Fontaine-Notre-Dame: Saint-Martin Church and History

Key features of Fontaine-Notre-Dame include Saint-Martin Church and the events of the Battle of Cambrai during the First World War. The Crest Cemetery and a motorway route that includes a stop in the town are also part of the picture. When planning your trip, you can explore architectural history, military remembrance and a driving route as separate themes.

Saint-Martin: Windows and Furnishings

The church’s Art Deco ensemble comprises 28 window openings. Valentine Reyre provided the designs for the entire ensemble. The surviving original stained glass is found in the choir and the apsidioles, the small side apses. Saint-Martin is considered an emblematic church of the first reconstruction period. A distinctive landmark is its openwork concrete tower, clearly visible in particular from the A2 motorway.

The altar and tabernacle are located in the north aisle. Both are made of red marble with white veining, black marble and white stone, and were listed as movable cultural heritage on 27 August 1987. Their location, materials and protected status add a separate art-historical point of interest alongside the windows.

War History and Settlement Development

In November 1917, Fontaine-Notre-Dame was almost completely destroyed during the fighting in the Battle of Cambrai; the main buildings included the then Saint-Martin Church. The successor building, erected in 1928, was built on the exact site and foundations of the predecessor destroyed during the battle.

The graves at Crest Cemetery tell of another period of the First World War: the cemetery contains 88 graves, and all but one of those buried there are Canadian soldiers. The burials took place from 27 September to 7 October 1918—after the fighting in November 1917. The cemetery is signposted from the N30 and lies on the right along the road towards Raillencourt.

The Roman road from Bapaume is part of the town’s earlier development and became Fontaine-Notre-Dame’s settlement axis. It offers a different historical perspective from Saint-Martin and Crest Cemetery, which are associated with wartime events and their consequences.

Motorway Route, Event and Directions

The “La bataille de Cambrai” motorway route also passes through the town and includes a stop there at Route Nationale 1372. It is a circular driving route rated very easy. The total route is 46 kilometres, with a stated duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes. This gives you both the route distance and the duration of the loop to plan with.

A local sporting event, “Les Foulées de la Folie,” includes a 10-kilometre run and a timed 10-kilometre walking event. The distance is the same, but the format differs: the walking event is timed. Editions are documented for 2022 to 2025. If you would like to plan your trip around a future edition, check the dates for the relevant year.

The municipal facilities include a playground and a multisport area, accessible from Rue de la Gare and Rue du Moulin Antoine. If you plan to use these facilities, check the current access arrangements before your visit, as they may change.

Focus your search on the theme that matters most for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Leffrinckoucke, Bachy, Oisy, Trelon, Drincham, Anstaing, Haubourdin, Staple

Return to the regional travel overview: Nord.