Beauvoir-Wavans: Château, Heritage and Hotels

Beauvoir-Wavans offers a clear cultural and historical focus: the Château de Beauvoir reflects the history of its construction and occupation, the military cemetery and former military hospital point to the First World War, and the church of Saint-Vaast houses a 19th-century statue of the Virgin Mary. There is also a heritage route on which Beauvoir-Wavans is stage 3. This provides a way to organise a stay around different themes: château architecture, war history, sacred art and the history of a railway line.

The Château de Beauvoir as a protected ensemble

The Château de Beauvoir in Beauvoir-Wavans was built in 1783 by the architect Antoine du Bois as the residence of the de Beaulaincourt family. Its date of construction, architect and original purpose give the estate a clear historical connection: it was built as a family home. The historic estate includes a residence, agricultural outbuildings, a kitchen garden and a park.

Since 2 February 2016, the château has been protected in its entirety. The protected area includes the pavilions, all the outbuildings, the kitchen garden, the courtyard of honour, the park, the surrounding walls and their gates. The focus is therefore on an ensemble of buildings and outdoor spaces, not just the residence. Those interested in architectural history will find various components of a historic estate brought together under a single protection framework.

First World War memorial sites

The British military cemetery at Beauvoir-Wavans was established in 1918 near the Drucas military hospital. It contains 43 graves of British soldiers and one grave of a German soldier. These numbers give the cemetery a clear outline; its date of establishment links it to the wartime landscape of 1918.

During the First World War, the Château Drucas was converted into a military hospital known as Casualty Clearing Station 21. James McCudden died at the Château Drucas military hospital on 9 July 1918. The cemetery and the hospital represent different aspects of this history: the former holds the graves and dates from the year it was established, while the latter reflects the use of the Château Drucas as a military hospital and a documented date of death for a named individual.

Sacred art in the church of Saint-Vaast

A statue of the Virgin and Child stands on a cabinet in the sacristy of the church of Saint-Vaast. The statue, Vierge à l'Enfant, is made of carved, gilded and polychrome-painted wood and dates from the first half of the 19th century. The description thus brings together its material, the techniques used and its historical date: the wood is carved, gilded and painted in several colours.

The Vierge à l'Enfant is listed as a protected historic object; its protection was recorded on 7 January 1981. Unlike the château, whose protection covers an entire ensemble, this listing focuses on a single work of art. Its location in the sacristy and the information about its material and date give this stop its own art-historical emphasis.

Heritage route and former railway station

Beauvoir-Wavans is stage 3 of the heritage route “Une ligne ferroviaire devenue sentier de randonnée”. The title can be translated as “A railway line that became a walking trail” and focuses on the transformation of a railway line. The history of the former Beauvoir-Wavans railway station is a separate matter: the station no longer exists. The stage number places the village on the route, while the station’s history describes a building that is no longer there.

Several historical perspectives come together in Beauvoir-Wavans: the château as a protected estate, traces of the First World War, a sacred work of art and the themes of the heritage route. Depending on whether you are more interested in architecture, war and remembrance, or art, you will find different ways to explore the village.

Discover more destinations: Chériennes, Maninghem, Lorgies, Inxent, Warlincourt-Lès-Pas, Wissant, Saulchoy, Courset.

For the broader travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.