A German military cemetery, the Chapelle du Comte d’Hespel and waterside routes mark different themes in Salomé: remembrance, architectural history and walks. The historical sites have clearly distinct timelines; for waterside routes, you can choose between a short loop and a longer route. When planning, you can weigh up a cultural focus against time outdoors.
Remembrance and Architectural History
The German military cemetery in Salomé was established by German troops in January 1916. The war cemetery is the resting place of 3,548 German, 2 Portuguese and 2 Austro-Hungarian dead from the First World War. Its composition gives the site a clear connection to the history of the war, while also recording that people from several nations are buried there.
The Chapelle du Comte d’Hespel was built by Albéric-Charles-Henri d’Hespel d’Hocron behind the church in Salomé, on the site of the former municipal cemetery. Around 1930, it was rebuilt slightly away from its original location. After being damaged in June 1940 during the Second World War, it was restored in 1949. Its history therefore includes both a change of location and a subsequent restoration.
The Church of Saint-Vaast also has its own timeline: it was rebuilt in the 1920s, damaged at the start of the Second World War and restored after 1945. Compared with the chapel, the church’s reconstruction in the 1920s came earlier; the chapel was rebuilt in a new location around 1930. These dates make the different historical trajectories of the two buildings clear.
Walks and Waterside Routes
The short Chemin de halage loop is an easy walk along waterways. A longer option is the Chemin de halage du Canal de la Deûle from Salomé: it is 12.3 km long and takes about 3 hours 30 minutes. The towpath is almost entirely paved. This route therefore offers a specific distance and time frame, while the short loop is a brief, easy walk of a different scope.
The Canal d’Aire à La Bassée is another destination in Salomé for nature and walks. The two canals are associated here with different details: the Chemin de halage du Canal de la Deûle has a stated distance and approximate duration, while the Canal d’Aire à La Bassée is presented as a destination for nature and walks. You can decide whether to plan a route with a set distance and duration or choose a focus on nature and walking.
Getting There and Choosing Accommodation
At Salomé station, SNCF Gares & Connexions provides real-time train timetables. If you plan to travel by train, check the timetable for your intended travel date to plan accordingly.
When looking for a hotel in Salomé, it helps to have a clear idea of how you want to spend your days: focusing on the memorial sites and architectural history, or making time for walks and the longer Deûle route. Its approximate duration of three and a half hours can be factored into your daily plans. The short loop is an easier, shorter walking option along waterways. This way, you can take the desired length of your excursions into account without giving the town’s cultural and landscape themes equal weight.
Discover more destinations: Englos, Gravelines, Deûlémont, Méteren, Avesnes-Sur-Helpe, Trelon, La Gorgue, Le Favril
For the regional travel overview: Nord.
