One of the first mentions of Santes is that of 1185, year when the Saint-Pierre church was donated by the bishop of Tournai to the St-Pierre collegiate church in Lille.
In the Middle Ages, the lords of the Lannoy family, masters of the village, marked the history of the town. Their coat of arms became that of the municipality.
Around the church, agricultural activity developed over time. In the 19th century, the village underwent important changes, particularly with the arrival of the railway and the installation of two industries (the sugar refinery and the Wallaert laundry), leaving the city with a rich architectural heritage that is still visible, especially in the Marais sector.
During the Great War, the village suffered four years of occupation. Many blockhouses were built by the Germans. Many vestiges are still visible today, in particular Chemin du Voitou. The closure of industries at the end of the 20th century, the development of the port of Santes from 1971 and the development of the Parc de la Deûle mark a new transformation for the city.
In 2017, INSEE counted 5,724 inhabitants for an area of 757 hectares, divided between housing (25%), economic activity (15%), and agriculture and natural environments (60%). Santes is at the center of Deûle Park, a vast natural green metropolitan space. Its proximity to Lille and its "city in the country" side make it a very popular city.
Garden side: You will enjoy walks at the Gîte, in the Parc de la Deûle. Take the time to visit the Relais Nature, the flora and fauna interpretation center.
The city has several remarkable trees. To discover them, venture into the town hall park and behind the Simone Veil space.
Heritage side: We invite you to discover the "Cité Wallaert". The laundry of the same name has left many traces of its history, although it has disappeared: the two directors' houses, the Laurent Prévost room, the Church of the Sacred Heart, the former orphanage that became the Arts & Leisure Center as well as the workers' houses are mainly found on rue du Général Koenig and rue de Gaulle.
The blockhouses built by the Germans are also numerous in the pastures of the city. You will find them mainly on the Voitou path.
The local market takes place every Wednesday at the town hall from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Two flea markets take place each year at Santes. That of summer, the first Sunday of July, and that of autumn, the second Sunday of October.
The Deci-Delà festival is a major cultural event at Santes. It takes place in the spring.
A giant picnic is organized by the association Les FETARDS in September.
Recommended visits in the area: the Mosaïc park in Houplin-Ancoisne, the museum of the battle of Fromelles, the Gaufre du pays flamand in Houplines, the Fort Nicolas Pierquin in Ennetières-en-Weppes, the Weppes pottery in Fournes-en- Weppes...
