Saint-Venant: Discover Culture and Walking Trails

Saint-Venant offers several ways to shape a stay: places of remembrance and local history, walking and hiking trails, and activities on the Lys. If you are looking for a hotel in Saint-Venant, you can plan your trip around whether you want to focus on historical sites, a hike or the water. These themes offer different perspectives on the town.

History and cultural sites

The cemetery in Saint-Venant contains the graves of Indian, English and French soldiers who died in the First World War. The site draws attention to the remembrance of soldiers from several countries and provides a tangible starting point for exploring the history of the war.

The tomb of Venant is also part of the town’s history: it was a destination for important pilgrimages. This religious connection differs from the remembrance of soldiers at the cemetery and adds another historical perspective on Saint-Venant.

Another historical site is the powder magazine, built in Saint-Venant in 1669. Its precisely recorded construction date provides a chronological reference point. Together, the cemetery, tomb and powder magazine illustrate different aspects of local history: remembrance of fallen soldiers, the history of pilgrimage and a building with a specific year of construction.

The Parc et les jardins de La Peylouse park and gardens are located on the site of the main bastion of the Saint-Venant citadel. Here, gardens and fortification history come together in one place. La Poudrière is known for hosting artists, installations and exhibitions; the exhibition programme may change. Saint-Venant’s cultural offerings therefore include both historical sites and a changing programme of exhibitions.

Walking trails and route choices

The Merville/Saint-Venant circular route is 16 km long and takes four hours. The Chemin de ceinture is an alternative for a walk following the traces of Saint-Venant’s former fortifications. While the circular route is described by its length and duration, the Chemin de ceinture focuses on linking a walk with the former fortifications.

Les Deux Ecluses is an 11.6 km hiking trail in Saint-Venant. The walk offers a chance to discover the navigable Lys and its locks. At 11.6 km, this route is shorter than the two 16 km routes; its focus also differs from that of the Merville/Saint-Venant circular route. You can therefore take both the stated distance and the connection with the water into account when choosing a route.

The second stage of the GRP Tour de la Lys is also 16 km long and runs from Saint-Venant to Mametz. This means two routes of equal length are described, but in different forms: the Merville/Saint-Venant circular route and a stage with Saint-Venant and Mametz as its endpoints. This distinction can help with planning if you are choosing between a circular route and a route from one place to another.

Check the route and trail conditions locally before setting out, particularly for trails whose details or conditions may change.

Activities on the Lys

Water sports are available on the Lys at the Saint-Venant river stop; availability may vary. If water sports are part of your trip, check in advance what is available. Activities on the water can complement the cultural sites and trails as another possible focus for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Ouve-Wirquin, La Couture, Wamin, Lisbourg, Isbergues, Le Ponchel, Fillièvres, Montreuil-Sur-Mer.

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