Garden of Groenberg - Bergues

Today, the Jardin Public de Bergues is a must for any family outing: 1000 m² of green space, 3 km of walking paths , a playground for children...

At the beginning of the 11th century, a Breton monk, Winoc, evangelized the Groënberg or "green mountain" , the hill on which a Benedictine abbey was to be built. The abbey's towers, the Tour Carrée and the Tour Pointue, are the remains of the abbey church that was destroyed during the French Revolution.

During the Second World War, the Jardin Public was used as a cemetery by German troops.

The area around Groenberg was subject to the influence of the tides , which at certain times of the year could reach a range of seven meters. There were no dikes to protect the inhabitants who lived on the higher grounds. The highest point in this part of the Westhoek was Groenberg, where many people lived. This is where the monks of Sint-Bertin de Wormhout came to evangelize.

Willem Vandenameele