Sains-Lès-Pernes: Heritage and Hiking

Two clearly distinct highlights await you on a trip to Sains-Lès-Pernes: the Église Sainte-Berthe, with its history of construction and objects, and the La Creuse de Boyaval hiking route. At the church, the building period, heritage status and individual furnishings can be considered separately. The route, by contrast, gives your plans a concrete framework through its length and starting point. You can therefore treat the cultural highlight and a hike as different parts of your stay.

The construction and heritage history of the Église Sainte-Berthe

The Église Sainte-Berthe has a main building phase dating to the 15th century. This places the building in its historical context without assigning every individual component wholesale to that century. The church is listed in part as a historic monument (Monument historique). The sculpted cornices were listed as a historic monument by decree of June 10, 1926. The building phase and protection date therefore represent different historical aspects: the 15th century refers to the main building phase, while 1926 dates the listing of the cornices. This distinction helps put the partial listing of the church and the specifically identified decorative feature into context.

Furnishings with a history of their own

A reliquary of Saint Berthe is located on the south-side side altar in the nave. It dates from the 19th century and is made of gilded bronze. Its location, date and material give this object a context of its own alongside the church’s construction history. The Église Sainte-Berthe also houses the Emma Berthe bell. It was made in 1922 and listed as a protected object on March 5, 1985. For the bell, the two dates mark its creation and its later protected status.

The carved wooden statue “Christ en croix” is located on the west wall of the nave. It probably dates from the 17th century and was also listed as a protected object on March 5, 1985. For the bell, an exact year of manufacture and a later protection date are both known; for the statue, its date of creation is probable, while the protection date is precise. The reliquary, bell and statue broaden the picture beyond the main building phase: their locations, materials and dates each form part of their own object history.

Hiking on La Creuse de Boyaval

La Creuse de Boyaval is a 16.62-kilometre hiking route that starts in Sains-Lès-Pernes. It descends through a wild hollow towards Boyaval. The route’s length provides a concrete measure for planning; the shape of the terrain describes another aspect of the route. A hollow is a sunken landform. The descent through it adds an impression of the route’s character to the distance in kilometres. Allow for the 16.62 kilometres when planning your time. Trail conditions and maintenance may change, so it is advisable to check conditions before setting out.

Different criteria matter when choosing between a cultural highlight and a hike: the church brings together construction and object histories from different periods, while the route can be assessed by its specific length and course. Shape your stay around whichever of these two perspectives interests you more.

Discover more destinations

Lefaux, Lorgies, Billy-Berclau, Warlincourt-Lès-Pas, Wismes, Vieil-Moutier, Houlle, Marquise

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