Beauval: Architecture, Textile History and Hiking

Beauval can be explored through several specific themes: the architecture of the Église Saint-Nicolas, textile history and a hike along the Circuit du Papillon. Other sites and local details include the Cité Quénot, the Saint family mausoleum and the landscaped cemetery. When planning a stay, you can choose between architectural history, industrial development and a walking route with two different duration options.

Church and architecture

The Église Saint-Nicolas is built predominantly of brick and designed in the Gothic Revival style in the shape of a Latin cross. These features describe different aspects of the building: its material is mainly brick, its style is Gothic Revival, and its floor plan is that of a Latin cross. The church was built in 1888 with financial support from the Saint brothers.

The dimensions of the bell tower also provide a specific point of reference: it measures 65 metres from the base to the cross, while the spire alone is 20 metres high. The two figures refer to different sections. Together with the floor plan, they describe both the height of the tower and the shape of the church. Anyone interested in architecture can explore Beauval’s materials, architectural style, floor plan and dimensions.

Textile history and buildings

Beauval is considered the original centre of the Saint-Frères textile companies’ activities. After the Second World War, the Saint Frères factory became the group’s first production unit with circular looms. The innovation was developed by Rotatiss in 1933 and acquired by Saint Frères; it is considered significant for the jute industry. Its development, acquisition and subsequent use in production can therefore be viewed as distinct stages in the history of technology.

Associated with the factory are the former offices and the director’s residence, parts of which are protected as historic monuments. Another historic element is the Cité Quénot, built in 1898 as one of three workers’ settlements in Beauval. The factory buildings and the workers’ settlement thus represent different aspects of the town’s history.

Hiking the Circuit du Papillon

The Circuit du Papillon is a walking route through Beauval. The full route is 10.7 kilometres long and takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to walk. A shortcut reduces the route to 8.4 kilometres and approximately 2 hours. That is 2.3 kilometres less and around half an hour shorter. These figures give you a specific point of reference when planning how much hiking to include in your stay.

The Circuit is marked with the usual yellow hiking-trail markers, supplemented by a pink butterfly symbol. This gives you both the route length and approximate walking time, as well as a description of the trail markings, to help with planning. The shorter option remains part of the named walking route but offers a different time and distance.

Other places in Beauval

The Saint family mausoleum is a heritage site in Beauval worth visiting. The landscaped cemetery can also be visited. These places add further aspects of cultural heritage to the church’s architecture and the town’s industrial history. If you are interested in the town’s history, Beauval offers buildings and a workers’ settlement as well as the mausoleum and landscaped cemetery.

Discover more destinations: Beaucamps-Le-Vieux, Lucheux, Cahon Gouy, Poix, Oust-Marest, Poulainville, Beauchamps, Forest-L'abbaye.

For the broader travel overview: Somme.