Desvres: Discover Ceramic History, Museums and Nature

Desvres offers a range of themes for your stay: the history of faience, two museums, aquatic facilities, and the landscape and local history of Mont Pelé and Mont Hulin. When looking for a hotel in Desvres, you can consider which of these themes matter most to you. The places and activities differ in whether ceramics, collections, water, or a walking trail take center stage.

Ceramic History in Desvres

The year 1764 is an important starting point for the history of faience in Desvres. That year, Jean-François STA founded the first faience manufactory here. The Musée de la Céramique de Desvres displays around 700 pieces of pottery, faience, stoneware, and porcelain. The variety of materials offers a different way into ceramic history than the chronological layout of the museum tour.

The chronological and thematic tour leads through ten galleries and covers Desvres’ ceramic history from the late 17th to the early 21st century. This brings two perspectives together: the different materials used for the pieces on display and the history’s context across several centuries. If you are particularly interested in the development of ceramics, you can take both into account when planning your visit.

A municipal museum description updated on October 6, 2025, lists guided tours, educational activities, and modeling workshops as year-round offerings. If you would like to take part in a particular activity, check the dates in advance.

Other Museum Collections

The Musée de la Belle Époque is located in the former Fourmaintraux factory. It displays around 4,000 pieces from M. Debette’s personal collection. This sets it apart from the Musée de la Céramique both in the stated origin of its collection and in its location in a former factory. If you are planning to visit several museums, you can take these different points of reference into account when making your choice.

Mont Pelé and Mont Hulin

The two hills offer different landscape and historical themes. Mont Hulin was the site of a strategic fortress in the Middle Ages. At Mont Pelé, a former chalk quarry, you can observe remarkable recolonization by vegetation. Mont Pelé also offers panoramic views over Desvres and its surroundings.

A walking trail over Mont Pelé and Mont Hulin starts at the Musée de la Céramique on Rue Jean Macé. This gives the route a specific starting point. Ceramic history and landscape can be considered as different focuses for your trip; the trail passes over both hills. If you are most interested in history, Mont Hulin’s medieval connection offers a different point of reference in time from the museum’s view of ceramics across several centuries. Mont Pelé, by contrast, focuses on the former chalk quarry, the vegetation, and the panorama.

Aquatic and Wellness Facilities

The Centre Aquatique Naturéo has a 25-meter sports pool as well as a leisure and learning pool. There is also a water slide and a paddling pool with play features and a waterfall. The wellness area includes a 130-square-meter balneotherapy pool, a hammam, two saunas, and a Scandinavian shower. The facilities mentioned therefore have different focuses: swimming and leisure pools sit alongside the wellness area’s amenities.

The municipal description of the facility was updated on May 3, 2024. Check the current access conditions before your visit; you should also check the availability of the wellness area in advance. When planning your stay, you can thus weigh the museums, walking trail, and facilities at the Centre Aquatique Naturéo according to your interests, without having to combine every theme into a single itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Denœux, Gouy-Sous-Bellonne, Saint-Venant, Grand-Rullecourt, Valhuon, Oppy, Béthune, Verchocq.

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