Old Abbey of Sint-Winoksbergen

When Saint Winoc visited Bergues during his mission to evangelize the region, the Counts of Flanders built a Benedictine abbey from 1022 onwards on the site of the saint's visit, with the aim of preserving his precious relics and promoting his cult.

The abbey was built on the "Groenberg " (or green hill), a 22-metre-high hill, the entire top of which was occupied by the abbey. For almost eight hundred years, the Groenberg remained the property of the religious community. It is characterised by the presence of two towers : the Tour Carrée , built at the crossing of the transept of the former abbey, is today the oldest preserved building in the city. And the Tour Pointue , located at the entrance to the abbey.

The nave extends seven bays to the west to a second tower, while the choir extends 30 metres to the east of the square tower. The nave and transept of the church are Romanesque, while the choir, which was completely rebuilt in the 1290s , is Gothic.

The abbey of Saint-Winoc is the first Gothic building in the region . It has suffered greatly over the centuries: wars and fires have destroyed it more than once. It burned down in 1083 and 1123 ; in 1566, it was pillaged by beggars... At the beginning of the French Revolution, the abbey of Saint-Winoc was radiant and prosperous. The 25 monks who lived there enjoyed the general respect of the population. They strictly adhered to the rules of Saint-Benoit .

Many of the 60,000 volumes of the rich library have been lost. The most beautiful works are reserved for the municipal libraries of Bergues, Dunkirk, Bourbourg and Gravelines. The paintings were dispersed to neighbouring museums and churches, but many of the works of art disappeared... and it only took a few years to ruin the work of eight centuries!

Willem Vandenameele