Cappelle-Brouck - Saint-Jacques

Probably since the beginning the Église Saint-Jacques is surounded by the village´s graveyard. The erection started in 1169. Philip I (aka "Philippe d'Alsace"), count of Flandres and founder of Cappelle-Brouck, endowed a relic of Saint Jaques to this church, when he returned from his pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella in 1172.

So this church was a halt for many pilgrims heading south (or returning). I found that it took 85 days from here to Santiago, what is about 25kms/day.

The once Romansque basilica, got altered quite often over the centuries in different styles. During WWII it got severely damaged, so that the westen facade had to be rebuilt after a collapse in 1950.