In Rivière, in the hamlet of Brétencourt, in the “Brétencourt centre” district, between Rue du Château, Rue du Fermont and Rue du Crinchon, lies the Bassin des Fontaines, known as Carré des Sources. The structure, including its masonry and enclosing wall in its entirety, was listed as a historic monument on 9 April 2024.
Culture
The Carré des Sources is a rectangular, open water reservoir. The engineering corps built it in 1723 at the expense of King Louis XV to collect spring water for supplying the city of Arras with hygienically safe water and for the watering troughs of the cavalry barracks.
The Château de Grosville is also connected to its architectural history: the façades and roofs of the château, the outbuildings including the dovecote, and the entrance portal were listed as historic monuments by decree of 25 April 1975.
The Church of Saint Vaast was classified as a historic monument by decree of 7 June 1919. Its choir windows, dating from 1931, recount the story of Saint Vaast and were restored in 1985.
Bellacourt Military Cemetery was established in October 1914 by French troops during the fighting of the Race to the Sea. At the beginning of 1916, responsibility for defending the sector was transferred to the British; British and Canadian casualties were buried there until the end of the First World War. It contains 434 Commonwealth graves from the First World War, including one unidentified grave, as well as 116 French graves and one unidentified German grave.
Fermont Military Cemetery is a British First World War cemetery. It is located 1.5 km northeast of the village on Rue du Fermont and contains 81 graves. It was established in March 1916 and closed in March 1917, apart from one burial in March 1918.
Things to Do
The “BALADE AU COEUR DU VILLAGE” offering includes two signposted discovery walks in Rivière, measuring 2.2 km and 6 km respectively. As part of the programme for the European Heritage Days, a guided tour of the grounds of the Château de Grosville was also planned, presenting its history, architecture and landscaped surroundings.
Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Rivière can select the town as a destination in its own right when planning their stay.
The “Promenade nature à travers les voyettes” was announced for 26 April 2026 in Rivière. It was to include listening to birdsong and observing the local natural environment. The cycling tour “À vélo jusqu’à la source du Crinchon” was scheduled for 17 June 2026; the section from Agny to Rivière was to follow the Crinchon to its source.
The “Fête de la pomme et du verger” was scheduled to take place in Rivière in October 2026. A tasting of fruit, traditional apple pressing, and the making of bread and sourdough were announced.
More town pages: Royon, Audembert, Villers-Châtel, Herly, Marant, Souchez, Rodelinghem, Fauquembergues
