mon-tagne of Wervicq-Sud", follow the small country roads and check out the ponds and rows of pollarded willows that are teeming with wild life...

• Circuit des becques (streams circuit) (15-kilometre walk, starting at Comines station) Stroll across the plain of Comines and see the crops, pastures, drainage ditches and, particularly, the small streams known as "becques" that criss-cross the entire farming region of Comines.

Heritage walks

• Promenade de la Grand Place (Grand Place walk)(30-minute walk, starting from the tourist information office in Comines)

Uncover the secrets of the Grand Place of Comines and its symbolic architectural monuments: the church of Saint-Chrysole, the town hall and its belfry. After the First World War, all that was left of the town was a pile

of ruins. The Grand Place was entirely redesig-ned. It became a symbol of successful post-war reconstruction.

• Walk from the chateau to the station(1½-hour walk, starting from the tourist information office in Comines)

Go on a journey of disco-very of two districts on the outskirts of the town centre of Comines that grew up as a result of the expansion of the textile industry and the arrival of the railway.

Get a taste for the significance of their splendid architectural history: public buildings such as the community school or the post office, superior private residential areas with their rows of hou-ses and private mansions.

To do / To exPerienCe

43

at Comines:

• Centre équestre de Timborne (Timborne riding school)120, chemin de Timborne

+33 (0)3 20 39 28 31

The riding school of Timborne offers recreatio-nal riding and equine therapy (for physically or mentally disabled people), in a restored Flemish farm, covering over 7 acres. It has an indoor arena, an outdoor arena for horses and another of ponies, a cross-country school, a lunge ring, a galloping track with a mound... Pure joy!

• Ecuries du Tilleul (Limetree stables)1027, chemin du Bas Chemin

+33 (0)3 20 39 82 69

Horses and ponies await you at these family-friendly stables covering 6 acres, with an outdoor and indoor arena and a special indoor arena for children. Perfect for beginners and more experienced riders looking to improve in the best possible conditions!

leisure aCtivities

the riding sChools

44

• Association of Supporters and drivers of horsedrawn carriages of the nord region - recreational and cross-country carriages"Les Prés Verts" self-catering cottage

+33 (0)6 23 17 17 40Family or group outings on request, for between 2 and 25 people. All year round by appointment.

Explore the countryside of Comines to the sound of the hoofs of Jacynthe, Kiwi, Cora and Marquis, 4 draught horses…

the eduCational farms

at Comines:

• Blanche Bannière farm1711, chemin de la Blanche Bannière

+33 (0)3 20 39 91 01

Enjoy a visit to this farm where dairy and suckler cows, ducks, rabbits and goats live side by side. At the end of your stay, you'll have uncovered all the mysteries of the farm. You can even organise a birthday for your children there!

• The snail farm1447, chemin de l’Apothicaire

+33 (0)3 20 39 31 61

Find out more about the fascinating world of snails at the only snail farm

in the Lille region. This farm breeds no less than 2,000,000 snails! To do: visit the snail farm, enjoy a tasting, snail races (for schools).

• "La Z'Âne Attitude" donkey discovery cen-tre (opening due in September 2010)Ferme du Cromembourg - 580 Chemin du Gavre au Cromembourg

+33 (0)3 20 11 22 18

Get to know more about donkeys, up close, by meeting 10 donkeys, including 2 Poitou donkeys and 2 miniature donkeys. Open to school groups and disabled people and elderly people from homes attending donkey therapy courses during the week. Baby-donkey club on Wednesdays. Open to the general public on Sunday, the "mag'ASIN" and "tis'ANERIE" stores selling donkey-related products, will give you a warm welcome. Hire a pack-donkey for a walk through the countryside of Comines... a great day out packed with things to do!

at WerviCq-sud:

• Educational farm of Mr and Mrs lefebvre106, rue de Linselles

+33 (0)3 20 39 11 76

Join in the everyday life of a dairy herd. Admire the different crops being farmed. Take in the fresh air and taste the local produce. A full immersion in rural life!

• Farm park The "des Bois" farmGérard and Christine Renard25, avenue de la Victoire

+33 (0)3 20 39 06 41 Visits from 1 April to 15 October.

