Église Saint-Maurice de Lille (St. Maurice Church), Lille

Saint Maurice Church, located on Paris Street in Lille, features both Gothic and Neo-Gothic architectural styles. The construction spanned almost five centuries, beginning in the late 14th century and concluding in the late 19th century.

The earliest record of a church at this location, known as Saint Maurice de Fins, is from 1066. It details the founding of the collegiate church of Saint Peter, which was financed by the church of Saint Maurice. Although the precise origin date of Saint Maurice de Fins is unclear, it's possibly linked to a public tribunal held in Lille in 875, but the 1066 charter indicates it might have been established later. No evidence of earlier churches in the vicinity exists.

There's speculation that Saint Maurice was built atop a Roman temple dedicated to Mars, which would explain its unusual dedication within the Tournai diocese. The term "Fins" in its name is derived from the Latin "fines," meaning border or frontier.

During the French Revolution, the church was plundered, but it recovered some of its confiscated items and paintings from local convents in the early 19th century. Noteworthy among these are works by Jakob van Oost the Younger (1639-1713) and Louis Joseph Watteau (1731-1798), depicting various religious scenes.

The church also houses the grave of Charles Ferdinand d'Artois, Duke of Berry, who was assassinated in 1820. He was the youngest son of Charles X, the King of France, and Maria Theresa of Savoy.

In the 19th century, under the direction of Philippe Cannissié, the church underwent restoration. It was enhanced with Neo-Gothic furniture and new stained glass windows, and it was declared a historic monument in 1840.