In Staple, two specific points of interest for planning a trip are close to each other: Saint-Omer Church and the start of the Circuit du Vert Bocage, at the car park behind the church. There is also a walk through the Flemish countryside, a dedicated cycling route and farms with different specialities. This lets you weigh up culture, outdoor activities and rural character separately when choosing your stay.

Saint-Omer Church: architecture and organ

Saint-Omer Church in Staple is a Flemish hall church, also known as a hallekerke. It was fully listed as a Monument historique in 2022. In the Westhoek, this architectural style is associated with the rebuilding of buildings devastated during the Revolt of the Gueux from 1566 to 1568. This places the architecture in its regional historical context.

The organ also has distinctive features. Its case consists of a large central body with three turrets. The gallery has three openwork rectangular panels decorated with volutes. The organ’s instrumental section was made by the Neuville brothers and installed between 1873 and 1876. The building type, case and instrumental section offer different points of interest if you are interested in the church’s architectural and furnishing history.

On foot through the Flemish countryside

The Circuit du Vert Bocage is 13 kilometres long, and the circuit is listed as taking 4 hours and 20 minutes. It starts at the car park behind the church. At the first bend in the path, there is a view of Mont Cassel. The circuit crosses the plains of Flanders, going from farm to farm and through a very dispersed settlement landscape. Hop poles and hills characterise the typical Flemish countryside along the route. The stated duration helps you plan the circuit as a dedicated block of time. Check local conditions before setting out.

Another perspective by bike

Another way to explore the area by route is the 19-kilometre cycling route. It links Staple, Terdeghem and Sainte-Marie-Cappel and passes through the villages southeast of Cassel. It therefore differs from the Circuit du Vert Bocage both in the places named and in being designated as a cycling route. Conditions on the cycling route may change; check them before setting off.

Farming and places to eat

At the Houblonnière Degryck, hop growing has been a family tradition since 1948. Le chemin de la ferme mainly raises pigs and prepares most of its processed products itself. These details add specific forms of farming in Staple to the picture of the countryside: traditional hop growing and on-farm processing of most products.

Café de la Couronne « à la forge » is designated a Café-Rando and welcomes guests in a warm, inviting setting. Barbecue evenings are also on offer. If you would like to include one of these evenings in your plans, check the date in advance.

Discover more destinations: Drincham, Déchy, Neuville-En-Ferrain, La Gorgue, Armbouts-Cappel, Villeneuve-D'ascq, Solre-le-Château, Jolimetz.

For the broader travel overview: Nord.