The Fontaine Saint-Landelin continues to bubble in the same basin; its temperature remains constant at 12 °C. The abbey and Moulin de Crespin represent the town’s religious and industrial heritage, but the surviving traces differ: parts of the abbey are visible today; after the fire in 1997, only a small part of the former mill remained.
Abbey and Mill: Traces of Different Eras
Crespin Abbey was founded around 670, and its first abbey church was built around 673. The parts visible today include the abbot’s house, the entrance gate to the farmyard, the large mill and outbuildings. A decree dated December 26, 1990, lists parts of the former abbey as historic monuments, including the abbot’s palace, mill buildings, the entrance portal and five pillars.
Moulin de Crespin was a local mill belonging to the town’s industrial heritage, where flour was produced. It was powered by the water of the Hogneau. It ceased operating in 1965. After a fire on Christmas night in 1997, only a small part remained, including the silo. The mill therefore represents a different phase of the town’s history from the founding of the abbey.
Hiking and Nature in Bois Saint-Landelin
The “Alexandre le Géant” hiking trail combines nature, abbey heritage and urban landscapes, and uses part of the GR 122. The route is 8.5 km long; a shorter option is 4 km. It starts at Crespin Town Hall and is marked with yellow PR signs. This lets you take the route length into account when planning, without confusing the two options with different routes.
Bois Saint-Landelin is a 41-hectare wetland that provides space for floodwaters to spread and serves as a refuge for fauna and flora. A 800 m educational trail runs along Chemin du Composé. A path through the Bois, equipped with information panels, reaches the former Moulin de Crespin via the GR 122. The paths and their information make the area a nature-focused complement to the town’s historical sites.
Festivals and Local Traditions
An open-air mass is celebrated at the Fontaine Saint-Landelin every year on the Sunday close to June 15. Check the exact date before your trip. The “Marche d’Alexandre le Géant” is also an annual event: it takes place on the third Sunday in September. The local hiking association organizes several walks, accompanied by a procession of the giant and his companions. The hiking trail and the event programme are different aspects of the name Alexandre le Géant.
The Saint-Roch festival takes place on August 16. Chapelle Saint-Roch was built by residents in 1849 and inaugurated in 1853. After a severe cholera epidemic, the population went to the chapel to pray. Crespin church houses three altarpieces from the Abbey of Saint-Jean de Valenciennes. These details add other religious sites and traditions to the abbey’s history without conflating them with the former Crespin Abbey.
The Totemus trail in Crespin is an interactive treasure hunt exploring the town’s local heritage. If you would like to include this activity in your plans, check the app’s availability in advance.
Brasserie d’Amblise and Regional Cuisine
Brasserie d’Amblise in Crespin includes a restaurant, a bar and a boutique. Amblise beers can be sampled there: four varieties are available on tap, and the full range is available in bottles. The menu includes northern French dishes such as Carbonade flamande, Welsh à la Bougre d’Amblise and Flamiche au Maroilles. As tasting offers and menus may change, check the current selection and availability before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Dunkerque, Saint-Amand-Les-Eaux, La Gorgue, Feignies, Steene, Lille, Solre-le-Château, Masnières
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