Discover Clerques

Clerques offers several clear starting points for a stay: the architectural history of Saint-Barthélémy Church, the artwork Le Semeur and the Balade Sainte-Thérèse. There is also a chapel with its own architectural character and a hikers’ estaminet. If you are looking for a hotel in Clerques, you can first decide whether you would prefer to focus your stay on architecture and local history or on a hike. The details below show how these interests differ in practice.

Church, Local Landmark and Architecture

At Saint-Barthélémy Church, four paired openings on the north and east sides of the old tower mark the transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic style. The choir dates from the 15th or 16th century. This brings together two distinct architectural features in the same church: the change in style on the tower and the dating of the choir. Those interested in architectural history can consider these features separately rather than combining them into a single date.

The church’s furnishings are also noteworthy: five items are classified as historic monuments, and six are listed as such. The architecture and furnishings thus offer different ways to explore the building. A gilded rooster atop a church tower is another distinctive detail. It is made of 14 kilograms of brass, covered with three sheets of gold leaf and has ruby eyes.

In front of the town hall stands the large statue Le Semeur, which draws visitors’ attention. It symbolizes both the agricultural character of the area and Clerques’ twinning with Klerken in Belgium. The monument thus points to two distinct themes: agriculture as a regional motif and the connection with its Belgian twin town.

The Sainte-Thérèse Chapel can be described through different architectural features: it is built of brick and flint in the Romano-Byzantine style. Compared with Saint-Barthélémy, whose tower shows the transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic style, here the focus is on the combination of the style designation and the building materials. This offers visitors interested in architectural forms two different perspectives on sacred architecture in Clerques.

Hiking in the Hem Valley

Clerques is one of the villages in the Hem Valley with scenic hiking trails. One specific option is the Balade Sainte-Thérèse: an easy walking route that takes 45 minutes and is a 2.6-kilometre circular trail starting in Clerques. The duration and distance provide different points of reference for planning your walk. Since route details may be updated, check the latest information before setting out.

GPX and KML files are available for digital trip planning and can be exported to a GPS device or another navigation tool. You can use the route in either of these two formats for navigation. File availability may change, so check before your hike that the relevant downloads are still available. The reference to the Hem Valley places Clerques within a wider hiking context, while the Balade Sainte-Thérèse offers a specific duration and distance for a route starting in the village.

Dining in Clerques

La Taverne du Semeur is a hikers’ estaminet in Clerques. Its dishes include Carbonade du semeur, grilled ham, Potjevleesch and Tarte au papin. You can take these specific dishes into account when planning a stop for a meal. Opening arrangements and the menu may change, so check the latest information if you are planning your visit around them.

Discover more destinations: Salperwick, Nuncq-Hautecôte, Fiefs, Beuvrequen, Fléchin, Busnes, Sempy, Monts-En-Ternois.

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