After visiting the stables and the chicken coop, try your hand at making butter and yoghurt, on this Flemish farm located on the edge of the town beside some woodland. Check out the strawberry fields. A great experience awaits you!

to do / to experienCe

45 © Tourist Information Office of Comines-Warneton

other reCreational aCtivities

• Tree-top adventure park: Lys Aventure 21, rue de Linselles - Parc Dalle-Dumont at Wervicq-Sud

+33 (0)6 72 69 81 62Open from 1st April to 15 November, every day except Tuesday during school time and every day during the school holidays. Advance boo-kings required.

Ready for an adventure? Try out a tree-top adventure course including zip-lines, in total safety, at this family park covering a total of 3.7 acres. Thrills guaranteed!

• Comines/Deûlémont marinaPort authority: Jean-Marie Plouy

+33 (0)6 74 95 85 93

Stop over at the Deûlémont marina and let the peacefulness of the site wash over you. Desi-gned by the towns of Comines and Deûlémont, this marina has berths for about thirty boats. For a change of scenery!

also availaBle in the neighBouring toWns...

Comines-Warneton and Wervik (Belgium):

tourist information office7, chemin du moulin Soete Comines-Warneton, Belgium

+32 32 56 55 56 00

tourist information officeKoestraat 63 - Wervik, Belgium

+32 56 31 49 29

46

rural self-Catering Cottages

ferme du vieux soldat (farm of the old soldier) 320, rue du Grand Perne at Comines

+33 (0)3 20 46 83 18E-mail: marie.bonduel@free.frContact: Mr and Mrs Bonduel Cottage no. 2201 - 4 people - Cottage no. 2202 - 3 people -

• Les Près Verts1221, chemin du Petit Enfer at Comines

+33 (0)3 20 39 01 92E-mail: lespresverts@free.frWebsite: www.lespresverts.frContact: Mrs Vermes Cottage no. 2203 - 5 people - Cottage no. 2204 - 4 people - Cottage no. 2205 - 3 people -

• Rouge Porte farm1560, chemin du Hel at Comines

03 20 14 93 93E-mail: renelictevout@yahoo.frContact: Mr Lictevout Cottage no. 2207 - 3 people - Cottage no. 2208 - 7 people - Cottage no. 2209 - 4 people - Cottage no. 2210 - 2 people -

• Claudine and Denis Lefebvre106, rue de Linselles at Wervicq-Sud

+33 (0)3 20 39 11 76Contact: Mr and Mrs Lefebvre Cottage no. 2894 - 5 people - Cottage no. 2895 - 7 people -

Cottage for groups

• Les Près Verts809, chemin du Petit Enfer

+33 (0)3 20 39 21 28E-mail: lespresverts@free.frWebsite: www.lespresverts.fr Cottage for 30 people -

Bed & Breakfasts

• Les Près Verts1221, chemin du Petit Enfer at Comines

+33 (0)3 20 39 21 28E-mail: lespresverts@free.frWebsite: www.lespresverts.fr 3 self-catering cottage no. 2206 for 1, 2, 3 or 4 people -

• Relais de la Vieille Garde reception room265, rue du Grand Perne at Comines

+33 (0)3 20 78 91 31 / +33 (0)3 20 14 93 93 E-mail: nicolas.watrin@cegetel.net 3 self-catering cottages no. 2212 for 2, 3 or 4 people -

praCtiCal information

aCCommodation

looking for accommodation? you can choose between 11 self-catering cottages (including one group cottage) and 6 B&Bs. all the rural accommodation has the "gites de france" label.

47

restaurants

traditional food

• The tavern of Sainte-Marguerite81, rue de Lille at Comines

+33 (0)3 20 39 00 60Open every lunchtime except Wednesday, and in the evenings on Friday and Saturdaywww.tavernesaintemarguerite.frBuffet, fish, regional and traditional food. 90 covers, garden and outdoor seating.

