Lépine: Hiking and Historic Buildings

Lépine can be explored through two distinct highlights: the La Cognée route for outdoor activities and several examples of architecture and history. The named buildings and memorial sites include the Nativité-Notre-Dame Church, the Notre-Dame de Lourdes Grotto, the Château de Puits Bérault, the Ferme du Grand Pays and the Monument aux Morts. Their dates of origin, architecture and historical use offer different perspectives on the area. The route adds a focus on the landscape.

La Cognée: Hiking and Mountain Biking

The La Cognée route is suitable for both hiking and mountain biking. In Lépine, it leads to Puits-Bérault and then runs along the edge of the Bois Mayeux forest. Both activities are associated with the same route. So, when choosing between a walk and a bike ride, you can use La Cognée as a shared basis for planning. The route links a named destination with a subsequent stretch along the edge of the forest. If you are planning the outing for a specific day, check the current route before setting out.

Architecture at the Château and the Ferme du Grand Pays

The Château de Puits Bérault was built around 1840 by the de la Houplière family. It has a rectangular, single-storey floor plan, a façade with 15 bays and a triangular pediment. A façade bay is an imaginary vertical line of order that can be used to divide up the front of a building. The number 15 makes its arrangement tangible, while the pediment adds a distinctive geometric shape. This makes it possible to describe the château in terms of its floor plan, number of storeys and façade design, not just its approximate date of construction. During the Second World War, it served as the headquarters of the local commandant. This use belongs to its later history and should be distinguished from its construction around 1840.

The Ferme du Grand Pays is an example of a 19th-century agricultural estate in the Pays de Montreuil. It has an enclosed rectangular courtyard, a prominent dovecote and a strictly symmetrical architectural design. The courtyard encloses an inner space; the dovecote stands out as a single feature, while the symmetry shapes the complex as a whole. In comparison with the château, different features take centre stage here: the château is described in terms of its floor plan, number of storeys and façade bays, while the Ferme is defined by its courtyard layout, dovecote and symmetry. This comparison offers a concrete way to explore two different forms of architecture.

Church, Grotto and Monument

The Nativité-Notre-Dame Church in Lépine dates from the 15th century. The Notre-Dame de Lourdes Grotto was built from concrete and flint in 1913. It is located in the cemetery on Route de Colline in Lépine. This describes its location using two specific local references. The Monument aux Morts in Lépine was created by the sculptor Jules Déchin, adding artistic authorship to the information about architectural forms and dates of origin.

To get a sense of the chronology, you can place the church in the 15th century, the château around 1840 and the grotto in 1913. The château’s later historical role as the headquarters of the local commandant during the Second World War is another point to consider. The date of construction and later use remain distinct aspects of the area’s history.

Discover more destinations: Ergny, Quiestède, Liévin, Lebiez, Wimille, Douvrin, Le Portel, Aix-En-Ergny

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