Discover Arleux

Arleux lies in the Sensée Valley, where extensive ponds, broad marshlands, rivers and canals shape the landscape. Local food is also a distinctive feature: Ail fumé d’Arleux is a smoked garlic speciality with European protected geographical indication status. The town’s historical landmarks include Le Moulin du Roy and Saint-Nicolas Church. If you are looking for a hotel in Arleux, these themes offer a concrete way to decide whether the destination suits your travel interests.

A local flavour with a clear origin

Ail fumé d’Arleux is made from the local ail du Nord variety. The bulbs are braided into a plait and traditionally smoked; its production is based on skills passed down through generations. The speciality can therefore be understood through several concrete features: the variety used, its characteristic plaited form and the smoking process. It is an important local product and has been recognised as a European protected geographical indication (PGI) since 2013. For travellers who take regional food culture into account when choosing a destination, Arleux offers a clearly defined culinary focus. The designation of origin and the production method tell two different parts of the story: one identifies its geographical origin, while the other describes how the product is made.

Local culture and history

Le Moulin du Roy is a cultural centre and one of Arleux’s surviving historical landmarks. Its facilities are spread over several floors: the ground floor houses a tourist office, the first floor an exhibition space, the second floor a conference room, and the top floor a media library. The site is thus associated with visitor information, exhibitions, conferences and media services. If you are planning a visit, check the current opening hours, as they may change.

Another historical landmark is Saint-Nicolas. The church stands on the site of a 12th-century Romanesque church; its organ case has been classified as a historic monument since 1971. Here, the history of the church site and the heritage classification of a specific piece of its furnishings are two separate points of interest: one refers to the former church on the site, the other to the organ case.

Water landscapes and trails

The Sensée landscape is another highlight for those interested in nature and walking routes. The Circuit des Aulx passes through marshland and reed beds along the Canal de la Sensée; bridges and footbridges line the peaceful route. The landscape’s distinctive features therefore include not only expanses of water, but also reed beds and crossings. The Circuit du domaine des Trous et des Bosses is one of the walking routes designated in Arleux. The two route names offer a practical starting point for orientation: marshland, reeds and the canal shape the landscape along the Circuit des Aulx, while the other circuit is specifically designated as a walking route.

Anglers in Arleux can also pursue their hobby along the canals and rivers, as well as at the large municipal pond. Walking and fishing thus offer two different perspectives on the local waterways: the trails pass through the water and marshland landscape, while fishing focuses on the rivers, canals and municipal pond.

Discover more destinations: Tilloy-Lez-Marchiennes, Staple, Hem-Lenglet, Anstaing, Trelon, Sains-Du-Nord, Merville, Walincourt-Selvigny

For the broader travel overview: Nord.