Proville brings together wetland landscapes and places of remembrance, making it a varied destination for discovery trips. Along the Escaut, protected wetlands meet landscaped green spaces, alongside First World War memorial sites and local heritage. When planning your trip, you can focus on nature trails, life by the water, or historic sites.

Wetland landscapes and waterside paths

Located within the municipality of Proville, the RNR de l’Escaut rivière nature reserve is a complex of floodplain wetlands crossed by the Escaut. Within the protected area, the Bois Chenu is a floodplain forest on the river’s right bank. The wetlands, river and floodplain forest shape the natural landscape, while the Bois des Sources offers a different side of Proville’s green spaces.

The Bois des Sources urban eco-park was created in 2022 on the site of a former fir plantation. Some 8,000 trees of local species were planted there. Walking and cycling paths offer different ways to explore the park. The site also includes a community orchard with fruit trees whose fruit can be picked free of charge. The available harvest depends on the season.

The RNR de l’Escaut rivière has a 3.5-kilometre walking trail. Access is via a car park on Rue Maurice Camier, followed by the “Chemin noir”. Check local information about the route and access before your visit. Along the landscaped section of the Canal de Saint-Quentin at Proville, walkers, cyclists and anglers are out and about. Alongside the walking trail in the reserve, you can choose from canal-side paths and routes in the Bois des Sources for different ways to enjoy nature and be active.

For a regional perspective, the one-day circular route “Chemins et Mémoires en Cambrésis: Après la Grande Guerre, sur les Chemins du Renouveau” passes through Proville. The route is designed as a day trip, while the walking trail in the RNR is described as a specific 3.5 kilometres long. This lets you weigh up a set walking distance and a full day as different ways to plan your outing.

Heritage and places of remembrance

At the Ferme de la Marlière, on the road to Cantaing-sur-Escaut, stand two First World War casemates. They formed rear positions of the Hindenburg Line established by the Germans, also known as the Siegfried Line. An explanatory information totem introduces the structure and its remains; check in advance whether the totem will be available during your visit.

Among Proville’s listed sights is the Église Saint-Aubert and its cemetery; both are located on the Sentier de l’église. The Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours is behind the town hall. It was renovated and received new stained-glass windows in 2021, created by a contemporary artist. The church and chapel offer a different focus for a visit to the town than the military memorial sites.

The Maison du Patrimoine de Proville houses collections on prehistory and antiquity. Exhibits also include a recreated primary-school classroom from the 1950s, with a blackboard, school desks, inkwells, penholders, slates and chalk. Events are held there several times a year, including the European Heritage Days. As exhibitions, visiting arrangements and event dates may change, check the latest information before making plans. The Proville British Cemetery of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in France is also associated with a re-dedication.

The different themes make it easy to choose a focus for your stay: wetlands, park paths and the canal offer nature and outdoor activities; the casemates, churches and Maison du Patrimoine tell the story of Proville’s history and heritage. You can follow one of these themes or combine them, checking specific routes and visiting options in advance.

Discover more destinations: Bray-Dunes, Houplines, Estreux, Coudekerque-Branche, Bollezeele, Merris, Villers-au-Tertre, Saint-André-Lez-Lille.

For the main travel overview: Nord.