Route of Caesar’s Camp in Avesnes-sur-Helpe

Starting point: the Collegiate Church of Saint-Nicolas in Avesnes-sur-Helpe.

(S/E) To the left of the collegiate church, follow Rue d’Albret (with its old houses) to Square de la Madeleine. At the far end of the square, head down into the ramparts and make your way to the sports grounds.

(1) Walk along the left-hand side of the sports grounds and carry on straight ahead until you reach a tarmac road (Rue des Laguettes).

(2) Turn left, cross the level crossing and carry on to the RD133. Turn right and continue along the road (take care) until you reach a T-junction.

(3) Turn left and pass the factory on your left.

(4) Shortly afterwards, turn right. ‘Camp de César’ is the hillock on the right. This oppidum was used by Roman troops; at the time, it consisted of two adjoining quadrilaterals. Unfortunately, at the end of the 18th century, its centre was excavated to extract dolomite.

Carry on to a crossroads, turn right and then almost immediately left, towards the Déversoir.

(5) Turn left onto a path running alongside the Helpe Majeure for nearly 2 km and join a gravel road at a place called La Quertelle.

(6) Turn right, then follow a stony, then grassy path to the left through the hedgerow countryside until you reach a road.

(7) Head up to the right. At the pylon, enjoy a panoramic view to the north over the ‘haie d’Avesnes’, a vast wooded strip comprising, in particular, the King’s and the Garde’s private woods.

(8) At the crossroads, head downhill to the right for about 750 metres, enjoying views of Avesnes-sur-Helpe and its collegiate church along the way.

(9) Take the hairpin bend to the left and follow the road. After passing a road on your left, cross
a railway line and, at the junction shortly afterwards, head up the street on the right. Then turn left onto Rue du Chanoine Carlier, which takes you to the Place d’Avesnelles with its characteristic bandstand and to the Church of Saint-Denis, built in the 15th century.

(10) At the bandstand, turn left into Rue Ernest Antoine, then immediately right into Rue Charles Séry. After the small bridge, walk past the sports complex and carry on straight ahead.

(11) Cross Rue de l’Ancienne Gare and then Rue Gustave Baillon before coming out onto Rue Léo Lagrange (RD113c), not far from the campsite.

(12) Turn left, then immediately right to reach the sports grounds.

(1) Turn left and follow the original route in the opposite direction to return to the collegiate church (S/E).

Take care along the RD133. In wet weather, waterproof footwear is essential.

Short route alternative: 3.7 km

(2) Turn left, cross the level crossing and continue to the RD133. Turn right and continue along the road (take care) on the RD133; after number 37, take the narrow path immediately on the right – viewpoint over Avesnelles and Avesnes-sur-Helpe. Walk up Rue des Jardins to the railway line; after the bridge, follow Rue Léo Lagrange, which leads to Place d’Avesnelles. Cross the square diagonally.
Head to the (10) and rejoin the route.

Town of Avesnes-sur-Helpe
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