Have you ever heard of Marquillies a charming commune nestled in the heart of Nord department? Marquillies boasts a rich history stretching back centuries. Its strategic location in the triangle formed by Lille Bethune and Lens played a significant role in its past. Roman legions passed through its land. Attila’s armies even camped here around 370.
The two hamlets of Illies Grand-hus and Petit-Hus may even mark ancient encampments. Marquillies’ name itself whispers tales of the past. Its etymology suggests a place destroyed and bound in chains. Imagine the events that gave rise to such a poignant name.
The village experienced a period of feudalism. Jacques Anselme Adournes or Adornes a lord of Marquillies owned a fief in Craywick. His descendant Genevieve Adournes lady of Marquillies Marcq Nieuwliet and Nieuwenhove married Michel Francois de Wignacourt. The fief then passed to the Wignacourt family counts of Flestre.
The First World War left its mark on Marquillies. French troops stationed here in October 1914. They couldn’t prevent the German seizure of Lille on October 12 and the subsequent occupation. This period undoubtedly shaped the lives of Marquillies’ residents.
Today Marquillies is more than just history. It is a vibrant community. It has a railway station. This station links it to Lille and towns like Bethune and Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise. The village is also served by several Ilévia bus lines. These buses offer connections to nearby areas.
Marquillies possesses a unique charm. It features a museum of horse-drawn carriages housed in La Bergerie. The Bien Aller a private hunting estate offers a varied landscape and abundant flora and fauna. Its natural beauty is complemented by the legacy of the former Beghin-Say sugar factory which closed in 1985.
There is also the Chateau Coget. This chateau and the village bell add to its picturesque atmosphere. Modern amenities such as a school and a Papillons Blancs living center cater to the local community. A retirement home Sainte-Genevieve stands where an old hospice once stood. The sisters of the Filles de l’Enfant-Jesus ran the hospice.
The church of Sainte-Genevieve is a testament to resilience. An earlier chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas existed. The current church built in 1700 was destroyed in World War I but later rebuilt. It is now part of the Saint-Paul en Weppes Catholic parish.
Marquillies is a living breathing history. It is a place where past and present intertwine. It’s a place worth discovering. It’s a place worth remembering. It’s a place worth cherishing. A living tapestry of history nature and community. That is Marquillies.