In Croix, striking architecture, landscaped green spaces and urban life come together to offer a range of ways to explore. Villa Cavrois and its park make a distinctive architectural statement; the Église Saint-Martin adds a Neo-Gothic building. The Jardins Mallet-Stevens, in turn, offer themed garden spaces. During your stay, you can choose how to balance culture, gardens and a visit to the market.
Getting to Villa Cavrois
There are two described public transport routes to Villa Cavrois. Take tram line R to the Villa Cavrois stop; from there, it is a 15-minute walk. Alternatively, take metro line 2 to Croix Centre, then walk for 25 minutes. The listed walking times therefore differ by ten minutes. As transport services may change, check the latest information before you travel.
Villa Cavrois and its park
Villa Cavrois was designed by Mallet-Stevens between 1929 and 1932 and was classified as a historic monument in 1990. You can explore the villa and park independently; free visitor guides are available at reception in five languages. The park showcases the modernist geometric design of the 1930s: diagonal and curved lines, planted triangles, a long reflecting pool and boxwood beds clipped into cubes define its layout. A visit brings together the villa’s architecture and a precisely designed park.
Neo-Gothic architecture
The Église Saint-Martin was built between 1847 and 1851 by the architect Charles LEROY. It is considered the first church built from the ground up in the Neo-Gothic style. It has been listed as a historic monument since June 9, 2005. These dates give the architecture its own historical context and set it apart from the early 20th-century design of Villa Cavrois.
Gardens with different themes
The Jardins Mallet-Stevens include four themed gardens focusing on agriculture, bees, aromatic plants and vegetable growing, as well as a water garden. There are also children’s play areas, a small orchard, a wildflower meadow and paths through the wooded undergrowth. A landscaped amphitheatre is intended for various performances. While Villa Cavrois park is characterised by geometric shapes and lines, the Jardins Mallet-Stevens organise their spaces around garden themes and uses. Admission to the Jardins Mallet-Stevens is free, and they are open seven days a week. Seasonal opening hours may change, so check the latest times before your visit.
Market, artists and guided tours
The Marché de Saint-Pierre takes place weekly on Place de la Liberté and features stalls run by food vendors. For a specific visit, it is worth checking the latest times, as schedules may change. The Fête du Kiosque offers a different perspective on the local cultural programme: held every year at the start of autumn since 1998, it presents artists in a green setting.
Eight guided tours are also offered in Croix. These include city walks, explorations of notable places and visits to lesser-known routes. If you are looking for a particular format, you can compare these guided options with exploring the villa and park independently. This gives you a choice of different ways to discover the area, without requiring a visit to the villa as part of a guided tour.
Discover more destinations: Hem, Lécluse, Bouvines, Sains-Du-Nord, Lannoy, Beauvois-En-Cambrésis, Pecquencourt, Dimont
For the broader travel guide: Nord.
