Route des Voyettes d'Orchies

Start from the Parking de la Grange via Rue Albert Poutrain.

(S/E) Head down this street and, at the end, turn right onto Rue Jules Ferry for a few metres.

(1) Opposite, at number 76, you can see a mansion that houses the Tour à Diables (the monument is not open to visitors at present). Follow Rue Jules Ferry until you reach Rue des Trois Muettes. Take this street to reach Place du Général de Gaulle, turn left, follow it and leave Rue Louis Letellier on your right.

(2) Walk past the Town Hall, built in the Flemish Renaissance style, which dates back to the 17th century and was inaugurated in 1927.

(3) At the crossroads, continue straight on, passing to the left of the Church of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption, rebuilt a century before the Town Hall in 1827. Take Rue François Hebo to reach the road running alongside the railway line.

(4) At the roundabout, turn left onto the pedestrian walkway. On the right is the iconic Leroux factory where chicory is produced. Cross the next roundabout, near the Collège Notre-Dame, via the Providence underpass: admire the street art in this passageway.

(5) At the end, turn left and head up to the next roundabout. Turn right into Rue Léon Rudent.

(6) Before the cemetery, turn left onto Chemin des Prières.

(7) Follow a cobbled section, which the Paris-Roubaix riders cross every year. After the cobbles, follow the motorway access road to reach the retail park. At the roundabout, turn left to find, just past the Renault garage, a pedestrian crossing. Cross the road and the retail park to reach Rue des Rosiers. Turn right onto Rue de la Libération.

(8) Just before the wayside shrine, take Rue de Kelso on the left. After a white house with a long, palm-lined driveway, take the grassy path on the right that runs alongside the motorway and cross the mixed-use agricultural area. At the end, you’ll come to a paved section: the Sentier des Miclewes. Turn left, then right twice. On Rue Victor Delannoy, a gate leads into the Parc du Millenium. Walk straight through the park.

(9) On leaving the park, take the small lane on the right, cross Rue Floris Durez and take the Sentier de la Poste. At the end of the path, go through the gate and turn right. At the end, turn left after crossing a street, approach a building and walk along its left-hand side to reach a narrow lane with two lanes. Cross the street to take a second lane of the same type. Then, after a third one, continue for 20 metres along Rue Sadi Carnot.

(10) Turn right. At the end, turn left then right onto Rue Victor Hugo to arrive almost opposite a small lane leading to the allotments. Walk alongside them, turning left for about 200 m.
(11) In the middle of the allotments, turn left, then, 100 m further on, turn left again and, 20 m further on, you’ll reach Rue Jacques Duclos. Continue to Rue Jacques Brel, turn right, then take a small side street at the end on the left, then turn immediately right to follow part of the old route of the Douai-Orchies railway line.

(12) You’ll reach Rue Claude Jean; follow it to the left until you reach Rue de la Poterne, then turn right. Next, take Rue Falemprise, then the small lane opposite for about 170 m, and turn left. You’ll reach the Parking des Bleuets (the car park for the Sunday market).

(13) Turn left, walking alongside the car park, then cross over. Turn left, then, on the right, take the Sentier des Garages and turn left onto Rue Henri Fievet. On the right, you will see a remnant of the town’s old ramparts. Take Rue de la Poterne on the right. 100 m further on, turn left onto Rue Gaston Leroy (formerly Rue des Casernes). The swimming pool, commonly known as "Le bac à phoque", used to be located where the Résidence des Orchidées now stands. Take a look at the different house facades, the medallion bearing the image of Saint Vincent de Paul, the statue of the Virgin Mary, the bouquet of flowers...

(14) At the corner of Rue Gaston Leroy and Rue Louis Letellier, look for the commemorative plaque indicating that it was during the construction of this residence that the Belles du Bord were discovered.
At the end, turn left onto Rue Jules Roch to pass in front of the former home of the Leroux family. Take the first street on the right to return to the Grange car park (S/E).

- As you walk through the town of Orchies, you will come across all sorts of shops and places to stock up on supplies.
- Please note that it is possible to start the routes at point (13). You are at the Bleuets car park, but please be aware that there is a market on Sundays.
- This route was developed in collaboration with the Orchies Marche association, whom I would like to thank for their support.