Discover Bailleul: Belfry, museums and nature

Bailleul brings together several themes to help you plan your stay: Flemish architecture, museum collections, lace-making and a protected green space. Would you mainly like to see the belfry and town hall, make time for museums, or set aside an hour for a themed walking route? The sights and activities offer different ways to explore these interests.

Belfry and Flemish architecture

The belfry and town hall of Bailleul have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2005. The belfry is also listed as a historic monument, and its carillon has 35 bells. You can visit the belfry and carillon by making a reservation in advance. So don’t plan this as a spontaneous stop; check reservation options before your trip.

There is also a walking route devoted to architecture: “Bailleul, a model of Flemish architecture” is three kilometres long, takes one hour and starts at the foot of the belfry. Eight information panels line the route. This allows you to complement a visit to the belfry with a guided look at Flemish architecture, though the two experiences are different in format: a reservation is required in advance for the belfry, while the walk is described as a route in its own right. Route details may be revised in future editions, so check the information before setting out.

Museum collections and local craft history

The Musée Benoît-De-Puydt offers an immersive visit in a redesigned 19th-century collector’s house. The museum was founded in 1861 with a major donation from collector Benoît De Puydt, who was born in Bailleul. His collection comprises art objects that bear witness to Flemish, European and Asian cultures from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. The collections also include evidence of Bailleul’s ceramics and bobbin-lace production. If you are interested in the town and its craft traditions, you can explore both art collections and local production history here.

You can also discover lace heritage at another venue: the Maison de la dentelle houses a museum area tracing the history of lace-making. It displays both traditional and contemporary work by its students. At the École dentellière, visitors can also watch lacemakers at work and take part in an introduction to lace-making. This lets you distinguish between viewing collections and displayed work and taking part in a practical introduction to the craft.

The École dentellière is open to visitors year-round, except on Sundays, Mondays, public holidays and during the Christmas holidays. Since these exceptions are important when planning a visit, check the opening hours again before your trip.

Green space, walking and cycling

The Espace naturel Bellekindt is a protected biodiversity area and an accessible, eight-hectare green space in the heart of Bailleul. This gives the town a natural setting alongside its architecture and collections. When planning your trip, you can weigh this option against visiting museums or taking the one-hour architecture walk: the route is described by distance and duration, while Bellekindt is presented as a larger green space.

There are also figures for cycling infrastructure, with a timeframe: since 2020, more than 20.5 kilometres of cycling facilities have been created in Bailleul, and eight kilometres of greenways were added in 2023. These figures describe the development of the facilities over the periods specified. They do not identify a specific route for an outing. So if you are planning to cycle during your trip, check the routes and conditions relevant to your stay in advance.

Whether you choose Bailleul for its belfry, museums, lace-making or green space, these different themes can help you plan. Look for a hotel in Bailleul and start by choosing your destination based on the places and activities you most want to experience during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Solesmes, Crèvecœur-Sur-L'escaut, Haut-Lieu, Merris, Steenwerck, Faches-Thumesnil, Bousbecque, Ribécourt-La-Tour

For the broader travel overview: Nord.