Tilloy-lès-Mofflaines: History and Agriculture

Tilloy-lès-Mofflaines offers several different reasons to visit: local and church history, agricultural education, nature at Parc du Manoir, and the Terres en Fête fair. If you are looking for a hotel, this mix of themes can help you decide whether the town suits your travel dates and interests.

Church and Local History

The village already had a church in the 14th century; the Saint-Vaast Abbey appointed its priest. Another milestone in the town’s history is Église Saint-Brice: it was built in 1616 as a new three-aisled church with a stone bell tower. Three aisles means that the church interior is divided into a nave and two side aisles. Restoration of the interior began in 1848. It included Stations of the Cross, the renovation of the side altars and the choir woodwork, as well as the installation of stained-glass windows. The building’s design and interior furnishings can thus be seen as two distinct aspects of the church’s history: the construction date places Saint-Brice in context, while the restoration concerns the interior from 1848 onward.

Cour-au-Bois and Wartime

The house and estate of Mofflaines, also known as Cour-au-Bois, belonged to Saint-Vaast Abbey in Arras. Cour-au-Bois was a fortified farm owned by the abbey. During the siege of Arras, the farm was destroyed in 1654 after Spanish troops had set up their headquarters there.

The Battle of Arras began on April 9, 1917, completing the destruction of Tilloy-lès-Mofflaines. The village was left in ruins and had been liberated by that time. The two historical turning points differ in their timing and setting: Cour-au-Bois was destroyed in 1654, while the battle completed the destruction of the village in 1917.

Agriculture, Nature and Events

The agricultural school is part of the history of agriculture here. In 1926, under the direction of Léopold Malpeaux, it became a regional school to prepare students for national schools. It later became Campus agro-environnemental 62. This development adds an institutional change focused on agriculture to the town’s church and military history.

A wildlife survey at Parc du Manoir documented more than 30 bird species and more than ten mammal species. The natural environment is thus represented by two groups of animals, complementing the town’s historical and agricultural themes.

Terres en Fête is a major agricultural fair in the north of Paris and takes place every two years in Tilloy-lès-Mofflaines near Arras. The fair presents livestock, agricultural machinery, regional products and demonstrations to the public. Exhibits and demonstrations vary with each edition; dates and the programme may also change. If the fair is the reason for your trip, check the specific dates for the edition in question before making your plans.

Bus and Travel Planning

Tilloy-lès-Mofflaines is primarily served by bus line 3, which runs twice an hour from Monday to Saturday. Check the current timetable before travelling, especially if your trip is tied to a specific event date.

Discover more destinations: Verchocq, Vaulx, Mazingarbe, Bully-les-Mines, Croisilles, Carly, Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise, Le Touquet

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