In Templeuve, the history of milling, buildings from several centuries and local legends meet on two Totemus routes. For planning your visit, the opening arrangements also matter: the mill offers seasonal guided tours, while Saint-Martin Church is currently closed. The routes differ in activity, length and the time information available.
Moulin de Vertain: History and Visiting Hours
The Moulin de Vertain is a post mill with a rotating trestle and is considered unique in France. A mill at this site has been documented since 1328. After a fire caused by war in 1616, it was completely rebuilt; flour production ended in 1908.
From early May to late September, guided tours take place on Sunday afternoons according to a calendar set each year. The mill is also open to the public on European Heritage Days. Groups can arrange tours on request outside these times. Check the annual calendar before your visit so you can take the seasonal opening hours and your preferred date into account.
Architectural History at the Church and Château Baratte
Saint-Martin Church has Romanesque origins. Some bluestone columns with capitals in the Tournai style have been preserved. The three eastern apses, the transept and the construction of the bell tower date from the 15th and 16th centuries; the classical pedimented portal was built in the 18th century. The different architectural elements therefore point to several periods. The church is currently closed because of dry rot. Check its status before planning a visit.
Château Baratte also adds to Templeuve’s architectural history: the Neo-Renaissance-style building was constructed to plans by architect Arthur Leclercq and completed in 1860. The château has a park with centuries-old trees, a large play area for children and a place for adults to stroll.
A Local Legend and Its Stone Trace
The rectangular Pierre de la sorcière, marked with a rope, is associated with a local legend that witches were displayed on this stone before their execution. Witch trials took place in the village in the 16th and 17th centuries. The stone itself is a paving stone that served as a boundary marker between different plots of land. At this site, legend and original function therefore stand side by side without needing to be confused with one another.
Another historical curiosity concerns Saint-Martin Church: in the 2000s, a colony of long-eared bats with notched ears lived in the nave. The colony was considered unique in France.
Totemus Routes and Landscape
The Totemus treasure hunt on foot, “Heritage and Legends,” is 6.9 kilometres long, takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, and starts at Templeuve-en-Pévèle station on Place de la Gare. This gives you an approximate duration to plan for this route. A municipal announcement dated 4 July 2025 also introduced the Totemus cycling route “In the Footsteps of Legendary Cobbles”: it is 34 kilometres long and includes eight cobbled sections. Templeuve-en-Pévèle station is listed as the starting point. The two activities therefore clearly differ in mode of travel and route length.
The location also offers a connection with nature: the municipal area is close to the Marque Valley and the Ennevelin marshland. To the north lie predominantly a type 1 and a type 2 ZNIEFF (natural area of ecological interest). Together with the historic buildings and routes, this provides a range of themes for a stay, without needing to combine them into a single excursion loop.
Discover more destinations: Coutiches, Aubry, Saint-Pierre-Brouck, Liessies, Avesnelles, Ohain, Pont-Sur-Sambre, Honnecourt-Sur-Escaut.
For the regional travel overview: Nord.
