Watten: Abbey Tower, Mill and Nature at Lac Bleu

Watten offers different ways to shape your stay: historic buildings, the Lac Bleu nature area and the Maison des Archers. Depending on whether you are interested in architectural history, nature or a cultural activity, you can plan your trip accordingly. At the historic sites, the focus is on dates and building history; Lac Bleu has its own visitor conditions, while the Maison des Archers combines an exhibition with scheduled introductory sessions.

Abbey, Mill and Historic Buildings

The Tour de l’Abbaye de Watten comprises the 15th-century abbey tower and the surrounding walls. Both are surviving remains of a religious institution founded in the 11th century. Different periods of history therefore meet at this site: the institution’s foundation dates back further than the surviving tower.

The stone Moulin de la Montagne de Watten was built around 1760 to replace a wooden mill. Materials from the former abbey were used in its construction. A mechanism installed in 1994 allows the mill to grind grain as it did in the past. If you would like to include milling in your plans, check in advance whether the mill will be operating for visitors: this can vary.

The listed site on Mont de Watten also tells the story of a later period. It preserves 17th-century fortification remains surrounding the former abbey and the mill. Alongside religious history and mill construction, the fortifications are therefore another part of the site’s history.

The tower of Église Saint-Gilles dates from the late 15th century, is listed as a historic monument and has been fully restored. The different dates create a layered picture of the past: from the founding of the religious institution in the 11th century to buildings and remains from the 15th and 17th centuries, and the construction of the mill around 1760.

Lac Bleu Nature Area and Visitor Conditions

Lac Bleu is a 13-hectare nature area on the site of a former marl quarry. A circular trail runs through woods and meadows; the area is also known for its diverse wildlife and plant life. Unlike the historic buildings, the focus here is on a natural landscape with a trail. If you would like to choose a focus for your stay, this offers an alternative to Watten’s architectural history.

Lac Bleu is partially accessible to people with reduced mobility; conditions may change. Swimming in Lac Bleu is prohibited. Check the current rules and accessibility conditions before your visit.

Watten also has a public mooring point. Before you arrive, check which facilities are available there.

Maison des Archers: Exhibition and Introductory Sessions

The Maison des Archers de Watten presents an exhibition about the traditional form of archery in which archers shoot at a vertical pole. This activity is typical of Flanders and Artois; the exhibition explains its history from its origins to the present day. Its focus is therefore a regional tradition that offers a different perspective from the architectural history of the abbey, mill and fortification remains.

The Maison des Archers also offers introductory sessions in shooting at a vertical pole on its archery range. These sessions are scheduled activities. If you are planning to take part, check current availability.

Discover more destinations: Houplines, Denain, Lompret, Ramillies, Cassel, Ribécourt-La-Tour, Taisnières-en-Thiérache, Éclaibes.

For the full regional travel guide: Nord.