Attractions and Places To See around Fontenelle - Top 6

Old water mill in Grand-Fayt on the river L'Helpe Mineure

A beautifully restored old mill, picnic table for a break, a calm and peaceful spot

The Moulin de Grand Fayt is a water mill located on the Helpe Minor, in the Nord department, in the Hauts-de-France region. It dates from the 17th century and has been restored by its current owners, who offer guided and commented tours. The mill is equipped with a Poncelet-type paddle wheel, which drives a turbine and produces electricity. The site also includes a bread oven, an exhibition room and a picnic area. The mill is part of the heritage of Avesnois and the Vallée des Deux-Helpes, and bears witness to the history and culture of this region.

Municipality in the Vallée de la Helpe Mineur and the Parc naturel régional de l'Avesnois. The town square, the church, the town hall and the war memorial are all on a handkerchief. The village also has about forty chapels made of blue stone. These demarcate the Avesnois and Thiéerache and are spread along roads and paths, in forests or in wall niches. They were built to ask a favor, to thank heaven for something or to confirm a social position. They have existed since 1550. The chapel often consists of a narrow shaft surmounted by a beautifully fenced niche and a larger crown piece. There used to be polychrome wooden statues in the niches.

The church of Grand-Fayt is the Saint-Pierre des Liens church, which is located on the village square. It is a fortified church which dates from the 16th century and which was restored in the 19th century. It is built of bricks and stones, with a square bell tower and a single nave. It has a semi-circular portal, topped by a niche housing a statue of Saint Peter. The interior of the church is decorated with stained glass windows, murals and statues. The church has been classified as a historic monument since 1926.

This memorial commemorates the residents of Grand-Fayt who were killed or missing in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), the Great War (World War I).

Using the power of moving water to drive a mill wheel is an ancient invention that dates back to pre-Christian times. Thanks to such a construction, human or animal muscle power could simply be replaced by a natural or artificially created watercourse, for example to grind grain grains into grain. There are essentially two different types of drive for water mills: either the water simply hits the blades of the water wheel from below to set it in motion; or the watercourse is guided above the wheel and falls on the blades, with this design the natural gravity gives a higher efficiency.

Using the power of moving water to drive a mill wheel is an ancient invention that dates back to pre-Christian times. Thanks to such a construction, human or animal muscle power could simply be replaced by a natural or artificially created watercourse, for example to grind grain grains into grain. There are essentially two different types of drive for water mills: either the water simply hits the blades of the water wheel from below to set it in motion; or the watercourse is guided above the wheel and falls on the blades, with this design the natural gravity gives a higher efficiency.