Aulnoye-Aymeries: Heritage, Culture and Routes Along the Sambre
Accommodation in Aulnoye-Aymeries
Aulnoye-Aymeries brings together architectural heritage, railway history, cultural venues and routes along the Sambre.
Art Deco and Industrial Culture
The town’s Art Deco buildings include the town hall, designed by Albert Rouzé. The feudal motte of Aymeries offers a very different historical connection and is also part of Aulnoye-Aymeries’ cultural heritage. These two sites represent different chapters in the town’s history and give visitors more than one possible cultural focus.
The history of industry can also be traced through specific sites. The former works of Pierre-Joseph Urbain were among the first steelworks in the Nord department to use coke. Another historical milestone was Urbain’s 1839 application for permission to establish a metallurgical works in Aulnoye-Aymeries. The date refers to the application for permission.
Cultural Venues with Railway History
The Église Saint-Raphaël was built around 1960 to serve a railway workers’ housing estate in Aulnoye-Aymeries. Another link to the railway can be found at a former marshalling yard: since 2010, the Théâtre de Chambre company has occupied a former repair depot for steam locomotives there. The 232U serves as an artistic residency venue and regularly opens its premises to other theatre companies. The Théâtre Léo Ferré was inaugurated on 20 November 1983.
The Pôle des Cultures Actuelles encompasses performances and artistic development, as well as vocational and further education and learning. At the Médiathèque Pierre Briatte, the programme includes concerts, conferences and workshops, alongside lending services and spaces for reading. The cultural offering therefore ranges from performance venues and artistic work to events at the media library.
Exploring the Sambre and the Natural Surroundings
In Aulnoye-Aymeries, a walk along the Sambre towpath runs between Berlaimont and Bachant. For cyclists, the VĂ©loroute de la Sambre et de la forĂŞt Mormal offers safe mountain bike routes in the town. La Florentine adds another option: a 30-hectare area returned to nature. A riverside walk, a cycle route and a natural area thus offer different starting points for planning your visit. As route infrastructure may change, check the latest local information before setting out.
Swimming, Relaxation and Events
The Centre aquatique L’Aiguade has a 25-metre swimming pool, as well as an activity and leisure pool with a depth of 0.90 to 1.30 metres. The wellness area includes a sauna, hammam, showers and a relaxation room. Facility details may change, so check the latest information for visitors before your visit.
The events calendar features recurring dates throughout the year. The Rendez-vous des Saveurs et du Tourisme takes place every March at the Pôle des Cultures Actuelles and on the Place de La Marbrerie. It features 140 stalls, more than 70 percent of which are dedicated to the local area; the number of stalls may vary from year to year. The Foire aux disques follows each April, with record sellers and an apéro blues. In summer, Les Nuits Secrètes is part of the cultural programme as a three-day festival featuring the “Parcours secrets”; the programme changes each year. If you’re planning your trip around an event, check the dates and programme details in advance.
You can choose from a range of themes when planning your visit: Art Deco and industrial culture, theatre and events, routes along the Sambre, or the facilities at the Centre aquatique L’Aiguade. This makes it easy to plan your time in Aulnoye-Aymeries around what matters most to you.
Discover more destinations: Wasquehal, Mouvaux, Bas-Lieu, Estreux, Lambersart, Ramousies, Renescure, Valenciennes
Go to the main travel overview: Nord.
