Ever wonder what it’s like to stand where kings once stood? Here in Cysoing, a commune nestled in the Nord department of northern France, history unfolds before you. Cysoing is located 15 km southeast of Lille.
Cysoing’s story is interwoven with that of its Abbaye Saint-Calixte. This abbey shaped the town’s destiny for centuries. Founded in the late 9th century by Saint Évrard de Frioul, the abbey thrived. His wife, Gisèle, a granddaughter of Charlemagne, brought 8,000 hectares to the marriage.
Let’s step back to August 14, 1193. Philippe Auguste married Ingeburge of Denmark in Amiens. The very next day, he rejected her for reasons still shrouded in mystery. Ingeburge was confined to Beaurepaire. This priory belonged to the Abbaye de Cysoing. She awaited Pope Célestin III’s response to her appeal against the divorce.
The abbey faced turbulent times in the late Middle Ages. Religious conflicts led to battles and revolts. Pillage became rampant. In the 16th century, a group of pillagers known as the “Gueux” ransacked the Abbaye de Cysoing. These iconoclasts roamed the Tournai and Menin area. They were part of a revolt against the King of Spain in the Netherlands.
Fast forward to 1744. Louis XV himself stayed at the Abbaye de Cysoing for a few days. After his Flanders campaign, he won the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745. In 1751, Abbot Laurent de Roque commemorated the king’s visit and victory. He erected a blue stone pyramid. It is actually an obelisk about 17 meters tall. It stands in the heart of the abbey park. You can still see it today.
During the French Revolution, the abbey was sealed. In 1792, its books, furniture, and paintings were moved to Lille. Amidst fighting between Coalition armies and French troops, the abbey was set ablaze. Exalted conventionnels started the fire. It spread to nearby homes.
The Abbaye Saint-Calixte met its end in 1793. Today, a replica of the Petit Trianon stands where the abbey once stood. Built in the early 19th century, the Château de l’Abbaye reuses materials from the original abbey. The town of Cysoing bought it in 2008.
Take a stroll through the Parc du Château. Imagine monks walking here centuries ago. Visit the Église Saint-Calixte-Saint-Évrard, a testament to Cysoing’s enduring faith.
Cysoing is twinned with Much Wenlock, England. The arms of Cysoing are blazoned: Bendy Or and azure. Cysoing shares these arms with Baisieux and Bouvines. As you leave Cysoing, remember its layered past. From royal visits to revolutionary fires, this commune has witnessed history. Its spirit endures.