Discover Pas-En-Artois

Pas-en-Artois can be explored through several distinct aspects: the history of the Église Saint-Martin, views of the village and château, and routes through the streets or along the Kilienne. This distinction is useful when planning your stay: a tour of the village has a different focus from a hike with a specified distance and duration. Before choosing a hotel, you can therefore consider whether you mainly want to explore the village’s history or set aside time for a longer route.

The Church, Château and Local History

The Église Saint-Martin is the only one of the three churches Pas-en-Artois had in the 15th century that has survived to this day. Its bell tower has been a listed monument since 6 November 1929. The château, an 18th-century building, stands on the southern slope of Châtelet hill. It is privately owned and closed to the public, but can be viewed as part of the surrounding panorama. From the Calvaire on Saint-Pierre hill, you can see across the village and the château. The Calvaire was restored in 2022 after seven weeks of work. The architectural history, the protected bell tower and the viewpoint thus offer distinct ways to connect with Pas-en-Artois.

A brotherhood also features in local tradition. It was led by a king, a magistrate known as the “mediator”. He commanded a kind of militia responsible for policing public morals in the town. This tradition extends the focus beyond buildings to earlier forms of community and civic order.

The Kilienne and Distinctive Details Along the Way

The Kilienne flows through Pas-en-Artois and is a tributary of the Authie. Near the church, it meets the Beaucamp stream. Historically, the Kilienne powered up to seven mills; this number points to the river’s former use. The watercourse is therefore part of both the landscape and the town’s history.

The Arbre à la Vierge is a sacred tree with a small niche containing a statuette of the Virgin Mary. The niche and the figure of Mary make the site’s religious significance tangible. Along the small path to the Arbre à la Vierge, traces of shell impacts are still visible beneath the vegetation. The place of devotion and the traces along the path each give the landscape a specific, tangible point of reference.

On Foot Through the Village and River Landscape

The Village-Patrimoine trail leads through the village streets and includes six important sights. The Sentier des Bois starts at the Grand'place in Pas-en-Artois, is nine kilometres long and takes about two hours and 15 minutes. After crossing a small lock, it follows the left bank of the Kilienne.

For planning purposes, the two routes differ above all in their focus: the Village-Patrimoine trail groups sights along the village streets, while the Sentier des Bois offers a specific distance and an approximate duration for a hike. If you are planning a longer outing, you can use the Sentier des Bois’s roughly two-and-a-quarter-hour duration as a guide. This information helps you weigh up a village-focused tour and a route with a stretch along the river as different options for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Douvrin, Saint-Venant, Lefaux, Brias, Billy-Berclau, Lépine, Aire-Sur-La-Lys, Vendin-Le-Vieil.

See the overview of the wider region: Pas-De-Calais.