Nos événements

In French Flanders, near the Belgian frontier, the town of Bergues has the label “ Ville d'Arts et Histoire” - (town of Arts and History). Among the many monuments relating its rich historical past, is the church of St. Martin.

The first documented church dates from the 10th century, and was replaced at the end of the 16th Century by a grand and vast , 'hallekerque' ( a 'hall-church' - having the side aisles of the same height as the nave) and in the late gothic style.

During the Second World War the church was burnt and the tower shelled and blown up. Rebuilt at the end of the 1950's the church has kept important elements of the previous church : the chevet, with its three absides, the south wall of the sanctuary, the south porch, and the south arm of the transept, all classified Historical Monuments.

The material chosen to rebuild the church, yellow sand bricks harmonises well with the ancient elements and gives a luminous aspect to the exterior, also found inside. The unornamented interior, lit by the yellow/orange stain glass windows particularly valorises the contemporary ceramic “Way of the Cross”. Near to the baptism font is the souvenir of Father Frédéric Janssone (1839-1916) who came from the nearby village of Ghyvelde and was beatified by Pope Saint John Paul II.