Dourlers: Chapel, Church and Circular Route

Dourlers brings together historic buildings, a circular route and a municipal park. The Chapelle Saint Julien, the Église Saint-Médard and the Circuit du Mont Dourlers each offer specific points of interest.

Chapelle Saint Julien and its history

The Chapelle Saint Julien dates from the late 15th century. It was originally attached to a hospice that took in travellers, people in need and pilgrims seeking food or somewhere to stay for the night. This historical context links the chapel to the former care of people on the road. It describes the hospice’s original function.

The construction can also be described in specific terms: the chapel is made of brick and blue Hainaut stone; Gothic elements can be found at the side entrance. The Chapelle Saint Julien and its surrounding wall have been fully restored. Further restoration work is planned to renovate the interior. The site thus brings together the hospice’s historical function, the materials used and the stated stage of restoration.

Église Saint-Médard: construction history and details

The present-day Église Saint-Médard replaced earlier church buildings in 1862 and was built in the Renaissance style. Inside the church is the tombstone of A.F. Bady, Lord of Dourlers, who died in 1735, and his wife, Marguerite Rouillon, who died in 1760. The names, title and two years of death give the tombstone a clear connection to the history of the area.

Another detail can be found in the vault of the right-hand chapel: it is panelled in wood and bears the year 1517, along with painted garlands and flowerpots. The dates provide different chronological reference points: 1862 marks the replacement of earlier church buildings by the present church; 1517 appears on the vault. They should therefore not be read as one and the same date. Together, these details make the church interesting to travellers who pay attention both to a building’s history and to its individual decorative features.

Circuit du Mont Dourlers and Mur des Sarrazins

A route description published by the regional park in 2018 gives a 7-kilometre and a 10-kilometre option for the Circuit du Mont Dourlers. Both start at the church in Dourlers. You can use the route length as a specific point of comparison: the options differ by three kilometres. The 10-kilometre option also passes the Mur des Sarrazins, described as the remains of a Roman aqueduct.

The ruins of the Mur des Sarrazins are located near the hamlet of Trieu Gaillon, about 500 metres north of the church in Dourlers. There, they line a local connecting road for around 20 metres. When planning your walk, the longer option therefore differs both in its additional distance and in the passage by the Mur mentioned in the route description. Check the path conditions and markings on site before setting out.

Parc Communal

The Parc Communal is located on Rue Jean Coin. It can also be reached on foot via the Ruelle des Espagnols at the lower end of Rue Jean Coin. If you include the park in your plans, this described walking route can serve as a guide. Check the access information before your visit, as access details may change.

Discover more destinations: Haulchin, Armbouts-Cappel, Templeuve, Croix, Houplines, Orchies, Clairfayts, Le Doulieu.

For the regional travel overview: Nord.