Discover Marcq-En-Baroeul: Parks and Heritage

Marcq-En-Baroeul offers several distinct ways to spend your stay: walks and bike rides along the Marque, leisure time in the park, and cultural and technology-related attractions. When planning, you can first decide what interests you most: outdoor activities, trees and crafts, or exhibitions and architectural history. The local sites give each of these options a distinct character.

Parks and outdoor activities

Ferme aux Oies is a 2.7-hectare family leisure and recreational sports park on the edge of Belles Terres. It has a beach volleyball court and an animal area. The site therefore offers both a specific sporting activity and a dedicated area for animals. If you would like to include leisure and recreational sports in your plans, the park is a clearly identified place to visit.

The Chemin du Halage runs along the Marque and is suitable for family walks and bike rides. Its focus is on getting active along the river, while Ferme aux Oies brings together leisure and sports facilities in its park areas. This distinction can help you choose the right focus for your day: a walk or bike ride, or time enjoying the park’s listed facilities.

Trees and crafts at Parc du Septentrion

Parc du Septentrion covers 60 hectares and is home to rare exotic trees, including species from China, Turkey, Japan and Italy. These countries of origin give the park a botanical focus, distinct from the sports and leisure facilities at Ferme aux Oies. The park is also home to Village Artisanal, with more than 20 craftspeople and retailers. Individual businesses may change; if you have a particular vendor in mind, check what is currently available in advance. The same park area thus offers two different points of interest: trees and crafts.

Culture, architectural history and exhibitions

The present-day Église Saint-Vincent is predominantly a structure dating from the 16th and 19th centuries. It is made of local white Lezennes stone as well as sandstone. For architecture enthusiasts, both the two construction periods and the materials offer specific points of reference for understanding the church.

Espace Saint-Joseph is now a cultural venue where exhibitions are held. Le Minorelle also hosts exhibitions and additionally features a greenhouse with greenery. Both venues therefore offer exhibitions, while the greenhouse is an extra feature at Le Minorelle.

Musée régional des Télécommunications et de la Radio traces two centuries of telecommunications technology, from the Chappe telegraph to radio, undersea cables, fibre optics and mobile phones. This span connects early forms of communication with later technological developments. If you are interested in the history of technology, the museum offers a clearly defined subject to explore.

Château du Vert-Bois welcomes visitors and offers guided group tours on request. If you are planning such a visit, make your request in advance; conditions may change.

Events and seasonal opening times

The Saint-Vincent d’Automne festival takes place on the third Sunday in September. It combines street performances with opportunities to discover the heritage. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the exact event date when making your plans.

The navigable Canal de Roubaix offers free passage between Marcq-En-Baroeul and Leers. Operating times are seasonal, so check the current schedule if you plan to make the crossing.

The attractions can help you choose a focus for your visit: the Marque and the Chemin du Halage are suited to walks and bike rides, while Parc du Septentrion is known for its trees and crafts. Architectural history, exhibitions and telecommunications technology offer other cultural themes; the festival and canal are also subject to specific dates or seasonal schedules.

Discover more destinations: Sainghin-En-Mélantois, Trelon, Wasquehal, Bailleul, Ferrière-la-Grande, Armentières, Leffrinckoucke, Saint-Saulve

See the broader travel overview: Nord.