Discover Cousolre

Cousolre combines the history of mechanical music with regional marble culture, the Église Saint-Martin and a hike along the Circuit de la Hante. Depending on whether you prefer collections, architecture or exercise, these themes offer different ways to shape your stay.

Mechanical Music and Marble

The Musée de la machine parlante was inaugurated in Cousolre on 4 May 2013. Its collection includes more than 300 rare items, including barrel organs and musical toys. The different types of objects show that the subject is not limited to a single instrument. During a guided tour, historic devices are demonstrated and explained.

The museum also explores Cousolre’s marble history. This includes marble sculptures and objects, as well as paintings and drawings. Historically, marble was quarried in the Avesnois particularly around Cousolre. The museum therefore presents regional history through both stone objects and works of art.

As of April 2026, the Musée de la machine parlante had already been closed for several months. Funding and a permanent organization to manage it and open it to the public were lacking. Check current access arrangements before making specific plans to visit.

Église Saint-Martin and Chapelle du Bon Dieu de Pitié

The Église Saint-Martin de Cousolre was built from blue stone between 1501 and 1521 and fortified around 1575. These dates distinguish the construction period from the later fortification. The church preserves relics of Walbert and Bertille, the parents of Saint Aldegonde and Saint Waudru. Both architectural history and religious tradition are therefore among the town’s historical themes.

The Chapelle du Bon Dieu de Pitié stands in front of the Église Saint-Martin. It was built in 1558 and is protected as a historic monument. It dates from after the church’s construction and before its fortification around 1575. Guided tours of the Église Saint-Martin with Jean Heuclin are available by booking at least 24 hours in advance. Check these visiting arrangements again before your trip.

Hiking and Landscape

The Circuit de la Hante starts at the town hall car park in Cousolre. The hiking route is moderately difficult, 14 km long and takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes. This is an approximate duration, so use it as a guide when planning your time. Check the route details and starting point before setting out.

The Cousolre municipal forest is also part of the landscape. It is associated with the Natura 2000 site of the upper valleys of the Solre, Thure and Hante rivers, along with their wooded, bocage-covered slopes. Fauna and flora were presented through the varied vegetation on the slope. This adds a natural history aspect to the themes of the museum and architectural history.

Discover more travel destinations: Sémeries, Neuville-En-Ferrain, Deûlémont, Pont-Sur-Sambre, Bambecque, Renescure, Cambrai, Condé-sur-l'Escaut.

For the broader travel overview: Nord.