Resulting from the recent merger between Saint-Martin-au-Laert and Tatinghem, Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem is one of the gateways to the Audomarois marshes. Located to the south-west of the Audomarois marshes, in Pas-de-Calais (62), Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem includes 52 hectares of this natural area on its territory. In particular, we can access it via the aptly named Rue du Marais populated by small boats, as well as by the Maison du Marais. Attached to the town of Saint-Omer on the milk-beaten port, this cultural facility is nonetheless located in the territory of Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem.
We can also appreciate within the commune some monuments of interest testifying to the past of the communes of Saint-Martin-au-Laert and Tatinghem. This is particularly the case of
- Listed St-Martin-lez-Tatinghem windmill, located on the Boulogne road leading to Tatinghem.
- The neo-Gothic church dating from the XNUMXth century
- The pilgrim cross which comes to us directly from the Middle Ages and bears witness to the games specific to chivalry organized on the territory.
- The site of the former Cotillon-Belin sugar refinery, occupied by the community of Emmaus.
The House of the Marais
Located on the territory of Saint-Martin au Laert, the Maison du Marais is however closer to the town of Saint-Omer. Installed at the "port au lait battered", it marks the confluence of three main arteries of Saint-Omer: the Boulevard de Strasbourg, the Boulevard Pierre Guillain and the avenue Joffre.
Equipment for tourism inaugurated in 2013, the Maison du Marais offers tours of the marsh by boat via its pier. This visit allows you to discover, among other things, the beginnings of the West marsh and the Narstroom, as well as the Saint-Martin marsh in Laert (Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem). The circuit allows you to catch a glimpse of an old house that once served as a workshop for the boat maker from Saint-Martin to Laert.
Saint-Martin church in Saint-Martin au Laert
Not far from the town hall of Saint-Martin in Laert (today Saint-Martin lez Tatinghem), stands a pretty neo-Gothic church from the XNUMXth century. This is the fruit of the work of the architect Charles Leroy. The latter, a specialist in the field, was once brought to many churches of this type established in the region. The Immaculate Conception church (Haut-Pont in Saint-Omer) and the Notre-Dame de la Treille cathedral in Lille are some of his achievements.
The Pilgrim Cross in Saint-Martin au Laert
The pilgrim cross, located in the eponymous street of Saint-Martin-au-Laert, is a vestige of the past dating back to the period of chivalry. It bears witness to the organization of jousting-type games at this location. This Cross once depended on the so-called Rouge-clef manor, located on the outskirts of the Château du Long Jardin, which no longer exists today.
For history, was organized at this location in 1449 an important tournament " no weapons " also called " Tournament of the Belle Pèlerine ». A form of friendly, but nevertheless dangerous, combat or duel between knights, which at the time gathered a certain crowd. These public games were in fact confronting knights on foot or on horseback, armed with spears, axes and swords that were a priori non-lethal.
The stones of the base of the Pilgrim Cross once constituted a kind of podium on which the winners climbed.
Saint-Jacques church in Tatinghem
Let's deviate a little from the marsh to take the direction of the old village of Tatinghem. Today part of the commune of Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem with Saint-Martin-au-Laert, this commune has a 1914th century church: the church of Tatinghem dedicated to Saint-Jacques. This church contains, among other things, some elements protected as historical monuments as objects. This is the case of the pulpit and the bell. The church of Tatinghem also contains a memorial plaque from 1918-XNUMX.
The Cotillon-Belin sugar refinery
During the XNUMXth century, the sugar industry was a source of employment for the region. This was the case of Saint-Martin-au-Laert which was occupied by a large sugar factory: the Cotillon-Belin sugar factory.
There is not much left of this sugar factory, apart from the name of the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville in Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem (Place Cotillon-Belin). At the end of the town of St-Martin-lez-Tatinghem, we find the old offices and the factory of the sugar refinery with its hangars and its chimney. The site is occupied by the community of Emmaus.
Around Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem
The town of Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem is bordered by the Audomarois marsh and by 4 towns or villages of the "pays d'Audomar":
- Saint-Omer
- Salperwick
- longness
- wisques
- zudausques
- Leulinghem
What are the inhabitants of St-Martin-lez-Tatinghem called?
Inevitably, with each merger of municipalities, the question of gentility arises. Formerly, the inhabitants of Tatinghem were called the Tatinghemois and the inhabitants of Saint-Martin-au-Laert the Saint-Martinois. Since the merger in 2016 between the two municipalities, nothing had really changed. In 2022, an official gentleman comes out: Saint-Martinghemois. Other names such as Martinghemois(e), Laërtinghemois(e), or Saintatinghemois(e) were also in the running.
