Villers-Châtel: Castle History and Walking Trails

Villers-Châtel offers you specific ways to enjoy culture and outdoor activities: the Château is at the heart of the historic area, while two tours with different formats are available. The history of the Château includes the medieval fortified tower, its important role during the siege of Arras in 1414, and its later use as a hospital during the First World War. The castle chapel adds another point in this timeline, having been built in 1860. When it comes to tours, you can compare a single, measured walking trail with a three-part tour and plan your stay around your preferred focus.

Castle, Park and Chapel

The Château de Villers-Châtel is a private residence set in a park that is open to the public, and it is visible from the road. There is a Lourdes grotto in the park. The castle also preserves the round medieval tower known as “le fort”, which dates from a 14th- and 15th-century fortress. The Château played an important role during the siege of Arras in 1414. During the First World War, it served as a hospital. The siege and its later use as a hospital therefore belong to different historical contexts.

The castle chapel in Villers-Châtel was built in 1860 in the Neo-Gothic style by the Belgian architect Baron Béthune. By decree of 15 June 2004, it was partly listed as a historic monument; the protection covers the façades, roofs and interior fittings. The castle chapel is freely accessible, with no admission charge. In terms of chronology, the tower from a 14th- and 15th-century fortress and the chapel dating from 1860 represent two clearly distinct periods of construction.

Tours with Different Formats

The Chemin de la Charbonnière starts at Place des Martyrs in Villers-Châtel. The yellow-marked walking trail is 12 km long; the stated duration is three hours. This time estimate gives you a specific point of reference when planning this walk.

The playful Villers-Châtel–Mingoval–Béthonsart tour has a different format. It comprises three stages linked by car or bicycle and starts in Villers-Châtel. The Chemin is a marked 12 km trail with a stated duration of three hours, while the Villers-Châtel–Mingoval–Béthonsart tour has several stages and is designed to be completed by car or bicycle. This means you can choose between a single walking trail and a three-stage tour.

A Detail on the Church

The church in Villers-Châtel also features a specific architectural detail. When you stop at the church, you can see a hook pattern on the tip of the tower; each hook represents an animal, human or fantastical head. The pattern is therefore a figurative detail on the tower’s tip, and a different motif from the Neo-Gothic style of the castle chapel.

Discover more destinations: Fléchin, Grand-Rullecourt, Reclinghem, Coulomby, Ecques, Fresnoy-En-Gohelle, Bécourt, Surques

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