Hazebrouck: Museums, Churches and Green Spaces

Hazebrouck’s history can be explored through its many facets: collections, church buildings and green spaces each offer a different perspective. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, these highlights can help you plan your time in the city around your interests. The focus is on specific places and their varied offerings—from regional traditions and painting to architecture and city parks.

Museums and Local History

The Musée des Augustins is located on the ground floor of a monastery building whose construction began in the 17th century. Its themes range from local history and folk traditions to 19th- and 20th-century French painting and painting from the Southern Netherlands. It also includes paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries, including works by artists associated with Van Dyck, Rubens and Teniers. The museum thus brings together regional themes and art from different periods.

The processional giants of Hazebrouck are on display there all year round. The exhibition is complemented by a reconstruction of a traditional Flemish kitchen, complete with various everyday objects. The museum also presents two temporary exhibitions each year, with different themes. If a particular exhibition is a key reason for your trip, check the dates in advance.

The Maison-musée de l’abbé Lemire offers a different perspective on the city’s history. It was built in 1899 at the foot of the bell tower of Église Saint-Éloi. Inside, Lemire’s parliamentary office in Paris is shown as a reconstruction using the original furniture. Books and DVDs about Abbé Lemire are also available there. The reconstruction focuses on a specific workspace, while the books and DVDs provide further information about Lemire.

Churches and Historic Buildings

Église Saint-Éloi was built in 1432 and is considered the city’s oldest monument. It has three naves and a façade tower in the tradition of Flemish churches. Its furnishings include five wooden altars classified as Monuments historiques. The Stations of the Cross were officially commissioned from Lucien Jonas in 1925. The architecture and furnishings offer different points of interest for those interested in Hazebrouck’s religious and artistic heritage.

The Chapelle de l’ancien couvent des Capucins is also part of this heritage: it was built in 1854 as part of the Flemish-Belgian Capuchin monastery in Hazebrouck. Église Notre-Dame was built in 1959 on the site of the earlier church. Its crypt houses surviving parts of the furnishings created by Gustave Pattein; these furnishings are listed in the inventory of Monuments historiques. The three buildings represent different stages in the city’s history: Saint-Éloi church from the 15th century, the chapel from the 19th century and Notre-Dame from the post-war period.

Green Spaces and Exploring the City

For a break between cultural outings, the city’s green spaces offer a different focus. The Jardin public was inaugurated in 1929 and has play facilities for children. Shady areas invite you to read or enjoy a family picnic. Parc Louis-Warein offers a different setting: this publicly accessible, semi-natural green space covers more than 4,000 square metres and is located in the centre of Hazebrouck. This makes it possible to choose between parks with different features when planning your visit.

The “Hazebrouck au fil du temps” tour takes visitors through Hazebrouck’s imperial architecture, religious heritage and green spaces. It starts in front of the Hazebrouck Tourist Office. The tour thus connects several of the city’s key points of interest rather than focusing on a single museum or building. If you would like to include it in your travel plans, check that it is available on your chosen date before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Prouvy, West-Cappel, Marchiennes, Lesquin, Armbouts-Cappel, Bourbourg, Déchy, Deûlémont

For the overview of the wider region: Nord.