A pointed-arch main entrance, a Pietà in the tympanum and restored fabric dating from several centuries shape the parish church of Notre-Dame de Vicq. There is also a local tradition surrounding Trou Montauban and a choice of route profiles: the Circuit des Chemins Pavés passes through landscapes dotted with old pollarded willows, while the Boucle de la Vallée de l’Aunelle runs through Vicq as a longer cycling route. Vicq thus brings together architectural history, local traditions and practical ways to find your bearings.
Church History and Architecture
The parish church of Notre-Dame de Vicq dates from the second half of the 16th century. It was restored at the beginning of the 19th century, around 1839, and again in the 1960s. These two restoration phases are part of an architectural history spanning several centuries.
Neo-Gothic features include the pointed-arch main entrance. Its tympanum contains a sculpted Pietà ; the building also has buttresses and a bell tower. Those interested in religious architecture will find specific details here that help describe the church’s design, rather than focusing only on its long history.
Traces and Stories from Vicq
Local tradition places the village’s original site in the area around Trou Montauban. This attribution is a historical and archaeological tradition, not a precise reconstruction of the settlement’s location at the time. Numerous fragments of Roman roof tiles, pieces of Gallo-Roman pottery and remains of storage vessels known as dolia have been found nearby. These finds give the tradition a concrete archaeological context without pinpointing the former village’s location exactly.
A local story is also associated with the history of a chapel: after an epidemic ended, the villagers built a chapel in Vicq dedicated to Saint Roch. It was intended as an expression of gratitude that the rest of the village had been spared.
Vicq also features in a literary tale. The first volume of the collection “Les contes d'un buveur de bière” includes a story set in Vicq, featuring a Vicquelotte named Mother Misère, her dog Faro and a pear tree. Among the town’s historical figures is Antoine-Joseph Deleau, a former soldier and one of the last survivors of Waterloo. He died in Vicq at the age of 85.
Paved Paths, Landscapes and Cycling Route
The Circuit des Chemins Pavés is an easy route along numerous paved paths, some of which are listed as historic monuments. It passes through landscapes typical of the Scarpe and Escaut plains. Old pollarded willows provide preferred habitat for green woodpeckers and little owls. The route’s surface and landscape are therefore just as much a focus as the habitats associated with the trees.
The Boucle de la Vallée de l’Aunelle offers a different kind of outing: this 48.2-kilometre cycling route passes through Vicq and can be divided into two shorter loops. The terrain is flat to gently undulating, the surface is smooth, and some sections run on dedicated paths. The route is considered suitable for family outings. Blue and green direction markers are provided in both directions. Check the current route and signage before setting off.
The two routes can be assessed using different criteria: the Circuit des Chemins Pavés is defined by its paved paths and the landscapes of the plains. For the Boucle de la Vallée de l’Aunelle, the stated total distance and the option to divide it into two shorter loops help you gauge the cycling distance you have planned.
Getting There and Finding Accommodation
Transvilles line 116 connects Onnaing with Vicq via Quarouble. As routes and timetables can change, check the current timetable before travelling. When looking for hotels in Vicq, the church history, local traditions and range of routes offer concrete points of reference to help you decide which themes you want to shape your stay.
Discover more destinations: Potelle, Taisnières-en-Thiérache, Mons-En-Pévèle, Banteux, Bergues, Dunkerque, Mortagne-du-Nord, Armbouts-Cappel.
For the main travel overview: Nord.
