Gosnay: Charterhouses, Gardens and Sacred Art

A stay in Gosnay brings together several distinct themes: the history of the charterhouses, French gardens, sacred art and cycling.

Charterhouses with a history of their own

The Chartreuse du Val Saint-Esprit was built in 1320 and consecrated in 1324. Construction and consecration are two distinct historical milestones. The Ancienne chartreuse des Dames is partially listed as a historic monument. The two charterhouses therefore offer different starting points for a cultural stay: at Val Saint-Esprit, the focus is on the year it was built and its consecration; at the Chartreuse des Dames, on its explicitly partial monument status.

French gardens and plantings

The French gardens of the Chartreuse du Val Saint-Esprit cover more than 15,000 m² and include twelve large, geometrically laid-out parterres. A parterre is a landscaped garden bed; their number and geometric layout give an impression of the garden’s design, while the area describes its overall size. The plantings include more than 26,000 plants, including 24,000 boxwood shrubs of the “Suffruticosa” variety.

The French kitchen gardens are also part of the estate. Vegetables, fruit and herbs are grown there and served in the various restaurants. The gardens thus combine a geometrically designed layout with the cultivation of ingredients for the estate’s kitchens.

Sacred art and concerts

The Unité d’Art Sacré in Saint-Léger Church in Gosnay presents sacred art from both historical and contemporary perspectives. The Unité also hosts a monthly programme of free concerts, mostly featuring religious music. The art exhibitions and concert programme offer different cultural highlights. If a concert is important to your trip, check the dates for that month’s programme in advance.

Tours and cycling route

A 1.5-hour tour of the Chartreuse du Val Saint-Esprit and its French gardens is available, with a snack break. Before making plans, check whether it is available on your visit date. The 1.5-hour duration and snack break give you a concrete point of reference for planning your day.

Cycling also has a specific destination in Gosnay: the FFC-designated route of the Espace VTT-FFC des collines de l’Artois leads to the Chartreuse des Dames. Check route conditions and signage before setting off. This gives you two different options for planning your trip: a garden tour and a designated cycling route.

Hotel and restaurants at the Chartreuse

The Chartreuse du Val Saint-Esprit is a luxury hotel set in a six-hectare park and has three restaurants. Le Robert II is a gourmet restaurant, La Distillerie serves traditional cuisine and Le Vasco offers more innovative cuisine. Each restaurant therefore has a distinct culinary focus.

Discover more destinations: Vaulx, Longfossé, Izel-lès-Équerchin, Lillers, Lespinoy, Farbus, Meurchin, Blessy

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