Hames-Boucres: Walking Trails, Landscapes and History

When planning a stay in Hames-Boucres, several themes come together: landscapes shaped differently in the east and west, two walking trails of different lengths and durations, and historic buildings. You can plan your visit around the time available and your interest in landscapes, outdoor activities or heritage. The places and routes below offer specific points of reference.

Landscape Between Plain and Hills

To the east of Hames-Boucres are former marshlands that have been converted into pasture. They are part of the Flanders plain and are generally known as the Planche Tournoire area. To the west, Hames-Boucres reaches the first foothills of the Boulonnais hills. This means that the former marshlands, now pasture, lie to the east, while the foothills begin to the west, offering two contrasting landscapes. To get your bearings in the area, you can use this contrast between the plain and the hills as a guide.

Two Walking Trails, Two Timeframes

Two walking routes are described, with specific distances and durations. The Sentier de la Leulingue is 7.5 km long, with a stated walking time of 2 hours and 30 minutes. The trail passes by the Château de Hames. The La Planche Tournoire circular route is 16.5 km long, with a stated walking time of 4 hours. It passes by the Chapelle Sainte-Victoire.

You can compare the two routes directly by distance and time: the La Planche Tournoire circular route is 9 km longer, and its stated walking time is an hour and a half longer than that of the Sentier de la Leulingue. You can use the time you have available as a guide when choosing a route. The trails also differ in the landmark mentioned for each: the Sentier de la Leulingue passes by the Château de Hames, while the circular route passes by the Chapelle Sainte-Victoire.

Church, Chapel and Château

The Saint-Martin Church in Hames-Boucres was originally the church of Boucres. The Chapelle Sainte-Victoire was inaugurated on September 28, 1873. Its furnishings can also be placed in a historical timeline: the chapel was first furnished with statues of Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Joseph. A statue of Joan of Arc was added in 1912, followed by a statue of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux in 1920. The inauguration and these later additions can therefore be seen as distinct periods in the chapel’s history.

The history of the Château du Baron Saint-Paul dates back to the late 18th century. Construction began under the influence of Maximilien Thélu and was completed around 1800, after approximately ten years. The château was purchased and restored in 2003. The construction and subsequent restoration therefore mark clearly separate points in the building’s history.

Plan Your Journey

Hames-Boucres is served by the free Imag’in public transport network. The urban network comprises 13 lines. As network information can change, check the latest services before travelling. This will help you plan your journey by public transport using the information that applies on your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Oppy, Surques, Landrethun-Le-Nord, Huby-Saint-Leu, Écurie, Autingues, Bapaume, Étaples

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