Béhen: Nature, Routes and Heritage

Béhen is a village-courtil where heritage and nature come together. The Vallée de Bienfay is known for paths through hilly, wooded landscapes; the château and churches add the town’s architectural history to the picture. If you’re looking for hotels in Béhen, you can plan your trip around the things that interest you: walks, landscapes or historic buildings.

Hiking and other routes

The Vallée de Bienfay runs from Moyenneville to Béhen. The route is 10.5 kilometres long, and the average walking time is 3 hours and 10 minutes. This gives you a specific guide when planning a hike. Check local trail conditions before setting out. The valley is also suitable for cycling and horse riding. As a route through hilly, wooded landscapes with traditional buildings, it is also appealing for its peaceful, tranquil character. Another route leads to Béhen across the Vimeu Plateau: La rivière de la Trie. The two routes therefore offer different starting points for planning, from the specific walking time for the Vallée de Bienfay to the course of the Trie route across the plateau.

Courtil and nature

Béhen’s courtil includes a bocage belt and paths around the hedges. These provide refuges for biodiversity; birds that live there also make their home in the courtil. This is a different connection with nature from the Vallée de Bienfay: the valley is defined by its route through wooded hills and its use for hiking, cycling and horse riding, while the courtil is distinguished by its hedgerows and their role as a habitat. This lets you choose between a route and a natural area when planning your trip. In Béhen, these natural features come together with the heritage.

Château de Béhen

The Château de Béhen was built in the 18th and 19th centuries. The estate includes 18th-century drawing rooms with wood panelling. This distinguishes two periods: the château was built over the course of the 18th and 19th centuries, while the drawing rooms mentioned date from the 18th century. The estate also includes a walled, wooded park with centuries-old trees. The drawing rooms and the park represent different aspects of the château: the interior rooms with their wood panelling on the one hand, and wooded grounds with mature trees on the other.

Churches in Béhen and Boëncourt

The church in Béhen dates from the 15th to the 20th century. One of its named features is a “clocher à campenard,” the Picard term for a bell gable. The term helps identify the type of tower described. Another church stands in Boëncourt, a hamlet of Béhen: the Church of Saint-Aubin. If you’re interested in architectural history, you can distinguish between the church in Béhen, with its long period of construction, and the bell gable of Saint-Aubin in Boëncourt.

Things to do at the château

Visitors can see farm animals at the Château de Béhen, including horses, donkeys, sheep, dwarf goats and rabbits. Confirm whether the animals are available before your trip. Horse riding is also possible in the château park; check availability in advance. A table d’hôtes is available by reservation, which must be made at least 48 hours before arrival. Allow for this lead time and check the reservation terms before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Lucheux, Buigny-Saint-Maclou, Bernes, Saint-Riquier, Camon, Saint-Léger-Sur-Bresle, Pendé, Nesle

For the main travel overview: Somme.