Houdain: UNESCO Heritage, Church Art and Routes

Houdain can be explored when planning a stay through two themes: cultural heritage and routes through the countryside. Its UNESCO designation and the Church of Saint John the Baptist offer concrete points of interest for culture lovers. The routes differ in their landscape and format; Parc d'Olhain also offers activities for explicitly named age groups. If you are looking for a hotel, this selection can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

UNESCO Heritage and Church Art

On June 30, 2012, the following sites in Houdain were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Cité de la Victoire and its school, the Cité des Arbres and its school, and a dispensary of the Société de Secours minière. This includes two housing estates, each with a school, and the dispensary; the UNESCO designation therefore covers several named components rather than a single building.

Two distinct locations can be identified at the Church of Saint John the Baptist. A gravestone for Jean-Baptiste-Ferdinand Kerkof is fixed to the exterior of the southern buttress of the main façade. The statue of Saint John the Baptist is in the nave, on a console to the right of the triumphal arch. The contrast between the exterior façade and the nave clearly distinguishes the two locations within the church.

Two Routes with Different Highlights

The “Les Châtaignes d'Houdain” circular trail leads from the lower part of Houdain, mostly through fields at the foothills of the Artois hills, and offers several viewpoints over the Brette and Lawe valleys. The countryside and valley views define the character of this route. The Route du Patois starts at Place des Martyrs in Houdain. It is a 33-kilometre circular route that can be travelled by bicycle or car and is marked with signs featuring humorous drawings and sayings in the local Patois dialect. Your options therefore pit fields and viewpoints against a circular route with a specified distance, two named modes of transport and Patois signs.

Activities at Parc d'Olhain

Parc d'Olhain in Houdain has a treetop adventure course with formats for children up to 5 years old, children aged 5 to 10, and adults aged 10 and over. Zip lines are optional. As current operating details may change, it is advisable to check the offering before your visit. The age limits for the formats are five and ten years.

Houdain's Former Malt and Beer Production

The former Brasserie-malterie Ernest Damay, later Damay Frères, produced malt and top-fermented beer. In 1959, production amounted to 10,000 hectolitres of Damay-brand beer. This figure gives a concrete indication of the beer production at the time; together with malt production, it highlights the two named areas of the business's production.

Discover more destinations: Roussent, Ficheux, Colline-Beaumont, Ligny-En-Cambrésis, Saint-Martin-Choquel, Nuncq-Hautecôte, Audrehem, Acquin-Westbécourt.

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