La Couture: Church Architecture and Memorial Sites

The Église Saint-Pierre de La Couture, the Portuguese National Monument and the walking routes give you concrete starting points for planning a stay in La Couture that combines architectural history, remembrance and outdoor activity. Architectural details and route lengths can help you bring different interests together with the time available.

The Église Saint-Pierre: Building History and Features

The present-day Église Saint-Pierre de La Couture was rebuilt in the Gothic Revival 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 means the building’s history has two distinct phases: the earlier church and its reconstruction on the same site.

The present building features a sandstone basement, façades and sculpted elements made of cut stone, and a roof of natural slate tiles fastened with nails. These materials distinguish the different building elements and make the architecture easier to describe in concrete terms than style alone. If you are interested in architectural forms, these details offer a closer look at the Gothic Revival reconstruction.

The stained-glass windows also have a specific date: Jean Gaudin created the present windows in 1932 and 1933. The window The Flight into Egyptdepicts a village burning in the west and refers to the exodus of La Couture’s residents during the Battle of the Lys. In this way, the window’s imagery connects with the town’s experience of war.

A QR code at the church provides explanations of its history and architecture in French and Portuguese. Bear access in mind when planning your visit: the church is closed, and keys can be requested from the town hall opposite, depending on its opening hours. Check before you arrive whether you can request a key.

Portuguese Monument and Remembrance Routes

The Portuguese National Monument near the Église Saint-Pierre commemorates Portuguese soldiers who fell on 9 April 1918. It was designed by Portuguese sculptor Antonion J. Texeira Lopes and built by Portuguese workers. Both the designer’s authorship and the construction are therefore part of the monument’s history.

The “14-18, un conflit mondial” cycle route connects several memorial sites and also includes La Couture’s Portuguese monument. It can be travelled not only by bicycle but also by car. As maintenance work or detours may affect the route, check its current itinerary before setting out.

Walks and Planning Your Visit

La Couture en Vadrouille offers walking routes of 8 to 12 kilometres, as well as leisurely walks of 3 to 4 kilometres. The distance ranges give you a concrete basis for comparing the two formats without implying that they cover the same distance. To choose between them, compare the stated distance with the time available on your trip. On the listed dates, La Couture en Vadrouille’s Nordic walking sessions start from the church square; check the schedule before taking part.

There is also a recurring event for a spring trip: a ceremony takes place in La Couture every year on the first or second Saturday in April. Check which of the two Saturdays it falls on in the year of your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Coquelles, Lestrem, Aubrometz, Lépine, Tilques, Desvres, Fampoux, Coyecques

For the broader travel guide: Pas-De-Calais.