Haut-Lieu: Roman Road, Village Church and Oratories

Haut-Lieu’s history is reflected in a Gallo-Roman road, its own village church and several oratories with precisely identified locations. Geological and archaeological topics also feature, along with the programme for Spiruline du Haut-Lieu’s open day in 2026.

The Chaussée Brunehaut and the section near Godin

The Gallo-Roman Chaussée Brunehaut crosses Haut-Lieu and connects Reims with Bavay. At the hamlet of Godin, an embanked section of the Roman road from Bavay to Reims is well preserved for more than a kilometre. Two different scales are therefore involved: the connection describes the route between the cities, while the length refers to the preserved section near Godin. This places the wider regional route alongside a specifically located stretch, without suggesting that the two statements describe the same area.

Church, chapels and oratories

Saint-André Church has been the village’s own church since 1890. The Notre-Dame de Lourdes chapel, also dating from 1890, has a double-leaf wrought-iron gate. Each of the gate’s solid panels is decorated with a crucifix. Another chapel dedicated to the same saint dates from 1923 and is built against the wall of a house on Route d’Avesnes. The Manoir de Biwetz has been documented since the 13th century.

The dates and locations of the oratories provide specific points of reference. The 1717 Oratoire Notre-Dame de Prospérité stands opposite the La Grande Maison farm, at the crossroads of Chemin de Hututu and Chemin des Ecassettes. The cylindrical Oratoire Notre-Dame de Bohain was built in 1737 and is located at 32 Route de Boulogne. At Le Godin, the 1854 Oratoire Saint-Pierre et Saint-Charles stands slightly back from Route de Cartignies. It is the only oratory in the inventory dedicated to Saint Charles.

An Oratoire Notre-Dame de Walcourt dating from 1755 stands near Château de Biwetz. The Oratoire Notre-Dame de Walcourt et Notre-Dame des Affligés, visible on Chemin d’Hulaine, has an octagonal base; its inscription features a skull. These examples show a variety of forms, dedications and dates, without requiring a single walking route.

Geology and archaeological history

A 2023 planning report describes the geological site “Limite Dévonien / Carbonifère” as covering 119 hectares and classifies it within the national stratigraphy. A northern access path to a second quarry pit at the Haut-Lieu quarry offers geological exposures. If you plan to visit, check access conditions beforehand. Separately, an archaeological find from the village’s history: a Merovingian cemetery was discovered in 1854 during quarrying in Haut-Lieu.

A time-specific programme centred on spirulina

At Spiruline du Haut-Lieu’s 2026 open day, the programme explains production, from the cultivation ponds through harvesting and drying to packaging. It includes tastings of spirulina flakes and tablets, as well as fresh spirulina on toast with fruit juice. The activities described are part of this open day and are not a general statement about regular visits. If you are planning your trip around it, check the event dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Romeries, Hondschoote, Caudry, Roncq, Denain, Armbouts-Cappel, Condé-sur-l'Escaut, Arleux

For the overview of the wider region: Nord.