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Park in the car park in the abbey courtyard.
(S/E) From the abbey courtyard, take the steps leading to the mill and cross the bridge to get a closer look at the building.
Turn around and head back to the abbey courtyard via the same route, then make your way towards the guest quarters
You are now in the former abbey courtyard. It is hard to imagine the constant bustle that used to reign here before 1789. All that came to an abrupt end with the ‘Maroilles upheaval’, but above all with the French Revolution, following which all the monks were expelled and the church’s property sold off. This huge building to the west of the courtyard was narrowly spared, not from the fervour of the Revolution, but from the elements. It was in fact in 1980 that, realising the symbolic significance of this barn, the people of Maroilles decided to preserve it. Today it has become the Avesnois Regional Nature Park Centre.
Next, leave the abbey courtyard heading towards the village, cross the Grand’Rue and make your way to the town hall (note the stone to admire on the right-hand gable). The civil community of Maroilles had a charter that, in principle, guaranteed it civil rights. In reality, however, it remained in the shadow of the abbey, on which it was heavily dependent. Thus, the mayor (bailli) was appointed by the abbot-bishops.
With your back to the right-hand gable of the town hall, cross Rue du Lieutenant and take Ruelle Abocq. Then turn into the first alley on the right. Once back on the Grande Rue, take a look at the church,
With your back to the church, turn right onto Rue des Juifs, heading towards Le Quesnoy.
(1) You will reach the Saint-Humbert Fountain (said to cure rabies and insect bites). Continue along Rue des Juifs for a few metres and turn right into Rue des Haies.
Take the first right onto the path for cyclists and pedestrians towards the Parcours des sens;
Turn right.
(2) When you reach Grand Rue, turn right and head towards the dovecote, which you can see in the distance.
(3) Use the pedestrian crossing to cross the road and head to the left of the green square.
Walk to the bandstand, go under the triumphal arch and continue along the street opposite towards the Deulin Chapel.
Take the Chemin de la Petite Marlière to the left of the chapel.
(4) At the end of the tarmac road, continue along the path for about 20 metres, then enter the pasture on the right through the wooden gate and head towards the pond.
Go round the pond on the right and leave the pasture. Walk back up the street to the church. Walk down the Grande Rue to the left, then head for the abbey courtyard and the Avesnois Regional Nature Park Centre (S/E).
AONB
Moderate 