• Au péché mignon21, rue Abbé Bonpain at Wervicq-sud

+33 (0)3 20 39 07 07 www.lepechemignon.fr

Open from Monday to Friday lunchtime, on Saturday evenings and for Sunday lunch. Menu including a starter, a main course, a dessert plus a drink served at an unlimited buffet. Take Away menu available. Regional and traditional food. 60 covers

mediterranean food

• L. Zahra14, rue Pierre Housez at Comines

+33 (0)3 20 39 66 81Open from Tuesday to Sunday, lunchtime and eveningMoroccan food. 25 covers

• II Viale18, rue de la République at Comines

+33 (0)3 20 55 18 50Open for lunch from 12noon to 2pm and in the evening from 7pm to 10pm except Monday and Sunday eveningTraditional Italian food, pizzas served in the restaurant or take-away. 50 covers

Just CliCk...

to check out all the available places to eat (restaurants, snack-bars, cafes-brasseries...) at the following web address:

www.ville-comines.fr

www.wervicq-sud.com

48

Private reception rooms (at Comines)

• L’étable35, rue de Lille

+33 (0)3 20 39 10 78Capacity: 48 people

• Ferme de la Blanche Bannière reception room1711, chemin de la Blanche Bannière

+33 (0)3 20 39 91 01Capacity: 50 people

• Hirondelles reception roomBlanche Bannière farm1560, chemin du Hel

+33 (0)3 20 39 02 57Capacity: 50 people

• Relais de la Vieille Garde reception room265, rue du grand Perne

+33 (0)3 20 78 91 31 Reception room: 70 peopleConference room: for 10 to 36 people

• Vil d’Y room8, rue du Vieil Dieu

+33 (0)3 20 39 08 87Capacity: 100 people

• Reception rooms of the chateau21, rue du bas chemin

+33 (0)3 20 21 85 873 roomsCapacity: up to 350 people

praCtiCal information

reCeption rooms

49

• The discovery farm the "des Bois" farmGérard and Christine Renard25, avenue de la Victoire at Wervicq-Sud

+33 (0)3 20 39 06 41Open on Monday from 3pm to 7pm, from Tuesday to Friday from 9.30am to 12.30pm and 3pm to 7pm and Saturday from 9am to 7pm. Direct sales of farm produce. You will find dairy products, desserts, cheeses, apple juices, poultry, eggs, potatoes, vegetables... and you can order your vegetable basket!

• Dominique and Martine Grislain35 rue de Lille at Comines

+33 (0)3 20 39 10 78Closed on SundaysDirect sales of farm produce. You will find eggs, dairy products, cheeses, poultry, rabbits, ducks...

• Relais de la Vieille Garde reception roomRue du Grand Perne at Comines

+33 (0)3 20 78 91 31Direct sales (sales orders and by appoint-ment) from October to May: foie gras, "rillettes" patés, "confit" meat preserves, duck breast, duck gizzard and fat…

• The snail farmFabien Lesaffre1447, chemin de l’Apothicaire at Comines

+33 (0)3 20 39 31 61From Monday to Friday from 2pm to 7pm and Saturday from 8.30am to 6.30pmSales of snails in their shells, Burgundy-style snails, snail preserves...

• Weekly market at CominesEach Monday morning, from 8am to 1pm, about fifty traders set up their stalls on the Grand Place

• Weekly market at Wervicq-SudShortly to be held on the Place de l'Europe

markets, loCal produCers, farm shop

50

• Bus

Transpole transport operator 0 820 42 40 40 ( 0.12 / min)

www.transpole.fr

Trans Val de Lys transport operator (Keolis group)Z.A de la Nouvelle Energie – Comines

+33 (0)3 20 66 26 66

The transport operator has travel coaches with 49 to 63 seats for trips around France and abroad. It also has services on the following routes:

Route 1 (bus rapid transit)Stops: Quesnoy-sur-Deûle, Wambrechies, Ron-chin, Marquette, Saint-André, Lille

Route 18 Comines-LilleStops: Quesnoy-sur-Deûle, Wambrechies, Mar-quette, La Madeleine

Route 36 Comines-LilleStops: Wervicq-Sud, Bousbecque, Linselles, Bondues, Marcq-en-Baroeul, La Madeleine

Route 37: Comines-TourcoingStops: Wervicq-Sud, Bousbecque, Linselles, Roncq

Route 38: Halluin-TourcoingStops: Wervicq-Sud, Bousbecque, Halluin, Neu-ville-en-Ferrain

Route 82: Armentières-Wervicq BelgiumStops: Houplines, Frelinghien, Deûlemont, War-neton, Comines, Wervicq-Sud

Bus timetables are available from the tourist information office of Comines and at the town hall offices of Comines and Wervicq-Sud.

