Liessies Abbey Park

Car park near Liessies Church.

(S/E) With your back to the church, head towards the park entrance by following the path on your right, passing the abbot’s house and the outbuildings of the former abbey (18th century), comprising service buildings, stables and barns. Leave Rue de l’Abbaye on your left,

(1) Turn right. Once inside the park, follow the central path to the right. This paved path is accessible to all visitors (including those with visual impairments and wheelchair users). After the orchard and the bridge, turn left. The route runs alongside wet meadows.

(2) At the end of the path, turn right and follow the path running parallel to the Helpe Majeure. Keep to the river at all times. Ignore a path on your right and carry straight on.

(3) The route bends to the right and moves away from the Helpe. Head towards the Pont des Apôtres and climb the path on the left up to the Chemin Sainte-Hiltrude, which you do not take. You will find yourself facing the foothills of the Ardennes.

(4) Walk along the foothills on the right. Turn right. The path runs alongside a meadow planted with fruit trees where sheep are grazing. Pass to the left of the building known as Le Bûcher aux Moines, and you’ll find the park entrance on your left. Turn right to rejoin the outbound route, then left.

(1) Turn left to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Two possible ‘pushchair-friendly’ route options
- The first:
(2) At the end of the path, turn right and follow the path running parallel to the Helpe Majeure. Keep to the river at all times. Turn right, cross the bridge and follow the path from the start back to the park entrance.
- The second:
(3) The route bends to the right and moves away from the Helpe; head towards the Pont des Apôtres. You’ll find yourself facing the foothills of the Ardennes.
Before the bridge, turn right onto the main path and head back to the park entrance.

To round off your tour of the former abbey site, a visit to Saint-Jean Church is a must. The limited height of its bell tower once allowed the abbey church’s bell tower to be seen above it. Inside, you’ll find a painting depicting the abbey church and the monastic buildings in the 18th century.

The Bûcher aux Moines is a 17th- and 18th-century building constructed of brick and blue stone. It was used by the monks to store the large quantities of wood needed to heat the abbey and to store agricultural equipment. Today, it hosts exhibitions and academic conferences.

Café Rando Nord
La Forestière in Liessies
http://www.tourisme-avesnois.com/sejourn...