Audinghen: Lighthouse, Church and Trails
Accommodation in Audinghen
Audinghen brings together striking landscapes and buildings with very different histories. The Phare de Gris-Nez is located in Audinghen, at the tip of Cap Gris-Nez. The cape is a geological monument overlooking the sea and provides a habitat for birds. Together with Cap Blanc-Nez, Cap Gris-Nez is one of 13 national tourist attractions awarded the “Grand Site de France” designation. This brings together the themes of natural landscapes, birdlife, and the lighthouse for your trip planning.
Lighthouse, fort, and postwar church
The buildings also reflect different periods in history. A construction campaign for the Phare de Gris-Nez is dated to 1837. The remains of Fort du Gris-Nez in Audinghen were built by John Rogers, an engineer to Henry VIII. The Église Saint-Pierre was built as part of Audinghen’s reconstruction following the destruction of the Second World War. Its radically modern design combines a reinforced-concrete structure with the visual arts. The 19th-century lighthouse construction campaign, the fort, and the church built during the postwar reconstruction therefore represent different chapters in the town’s history.
La Cense and Odin compared
For walks, La Cense and Odin offer two specific planning options. La Cense starts at the Maison du Site des Deux-Caps, is 5 km long, and has a stated walking time of 1 hour and 20 minutes. The trail passes through the countryside around Audinghen and particularly highlights the town’s unusual church. Odin starts in the town center, covers 7.2 km, and has a stated walking time of 1 hour and 45 minutes.
The figures make the difference in time commitment clear: La Cense is 2.2 km shorter, and its stated walking time is also 25 minutes less than Odin’s. La Cense links a route through the countryside with the theme of the church, while the information for Odin specifies a town-center start as well as a longer distance and walking time. Trail conditions can change, so check them before setting out.
Cycling on signposted routes
The VĂ©lomaritime, also known as EuroVelo 4, is signposted from Wimereux to Audinghen and from Calais via Sangatte to Audinghen. The Maison du Site des Deux-Caps also offers five circular cycling routes between Escalles and Ambleteuse, as well as the VĂ©lomaritime, also known as EuroVelo 4. These offer two different approaches to planning: the signposted connections lead to Audinghen, while the circular cycling routes run between the places mentioned. Signposting and the routes on offer can change, so check the latest route information before setting out.
An interactive visitor area
In Audinghen, the Maison du Site des Deux-Caps offers an interactive visitor area in the former barn of the Ferme d’Haringzelle, with a playful tour covering more than 250 m². The focus here is on a tour, not on planning a hiking or cycling route. The area’s content may change over time. Together with the starting point of La Cense, the Maison also makes the visitor area a useful reference point for planning a visit around Audinghen.
Discover more destinations: Fresnoy-En-Gohelle, Aubin-Saint-Vaast, Mont-Saint-Éloi, Licques, Maresville, Lépine, Airon-Notre-Dame, Parenty.
Back to the regional travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.
