Licques: Abbey History, Trails and Local Products

Licques can be explored through several themes: the former abbey, historic paths and routes, views of the landscape, and activities related to local products. As you plan your trip, you can first decide whether local history, a particular route length or a culinary event is most important to you.

Abbey History and Castle Remains

The former Premonstratensian abbey is located on Place du Haut in Licques. Its church dates from the first half of the 18th century and is now a parish church. When considering its history, it is worth distinguishing between its former monastic function and its current parish function: the local history and present-day status concern the same religious building, but refer to different periods.

Among the remains of Licques Castle is a dovecote, which is a remnant of a polygonal tower from the 11th or 12th century. “Polygonal” describes a shape with several sides. The tower remnant from the 11th or 12th century is considerably older than the church from the first half of the 18th century. Comparing the two brings the different historical periods of these buildings into focus.

Historic Paths and Routes

The historic route “À la découverte de Licques” begins at the Abbaye de Licques. One section follows a country lane now bordered by pastures; the “Le Portel-Bonningues” railway line once ran along it. This links the starting point at the abbey with a section of the route where the former railway line meets the present-day landscape. Anyone interested in local and transport history will find two different historical perspectives within the same route.

The named routes can also be compared directly by length. The Sentier du Cah-Licqu’Co is 11 km long and passes through Cahen, Licques and Courtebourne. The Sentier des Trois-Calvaires is 12 km long. This makes the Cah-Licqu’Co one kilometre shorter; it also passes through three named places. If you are choosing a route by distance, this is a useful point of comparison.

From Mont Cahen, you can enjoy panoramic views over the Pays de Licques and the Boulonnais bocage. The view shifts the focus from individual buildings and routes to the surrounding landscapes, complementing the historical themes with a landscape perspective.

Local Products and Events

The Fête de la Dinde takes place in Licques every year in December. In addition, the Balade Gourmande 2026 included five tasting stops where visitors could discover local products. A 16 km route was planned for the same edition and could be adjusted depending on weather conditions.

Licques Volailles offers morning tours of its poultry farm, slaughterhouse and packaging facilities by prior reservation. If you plan to include this activity, book in advance and confirm availability before you travel. The morning schedule and reservation requirement are practical considerations for planning your day.

Plan Your Hotel Search

Discover more destinations: Guisy, Leubringhen, Audresselles, Arras, Boulogne-Sur-Mer, Saint-Nicolas, Hauteville, Bapaume

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