Maubeuge offers several distinct ways to enjoy a stay: the Vauban fortifications and other architectural landmarks, a zoo in the city centre, and paths along the Sambre. As you plan your trip, you can decide whether to focus on culture, wildlife or outdoor activities—or combine any of these interests.
Vauban heritage and architecture
The Remparts Vauban are among the best-preserved fortifications built by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban. Today, they are classified as “Monuments Historiques”. Many sections are freely accessible; as local access rules may change, check the current arrangements before your visit. The walls offer a tangible insight into Maubeuge’s history as a fortified town.
The Chapelle des SĹ“urs Noires offers a different architectural perspective. Its Baroque architecture is defined by blue stone and red brick. Since 10 August 1949, the chapel has been listed in the supplementary inventory of the Monuments Historiques. The Salle Sthrau, meanwhile, is a unique restored Art Deco decorative ensemble housed in a former Baroque chapel. Fortifications, Baroque and Art Deco each offer a distinct focus for a culture-oriented visit.
The zoo, farm and Sambre
The Zoo de Maubeuge is in the city centre, at the foot of the Remparts Vauban. It is set in a seven-hectare park filled with flowers and trees. More than 250 animals from 50 mammal, bird and reptile species live there; the numbers may change over time. The park setting and animal collection give a zoo visit a different focus from exploring the historic buildings.
The Ferme du Zoo adds an educational farm that is open to everyone. Visitors can tour the honey house and take part in educational workshops. Alongside a zoo visit, you can learn about the work involved in producing honey and enjoy learning together.
The Sambre is another defining feature of the city. As part of the Escales Sambre programme, Maubeuge is one of the nautical stops. For trips on land, the routes offer different perspectives on the city, river and surrounding landscape: the circular trail, the urban route and the longer greenway.
Walking and cycling routes
The 5.2-kilometre Circuit du patrimoine can be explored on foot or by bike. If you are looking for a route with an explicitly heritage-focused theme, this is one option—and its length also sets it apart from the two other routes described here.
The 8.3-kilometre circular route “Maubeuge, entre Sambre et Flamenne” runs through the city from the town centre to the Sambre. Its description mentions riverbanks, wetlands and footbridges. It therefore links an urban starting point with several landscape features. The Sambre greenway, by contrast, stretches 13.5 kilometres from Maubeuge to Jeumont and forms the French starting point of EuroVelo 3. It follows the canalised Sambre and passes regional industrial heritage sites and created wetlands.
The three routes therefore differ both in their stated lengths and in their character: heritage on the Circuit du patrimoine, an urban connection to the Sambre on the circular route “Maubeuge, entre Sambre et Flamenne”, and the river, industrial heritage sites and wetlands along the Sambre greenway. These differences can help you choose a focus for your time in Maubeuge without treating the routes as a single trail.
If you are looking for hotels in Maubeuge, first decide which of these interests you want your trip to centre on. The historic buildings, the zoo and Ferme du Zoo, and the routes of different lengths offer clear themes to guide your choice.
Discover more destinations: Baives, Steenbecque, Haut-Lieu, Ribécourt-La-Tour, Walincourt-Selvigny, Fontaine-Notre-Dame, Gravelines, Grand-Fort-Philippe.
Go to the main travel overview: Nord.
