Logo Musée du Patrimoine

All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

Saint Antoine de Houtkirk Church à Houtkerque dans le Nord

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine religieux
Eglise gothique
Nord

Saint Antoine de Houtkirk Church

    6-10 Contour de l'Église
    59470 Houtkerque
Église Saint-Antoine de Houtkerque
Église Saint-Antoine de Houtkerque
Église Saint-Antoine de Houtkerque
Église Saint-Antoine de Houtkerque
Église Saint-Antoine de Houtkerque
Église Saint-Antoine de Houtkerque
Église Saint-Antoine de Houtkerque
Église Saint-Antoine de Houtkerque
Église Saint-Antoine de Houtkerque
Église Saint-Antoine de Houtkerque
Crédit photo : Lion59 - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
1548
Construction of church
1556
Erection of the tower
XIXe siècle
Expansions
22 janvier 1910
Historical monument classification
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Round: by order of 22 January 1910

Key figures

Saint Antoine l'Ermite - Holy patron saint of the church Dedication of the religious building.

Origin and history

Saint-Antoine de Houtkerque Church is a Catholic church in the Nord department in the Hauts-de-France region. Built in 1548, it is a typical example of Flemish hallekerke (church-halle), an architectural style common in this region. The building was enlarged twice in the 19th century, but its main structure and tower, erected in 1556, remain original. The tower, 30 metres high, is surmounted by a 20-metre masonry arrow, visible from a distance, which served as a bitter for navigators in this plain area.

The church is dedicated to St.Antoine l'Ermite, a very venerated figure in Flanders. Originally, the religious building was entirely wooden before being rebuilt in stone in the 16th century. Ranked a historic monument in 1910 (for its tower), it houses remarkable 18th century furniture, including five retables. This heritage reflects the cultural and religious importance of Houtkerque, a village marked by its Flemish history and its role in local navigation.

The site is located precisely at the 8 Contour of the Church, in the centre of the village. Its Insee code (59318) and its ranking among the historical monuments of the North underline its heritage interest. The arrow, an emblematic element, also illustrates the ingenuity of the builders of the time, combining practical function (visual benchmark) and religious symbolism.

External links