Local history and the landscape along the Thure are at the heart of Hestrud. The Église Saint Romain, the Fontaine du Petit Pont, the museum on customs history and the former border post offer different ways to explore the area’s history. The road between Hestrud and Cousolre is defined by riverbanks, a narrow valley and shale escarpments. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing the annual event date from the places whose current visitor arrangements you should check in advance.

Church, Fountain and Customs History

Today’s Église Saint Romain d’Hestrud was rebuilt in 1668 using old materials. The date refers to the rebuilding of the present-day church, not its original construction. The Fontaine du Petit Pont is also a named landmark: it is located at the foot of Hestrud’s church rock. The church and fountain thus offer two different ways to engage with local history: the building history of a place of worship and a specific feature of the village landscape.

The museum offers another perspective: since 1996, Hestrud has had a museum presenting the history of customs in the village. Its focus is clearly defined, complementing the architectural heritage with a subject from the village’s history. If you plan to visit the museum, check current access arrangements in advance.

Border Post and Blockhouses

The former border post in Hestrud serves as a destination for an outing. Its former status shapes how the place is understood; check current access conditions before visiting. Those interested in border and customs history will find two different local points of interest: the former post and the museum, which presents the history of customs in the village.

The blockhouses at Trieu du Chêneau are part of the military heritage. The Association La Tenaille has renovated them, carries out restoration work and visits the blockhouse. Check current arrangements separately before visiting. This lets you combine an interest in the structures with the association’s work, without assuming that restoration or association visits mean they are generally open to visitors.

The Road Along the Thure

The road between Hestrud and Cousolre runs for six kilometres along the banks of the fast-flowing Thure and passes through a narrow valley with shale escarpments. Here, the focus is not on a single historic landmark but on a landscape explored along a named road route. The river, valley and shale escarpments are the route’s defining features. For your travel plans, this offers a different perspective from the church, museum or border post: the landscape is specific to the stretch between the two towns.

When to Travel and Planning Your Visit

The Course de la Thure is organised once a year by the Hestrud festival committee. If you want to plan your trip around the event, check the edition taking place during your preferred dates. For the museum, former border post and blockhouses, check the current access or visitor arrangements in advance. This will help you plan your stay around what matters most to you: local history, military heritage, the event or the landscape along the Thure.

Discover more destinations: Vicq, Le Cateau-Cambrésis, Haubourdin, Lompret, Croix, Saint-Pierre-Brouck, Prouvy, Mouvaux

For the regional travel overview: Nord.