• Taxis

Taxi Christophe +33 (0)6 72 92 17 60

Taxi Val de Lys +33 (0)6 63 68 23 10

• S.N.C.F railway station

Avenue de Versailles – Comines+33 3 20 39 07 04

Route no. 5 Comines/Lille in 26 minutesWeekdays, 5 return tripsSaturdays, 3 return trips

Ticket office open from Monday to Friday from 7am to 12.15pm and from 1.45pm to 6.15pm, and on Saturdays from 8am to 1.10pm

Station closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

transportation

praCtiCal information

51

CatholiC ChurCh

• Parish of the Epiphany (Comines and Wervicq-Sud)Presbytery, 3 rue du château at Comines

+33 (0)3 20 39 03 77

• Saint-Chrysole Church Grand Place at Comines - Sunday mass at 10.30am

• Church of Notre-Dame du Sacré-Cœur (chapel of the "Vieil Dieu"), rue du Vieil Dieu at Comines Mass on Saturday at 6.30pm

• Church of Sainte-Marguerite, parvis de l’abbé Dervaux at CominesSunday mass: Sunday at 11.15am.Presbytery, rue des frères Bulckaen

+33 (0)3 20 39 06 33

• Church of l’Immaculée Conception, place du Général de Gaulle at Wervicq-Sud Mass on Saturday at 6.30pm and Sunday at 10.30amPresbytery, at Wervicq-Sud

+33 (0)3 20 39 00 73

muslim mosque

• Er-Rahma mosque, 51 rue Léon Gambetta at Comines:

+33 (0)3 20 39 07 54

plaCes of Worship

52

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Comines and Wervicq-Sudheritage map of

Tourist guide

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Town of CominesTourist information office 4/6 rue du Pont at Comines+33 (0)3 20 14 21 51

Ville de Wervicq-SudTown hall 53, rue Gabriel Péri+33 (0)3 20 14 59 20

www.ville-comines.frwww.wervicq-sud.com

Information

Comines and Wervicq-Sud2 towns in the country

Places of worshipRestaurantsEducational

farms

MarinaPicnic areas

Self-catering and B&Bs

Outdoor leisure acti-

Receptionrooms

Tourist informa-tion office

Remarkable sites

StationCultural facilities

Local producersFarm sales

The neighbouring towns of Comines and Wervicq-Sud, nestled in the Lys valley, have built their reputation and wealth over many centuries from farming and the textile industry.

Because they are also border towns, located on the extreme northern edge of the agglomeration of Lille, they have taken advantage of this special situation, at a "meeting point" between two countries, which has not only enhanced the cultural, linguistic and economic aspects of the towns but also left an indelible impression on the people of this area as a result of the vagaries of history.

You will find historical monuments alongside the easily recognisable style of buildings constructed in the post-war period, modern buildings with a futuristic architecture, evidence of the economic and demographic growth of the area, as well as the numerous street names recalling the memory of the darkest times of our history.

Strongly linked by a common past, Comines and Wervicq-Sud have decided to protect and promote this heritage, attracting visitors to these tourist towns with their unspoilt quality of life, well planned facilities and an intense cultural life.

This new tourist guide, created in partnership, will help you get to know the riches of the regions of Comines and Wervicq-Sud and provide you with plenty of information to help you find out more, which, we hope, will encourage you to come and stay with us for a while.

Welcome and we wish you an enjoyable stay at Comines and Wervicq-Sud.

Alain Detournay Mayor of Comines

Jean-Gabriel JacobMayor of Wervicq-Sud

Comines and Wervicq-Sudheritage map of

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Town of CominesTourist information office 4/6 rue du Pont at Comines+33 (0)3 20 14 21 51

Ville de Wervicq-SudTown hall 53, rue Gabriel Péri+33 (0)3 20 14 59 20

www.ville-comines.frwww.wervicq-sud.com

Information

Comines and Wervicq-Sud2 towns in the country