Discover Bambecque

During a stay in Bambecque, you can explore historical architecture, landscaped garden spaces and nature as distinct areas of interest. The Église Saint-Omer and the Château d’Engelshof represent architectural history, but they are not protected to the same extent. The Jardin botanique du Val d’Yser is divided into seasonal areas; the nature area and circular route add a defined area and a route length to these themes. These attractions come in different sizes: from a single church and a château to a garden, a nature area and a longer route.

Architecture and heritage protection

After the devastation of 1568, the Église Saint-Omer was rebuilt between 1591 and 1606 as a three-aisled hall church with a tower portal. “Three-aisled” refers to the layout of a nave and two side aisles; in a hall church, the aisles are approximately the same height. The dates distinguish the event from the subsequent construction phase: 1568 marks the devastation, while 1591 to 1606 marks the reconstruction. The church as a whole has been protected as a historic monument under a decree dated 26 June 2006.

At the Château d’Engelshof in Bambecque, the scope of protection is more limited. The façades and roofs are listed as historic monuments, with the exception of the building attached to the south façade. The difference in scope is clear: at Saint-Omer, protection applies to the entire church; at the château, it covers the specified façades and roofs, except for the extension on the south façade.

The Jardin botanique du Val d’Yser

The Jardin botanique du Val d’Yser covers more than 25,000 square metres. Four seasonal areas and winding paths divide the grounds. Ornamental, vegetable and fruit plants grow among native grasses; the garden is also home to a particularly diverse range of wildlife. Seasonal design, different plant groups and wildlife are therefore among the distinct aspects of this garden attraction. If you are more interested in plants and garden design than in architectural history, you will find a separate focus of interest here.

Nature area and circular route

The ZNIEFF “Prairies humides de Bambecque et la Petite Becque” is a type 1 continental nature area covering 4.06 hectares in Bambecque and Herzeele. The “Les fraudeurs et la maréchaussée” circular route is 43 kilometres long and starts in Bambecque. It connects the Yser with the Colme and passes close to the polders of Les Moëres. The two nature attractions differ in scale: the ZNIEFF is a 4.06-hectare area in two communes, while the circular route is a 43-kilometre trail starting in Bambecque. If you plan to follow the circular route, check the route details before your trip.

When choosing a hotel, the purpose of your trip can help determine your focus: those interested in architecture can look to building history and heritage protection; those interested in nature can choose between the garden, the nature area and the circular route.

Discover more destinations: Faches-Thumesnil, Bierne, Houplines, Genech, Téteghem, Ribécourt-La-Tour, Walincourt-Selvigny, Armentières

For the broader travel overview: Nord.