Hucqueliers: Château, Church and Rural Heritage

If you are considering a stay in Hucqueliers, you can choose between architectural history in the town and activities connected to the surrounding countryside. The château, church, town centre and École mairie offer concrete insights into the area’s built history; a Nordic walking route adds three different distances to the selection. There are also activities in a range of formats and durations, from electric bike rentals to carriage rides.

Architectural history between the château and town centre

Today’s Château d’Hucqueliers is a neo-Gothic manor house with turrets, built at the end of the 19th century. It stands on the site of a 14th-century château. The former château was demolished after the Lustucrus uprising in 1662. The two building phases are clearly distinct: the present-day manor house dates from the late 19th century, while its predecessor had medieval origins.

The Église Saint-André originally dates from the 15th century and stands on the heights of Hucqueliers, away from the town centre. Today it has two naves; it may originally have had three. The church’s location within the town is clear, while its former layout remains an open question. Visitors interested in buildings by period and architectural features will find here a different historical reference point from the château.

Timber-and-clay houses shape the town centre, alongside large brick farmhouses and dovecotes. Another historic building is the École mairie: built in 1853, it features round-arched windows typical of Second Empire architecture. The different materials and architectural styles offer distinctive points of reference for exploring local building history.

Local history and countryside along the way

Le Thièvremont leads to a Spanish house dating from 1672 on Rue de l’église in Hucqueliers. The route’s name, the street and the year provide a specific historical reference. Walks through the countryside around Hucqueliers may also take you past fascines: bundles of willow branches placed between two staggered rows of stakes. Alongside the buildings, you can encounter this form of landscape management.

Another distinctive feature is the Quillier de la Place de la République. In this traditional game, nine pins, each weighing 7 kg, are knocked over with a 13 kg ball. The exact number and weight of the game pieces make the description tangible, adding a distinctive element alongside the historic buildings and landscape features.

La Vallée des Cervidés: three route distances

The La Vallée des Cervidés route starts in Hucqueliers and is designated as a Nordic walking route. It offers three options: an easy route of 3.76 km, a moderate one of 5.2 km and a difficult one of 10.61 km. This makes it possible to compare the options by both distance and stated difficulty. The difference between the shortest and longest options is 6.85 km. If you include this route in your plans, you can choose a distance and difficulty rating to suit your preferences.

Electric bikes, carriage rides and guided tours

The tourist office offers electric bike rentals starting from Hucqueliers. Rental periods include half a day, a day, a weekend or a full week, subject to current availability. This range of durations can help you plan a shorter or longer outing. Check in advance which rental period is actually available.

Balade en Calèche offers carriage rides through the valleys of the Haut-Pays, including private and culinary experiences that let you discover the landscapes and heritage. Availability and formats may vary. The address is 14 Grand Place, 62650 Hucqueliers. Guided heritage tours on foot or by bicycle are also offered in the Haut-Pays d’Opale. This programme is seasonal, and availability may vary here as well.

Discover more destinations: Lisbourg, Lorgies, Beussent, Saint-Omer, Maintenay, Lens, Le Ponchel, Coupelle-Vieille.

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