Honnecourt-Sur-Escaut combines medieval church art with a walking route through the Haut-Escaut valley. Fragments of a 12th-century portal have been preserved in the church’s bell tower; “Un détour par Honnecourt” takes visitors in the village to the church and village square, then continues as far as the Banteux lock. The Ferme Aquaponique du Cambrésis complements these highlights with nature-friendly farm areas and visits that include tastings. When looking for accommodation, you can therefore first consider whether history, the route or a farm visit will shape your stay.

The Church, Villard de Honnecourt and the Abbey’s History

The church was rebuilt in the 1920s and retains Romanesque remains. Fragments of a sculpted portal dating from 1160 to 1170 have been preserved in the present-day bell tower. The former portal’s tympanum depicted Christ in Majesty; the archivolts showed the Elders of the Apocalypse. The combination of architecture and figural decoration makes the site interesting for travelers who want to explore medieval art.

Honnecourt-Sur-Escaut is also considered the birthplace of Villard de Honnecourt. An exhibition in the church presented all of Villard’s drawings, as well as several of his inventions. Check before your trip whether the exhibition is currently open to visitors.

On the banks of the Escaut, Honnecourt-Sur-Escaut was home to an important Benedictine double abbey from the 7th century until the French Revolution.

The tympanum is the arched field above the portal; the archivolts are the arched sections framing it. The dates refer to different periods: the portal dates from the 12th century, while the church was rebuilt in the 1920s. This distinction helps separate the older sculpted work from the more recent building history.

Walking through the Haut-Escaut Valley

The “Un détour par Honnecourt” walking route is about 8 km long and takes approximately 2 to 2 hours 40 minutes. In Honnecourt-Sur-Escaut, it leads to the church and village square, then follows the tree-lined towpath to the Banteux lock. In the Haut-Escaut valley, the route links paths along the canal, farm tracks and village streets. Its approximate length and duration make it easier to plan as a separate outing. Local waymarking may change, so check the route before setting out.

Nature and Farm Visits at the Ferme Aquaponique

The Ferme Aquaponique du Cambrésis includes ponds, a forest garden and other areas managed in a nature-friendly way. These combine public access with the protection of biodiversity. Public farm tours are offered with tastings of the farm’s own produce. Dates and booking arrangements may change, so check this information before making plans. Guided nature walks introduce the biodiversity around the farm and the facilities established to promote it. Dates for these walks have yet to be set.

For planning your day, this means you can estimate how long the walking route will take, while dates for the nature walks have yet to be set.

Discover more destinations: Fourmies, Dimont, Halluin, Arleux, Bouvines, Condé-sur-l'Escaut, Marly, Bousbecque.

Go to the regional travel overview: Nord.