A neo-Gothic church, a Portuguese memorial and walking options across two distinct distance ranges give La Couture a clear focus on architecture, remembrance and movement. The Église Saint-Pierre is at the heart of its architectural history; the Portuguese National Monument commemorates those who fell in the First World War. There are also specific choices for activities: walking shorter or longer routes, Nordic walking, or following a route that takes in several memorial sites.
The Église Saint-Pierre: Construction Phases and Stained Glass Windows
The present-day Église Saint-Pierre de La Couture was rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style on the site of its predecessor. The original church, dating from the early 16th century, lay in ruins after the First World War. This places an early construction phase, the later state of ruin and the rebuilding on the same site in a clear chronological sequence. The present-day church features a sandstone plinth, façades and sculpted elements made of ashlar, and a roof covered with natural slate tiles fixed with nails.
The current stained glass windows were created by Jean Gaudin in 1932 and 1933. One of them, The Flight into Egypt, depicts a village in the west engulfed in flames and refers to the exodus of La Couture’s inhabitants during the Battle of the Lys. The window connects a religious subject with the memory of a specific wartime event. As well as its neo-Gothic architecture, the church therefore offers a way to explore local history through a single stained glass window.
Portuguese Memorial and Commemorative Ceremony
The Portuguese National Monument is located near the Église Saint-Pierre and commemorates the Portuguese soldiers who fell on 9 April 1918. It was designed by the Portuguese sculptor Antonion J. Texeira Lopes and built by Portuguese workers. Both the design and construction of the memorial are thus connected with Portugal, while its commemorative purpose is to honour the fallen soldiers.
A commemorative ceremony is also held in La Couture every year on the first or second Saturday in April. If you plan your trip around this occasion, check the exact date in advance: it may fall on either of two Saturdays. The ceremony is therefore a seasonal point of reference for planning your trip, alongside the permanent architectural and memorial sites.
Walking Options and the “14-18, un conflit mondial” Route
La Couture en Vadrouille offers walking routes of 8 to 12 kilometres, as well as leisurely walks of 3 to 4 kilometres. The two distance ranges make the difference in the scale of the options clear, without requiring you to treat all the routes as one combined tour. Nordic walking sessions, departing from the church square, are also available. Check the dates for each walk and Nordic walking session again before joining.
If memorial sites are the focus of your outing, the “14-18, un conflit mondial” cycling route links several such locations and also includes the Portuguese Monument in La Couture. The route can be travelled not only by bicycle but also by car. Future maintenance work or detours may affect its course, so check the route before setting out. The walking options can thus be considered in terms of distance and date, while the route offers a thematic way to visit several memorial sites.
Visiting the Church and Practical Information
The Église Saint-Pierre is closed. Depending on opening hours, you can ask for a key at the town hall opposite; check that this is possible again before you arrive. A QR code at the church provides information about its history and architecture in French and Portuguese. There are therefore two distinct aspects to bear in mind when visiting the church: asking for a key and the multilingual information available. For group activities with La Couture en Vadrouille, the dates of the relevant activity are key.
Discover more destinations: Leulinghen-Bernes, Ytres, Vieille-Chapelle, Le Sars, Bonningues-lès-Ardres, Isques, Roquetoire, Berck.
For the broader travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.