Although official, this fusion and this kind impacting the heart of the culture of the inhabitants will take time to make its mark!
The website of the commune of Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem: www.stmartinleztatinghem.fr
All the answers to your questions about St-Martin-lez-Tatinghem
Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem, a commune in Pas-de-Calais located near Saint-Omer, offers several interesting activities for visitors:
Discovery of the surrounding nature
The Boat Builders: located not in St-Martin-lez-Tatinghem, but between Clairmarais and Saint-Omer (4 km from the centre of St-Martin). This is the last shipyard in the area offering various options for discovering the marsh: by rowing or electric boat, by canoe, by traditional guided bacôve… The site also has an open-air estaminet at the water's edge to enjoy regional specialities at lunchtime.
The House of the Marais: Museum space and pier to discover the surrounding marshes and their unique ecosystem.
The Audobarquoise: A pier allowing you to visit the marshes by boat.
To the good reception: tavern and boat trip located in Salperwick, near St Martin lez Tatinghem.
Leisure activities
Planet Karting: For thrill seekers.
Saint-Martin Square: restaurant, reception room and bowling alley.
Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem has several interesting built heritage elements to discover:
The mill : It is the main attraction of the town. Built in 1801, this windmill was restored between 1978 and 1983. It stands 18,5 metres high and has been listed as a historic monument since 2001. It is the only mill of this type in Pas-de-Calais.
Saint-Jacques church : Located in Tatinghem, this church dates from the 17th century. It houses a listed pulpit.
Saint Martin's Church : Built on the base of the nave of an old 1874th century church, it was mainly completed in 1893. It has a bell tower that contains "Martine", a bell weighing more than a ton cast in XNUMX in Douai. Inside, you can admire a Cavaillé-Coll organ and many works sculpted by the Sturne brothers, renowned craftsmen from Saint-Omer.
The Oratory Chapel of the Sacred Heart : Built into the wall of an old farm along the main street of Tatinghem.
The Pilgrim Cross: It is one of the few remains of the medieval period in the commune. It once belonged to the Château de la Rouge-Clef and bears witness to the era of chivalry and tournaments.
The flour mill of St Martin lez Tatinghem was built in 1801 by Jean-François Speneux and his wife Marie-Catherine Hericourt, as evidenced by an inscription on a white chalk stone inside the tower. Speneux had acquired many national assets during the French Revolution, including this windmill.
Over the years, the mill has had several owners: André Lardeur de Tatinghem, in 1840, Edouard Lardeur, distiller, in 1851, Xavier Mahieu
Unfortunately, the mill ceased its activity around 1867. Around 1900, a postcard already showed it in ruins.
The mill remained in a state of ruin until 1978, when it was acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Huart. They undertook an ambitious restoration that lasted 5 years:
- 1978: Start of clearing work
- 1979: Collaboration with ARAM (Regional Association of Friends of Mills) for reconstruction plans
- 1983: Inauguration of the fully restored mill on September 18
- 2001: The mill is listed as a Historic Monument. It is also the only mill of this type in Pas-de-Calais.
Today, the restored mill, reaching a height of 18,5m, has become a symbol for the commune of Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem.
The history of the Saint-Martin church in Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem goes back several centuries:
A primitive chapel existed on the site from the 9th century. In the 15th century, a new religious building was built on the edge of the marsh, giving the locality the name of Saint-Martin-au-Laërt.
In 1856, the old chapel was deemed dilapidated and too small to accommodate the parishioners. The municipality then decided to rebuild the church in the neo-Gothic style. The architect Charles Leroy, known for his work on Notre-Dame de la Treille in Lille, was put in charge of the project. The work began on March 23, 1862 and lasted 12 years. The financing was provided by donations from the parishioners, collected by Fathers Lefebvre and Deseille, with the support of the municipality and the State. The church was inaugurated on July 5, 1874.
Caractéristiques architectures
The church was built on a regular plan with a three-bay nave and a three-sided choir.
The materials used include local bricks, limestone from the Elnes quarries, and slate from Fumay for the roofs. The bell tower contains "Martine", a bell weighing over a ton cast in 1893 in Douai.
Notable elements within the Saint-Martin church
- The stained glass windows in the choir are the work of the Parisian Lusson workshop, recognized by Viollet-le-Duc.
- The glass mosaic windows in the side chapels are by Courmont d'Arras.
- The interior of the church houses a Cavaillé-Coll organ and numerous sculptures made by the Sturne brothers, renowned craftsmen from Saint-Omer.
