Bernard Stefaniak

Departure from Carrefour de la Vallée in Ennetières-en-Weppes. For a hike on roads and small paved country lanes. Can be completed in two hours if you walk at a brisk pace.

Prémesques, the starting village, is at the edge of the suburbs, close to Lomme and Pérenchies.This humble asphalt route could nonetheless satisfy joggers and provide plenty of fresh air for walkers. What else could you ask for?If you set off at daybreak, you might see a few partridges fly in, encounter a few rabbits and maybe even some hares.

During this walk, you'll enter a beautiful region that was devastated by the 1st World War. More than 180,000 people lost their lives during the Battle of Artois, which began in May-June 1915. This walk starts at the edge of a cemetery where 44,000 soldiers of all origins are buried. Many more are, and will remain, buried forever beneath the beautiful landscapes you're about to cross.

If you have time, you can visit the museum dedicated to the Battle of Fromelles, which took place in July 1916. Next, you will skirt the village of Aubers, but you will see some of its ponds, which make this village a tourist destination for fishing and camping. You will also encounter the very respectable Tilleul du Joncquoy, which was planted there in 1490.

This route will allow you to explore the countryside north of Béthune and enjoy the canals via the towpaths.

A beautiful, varied and very natural route, especially the last 7 km.You can visit the church at Bouvines, with its stained-glass windows recounting the battle of the same name, the outcome of which contributed to the creation of France.

This route will delight you with its diversity of landscapes. Enjoy some panoramic views and the ancient abbey of Mont Saint-Eloi. (19) See: practical information.

These three mountains watch over Bailleul, the capital of Flanders between Lille and Dunkirk: Mont des Cats, Mont de Boeschepe and Mont Noir, plus Mont Kokereel. From the top of these small hills (180m), you can enjoy views over the surrounding area. The route offers several points of interest, including Marguerite Yourcenar's house on Mont Noir, the Boschepe mill in the village of the same name, and Mont des Cats and its abbey of Cistercian monks, founded in 1826.

At the start of this route, you can visit the magnificent park and garden of the Countess de Robersart, who lived at the château of the same name in the 19th century. This perfectly circular garden contains many listed medicinal and perennial plants.You'll also appreciate this remarkable marina on the Canal de la Deûle.The rest of the route is a leisurely stroll on asphalt through the Wambrechies countryside.

The starting point is the Notre-Dame de Lorette Memorial, built here to pay tribute to the martyrs of the First World War. You will pass through the beautiful villages of Ablain-Saint-Nazaire and Carency. In fine weather, you’ll enjoy some panoramic views. Allow a good two hours walking at a normal pace without stopping. We hope you enjoy a lovely walk through our beautiful Artois hills.

It’s a lovely little route through an urban park, which may seem ordinary but has its own charm. Just behind Kinépolis and almost car-free. Lomme Park is densely wooded, with a lake and some gentle hills. Personally, I really like this spot and often walk there, either forwards or backwards, for the peace and quiet. Allow between 45 minutes and an hour without breaks, walking at a leisurely pace.

Discover the waterways of the Audomarois, a beautiful area of Hauts-de-France.

Houses, each with its own dock and boat moored on the Lansberg. People fishing practically from their homes. Cottages, each more beautiful than the last. Little market gardeners' boats loaded with crates of vegetables heading off to who knows where.Truly, the passage along the Lansberg will delight you with its beauty.You'll find a tranquil, picturesque feel that's rare in the region.

The route starts from the town of Angres (in the Lens district), one of the former mining towns of the Hauts-de-France region. After a few hundred metres, you’ll leave the main urban ring road behind to enjoy the plains, valleys and forests of Artois. You could also start this circular loop from (10) N-D de Lorette, or from (3) Aix-Noulette, or even from (14) Souchez. There are restaurants at each potential starting point. (See the practical information below).

Starting from Place de Souchez, you’ll reach the Canadian memorial. The Battle of Vimy took place in April 1917. From the start of the war, the Germans held the heights of Vimy and the entire mining basin. After numerous unsuccessful attempts by the French and British to recapture these positions, it was the Canadians who drove them back, at the cost of 11,000 dead in their ranks.

The small roads and villages of Les Weppes are a pleasure to explore, in a region where there are few of the kind of leafy, winding country lanes that we love.

This often shaded walk, straddling the Belgian border, may appeal to you, as 90% of the route runs alongside the banks of the Lys and the Deûle.

Although most of the dirt tracks have now been resurfaced as country lanes, this route along the Belgian border might appeal to you because of the diversity of its surroundings.

A beautiful route through the fields, great for getting some fresh air, but preferably in dry weather.

If you're a birdwatcher at heart, you'll appreciate the observatories in this nature reserve. You can also picnic on the benches under the trees or enjoy a meal in Mosaïc Park (booking required). This route is particularly green and shaded, making it the perfect place to spend a wonderful day with family or friends.