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Flines-les-Râches

The future Countess of Flanders, Margaret of Constantinople, founded the abbey of Honneur- -Notre-Dame in Orchies (diocese of Tournai in 1234. It was transferred to Flines (diocese of Arras) in 1251. In 1267 there were 100 nuns and 18 lay sisters. The church and its eleven altars were consecrated in 1279. The founder was buried in the Ladies chancel in 1280. The buildings have been destroyed and deeply transformed several times, notably in the XVIth century by Jeanne de Bouvais (1507-1533) and Jacqueline de Lalaing (1533-1561), but also by Louis XIV after the conquest of Flanders in the XVIIIth century. During the Revolution, the abbey shared the same fate as most of the religious buildings: the estate was sold as a national asset and progressively demolished. Only the wagon workshop, the sheepfold and the ruins of a cross on the edge of the site as well as traces of the water supply system still remain. The farms are practically all still visible: Pintignies, Hellignies and the Infirmary (Coutiches), Grande Vacquerie (Faumont), Carnoie and Herbaumez (Nomain), (Cantin), Montgarin (Lambersart) and the Lodge (Howardrie - Belgium).