In Arques, industrial heritage, nature trails and a historic railway come together. A distinctive starting point for exploring the area is the Ascenseur à Bateaux des Fontinettes: it is the only boat lift in France, and the Sentier des Fontinettes begins at the site. Other attractions include a tour of the Brasserie Goudale and the Chemin de Fer Touristique de la Vallée de l’Aa. Each offers a different focus—from how a boat lift works, to a brewery visit, to trails through fields and woodland.
The history of the boat lift
The Ascenseur à Bateaux des Fontinettes offers a special way to explore the history of inland navigation: at the interpretation centre, visitors can learn how the boat lift works and look back to 1967. Jacques, the last attendant of the boat lift, also shares his story there. He describes his everyday life on his last day at work. This brings together a technical explanation and a personal insight into working at the lift. Those interested in industrial history will find more here than the site’s national significance: how the lift works and the daily routine of its staff are also part of the visit.
Brewery tour and tasting
On a tour of the Brasserie Goudale, you will learn about several stages of the brewing process. These include an explanatory film, the brewhouse, the microbrewery and the bottling line. The tour lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes and ends with a tasting of the brewery’s beers and soft drinks. The duration and tasting arrangements may change, so check the latest information before your visit. The entire tour is suitable for visitors with reduced mobility. As accessibility information can also change, it is advisable to confirm it again before travelling.
The Sentier des Fontinettes
The Sentier des Fontinettes starts at the boat lift and passes through fields and woodland, and alongside ponds, on its way to natural sites in Arques. It heads towards Étang de Malhôve, which is designated as a protected natural area. Amphibians, dragonflies, herons, wild ducks and swans can be seen at the pond. If you would like to include a specific trail length in your plans, consider the 1.2-kilometre route option to the Arc-en-Ciel ponds. This is an alternative route; the length refers to that route.
Étang Beauséjour offers a different experience: it is a place for walkers and anglers. This lets you choose between different nature-focused interests—watching the wildlife mentioned at Étang de Malhôve, taking the 1.2-kilometre route option to the Arc-en-Ciel ponds, or spending time at Étang Beauséjour for walking and fishing. This information helps distinguish a trail section from a place for leisure activities, without presenting the different options as a single circular route.
Historic trains in the Aa Valley
The Chemin de Fer Touristique de la Vallée de l’Aa runs for 15 kilometres through the Aa Valley, in the heart of the Parc Naturel Régional des Caps et Marais d’Opale. Its historic trains include Picasso railcars from the 1950s and railcars from the 1980s. There are also passenger carriages from the 1930s and 1960s, as well as a diesel-electric locomotive from the 1960s or a steam locomotive built in 1943. The vehicles therefore date from different decades; the route itself provides the scenic setting for the train journey.
On the railway, only the Picasso railcars are accessible to wheelchair users, and space for wheelchairs is limited. Confirm accessibility before travelling. When planning, you can compare the options using different details: the brewery tour specifies a duration, the Sentier has a 1.2-kilometre route option, and the historic railway covers 15 kilometres. These details describe different kinds of outings and can help you choose the right focus for your stay in Arques.
Discover more destinations: Aix-En-Ergny, Landrethun-Le-Nord, Belle-Et-Houllefort, Auchy-Lès-Hesdin, Wierre-au-Bois, Tramecourt, Stella-Plage, Audembert.
Return to the regional travel guide: Pas-De-Calais.