Between 2012 and 2013, major restoration work was carried out under the direction of Nathalie T'Kint, Heritage Architect, to repair the damage caused by dry rot and restore the vaults and interior decorations.
The Saint-Jacques church dates from the 17th century and is located in the former commune of Tatinghem, today merged with Saint-Martin-au-Laërt to form Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem.
It houses a pulpit which is listed as a historic monument.
Before the French Revolution, the Saint-Jacques church was part of the diocese of Thérouanne, in the deanery of Saint-Omer. Later, it was attached to the diocese of Saint-Omer, in the deanery of Longuenesse.
The history of Saint-Martin-au-Laërt is closely linked to that of Saint-Omer and dates back to the Early Middle Ages.
Origins and development
Saint-Martin-au-Laërt was originally a parish of Saint-Omer, attached to one of the oldest churches in the city, dedicated to Saint-Martin. The name of the locality is attested from 1139 in the form "Sanctus Martinus".
Evolution of the name
In the 15th century, Saint-Martin became Saint-Martin-au-Laërt when a new religious building was constructed on the edge of the marsh, on a communal pasture called “Laërt” in old Flemish.
Historical events
In 1477, the Saint-Martin church and the surrounding districts were burned by the Audomarois themselves for strategic purposes. Indeed, the town often served as a shield for the stronghold of Saint-Omer, which explains the few surviving medieval remains.
Recent merger
On January 1, 2016, Saint-Martin-au-Laërt merged with the neighboring commune of Tatinghem to form the new commune of Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem.
The history of Tatinghem dates back to Antiquity and is closely linked to that of Saint-Omer.
Origins and etymology
Tatinghem takes its name from the Gallo-Roman "Tatinga-villa". The name can be broken down into three parts: "TAT" (name of a local chief), "ING" (indicating affiliation), and "HEM" (meaning enclosure or farm). The first mention of Tatinghem dates back to the year 648.
Evolution of the name
The spelling of the name has undergone many variations over the centuries, such as Tatingahem (1123), Tatigahem (1132), Tadingehem (1139), before settling on the current form in the XNUMXth century.
Significant historical events
In the 11th century, the region was covered with fortified castles to resist invasions by the Danes and Normans.
During the Hundred Years' War, in August 1436, Tatinghem was burned by the Duke of Gloucester.
In 1596, then under Spanish domination, the church of Tatinghem was attacked by the French in search of booty.
Lordships and fiefs
Several noble families owned fiefs in Tatinghem, including the de Wissocq, the de Morcamps, the d'Audenfort, and the Sainte-Aldegonde. The Carthusians were also lords of Tatinghem.
Modern and contemporary period
The Revolution of 1789 abolished the lordships.
In 1851, Tatinghem had only 7 houses.
On January 1, 2016, Tatinghem merged with the neighboring commune of Saint-Martin-au-Laërt to form the new commune of Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem.
Here are the main accommodation options in Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem and its surroundings:
Bed & Breakfasts
Les Mésanges Bed and Breakfast: Located at 31 Rue des Mésanges in Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem. 3 rooms available with double bed, shared bathroom and toilet.
Guesthouses
Au Chemin du Paradis: Gîte for 10 people with heated outdoor swimming pool, located in the Audomarois marsh.
Hotels (nearby in Saint-Omer)
Industry – Hotel & Restaurant: 22 Rue Louis Martel, Saint-Omer. Offers a restaurant, bar and various dining options.
Hotel Restaurant Les Frangins: 3 Rue Carnot, Saint-Omer. Offers simple rooms and a restaurant.
Seasonal rentals
Several furnished rental options are available on platforms like Airbnb for medium to long term stays.
Camping pitches
Although there is no campsite directly in Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem, there are a few campsites nearby in Salperwick, Serques, Houlle/Moulle and Eperlecques.
Here are some options for eating and drinking in Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem:
Saint Martin Square: Restaurant with French cuisine, which also offers activities such as bowling and virtual reality. It also has a bar.
Deceuninck House: A fast food restaurant that offers gourmet hamburgers.
Space Food: Another fast food/chip shop located on Place Cotillon Belin, the main square of St Martin les Tatinghem.
McDonald's: located in the commercial area, near the ring road.
To get to Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem by bus, you can use the Mouveo network, which is the public transport network of the Audomarois region. Line 5 of the Mouveo network connects Clairmarais Mairie to Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem (Emmaüs/Mairie).
For more information on timetables and line maps, you can consult the Mouveo website, a public transport service managed by CAPSO (Saint-Omer Urban Community).
