In Clerques, an old church tower, the Le Semeur statue and a short circular trail offer different points of reference for planning a trip. Building history, public art and an easy walk each provide a distinct focus. There is also a walking-trail estaminet with regional dishes on its menu of specialties. You can decide whether you are mainly interested in architecture and local history, want to plan a manageable walk, or prefer to treat both as separate activities.
Saint-Barthélémy Church and its architecture
Saint-Barthélémy Church has an old tower whose four paired openings on the north and east sides show the transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic style. The position of the openings and their arrangement in pairs make the change of style clear in a specific architectural feature. Those interested in architecture will find more here than a general period label: the shape and placement of the openings are also notable details.
Another chronological reference is the church choir, which dates from the 15th or 16th century. The furnishings are also noteworthy: five objects are classified as historic monuments, with six others listed accordingly. Saint-Barthélémy therefore offers several different aspects to consider—the stylistic transition in the tower, the dating of the choir and the heritage-protection categories of the furnishings. These details give the church several clearly distinct points of reference in cultural history.
Le Semeur, the church-tower rooster and the chapel
The large statue Le Semeur stands in front of the town hall and catches visitors’ attention. It symbolizes both the agricultural character of the area and Clerques’ town twinning with Klerken in Belgium. The local landmark thus brings together two points of reference: the agriculture of the surrounding area and a partnership across the border. The statue offers its own way to explore local history, alongside the architectural details of the church.
A particularly detailed landmark sits atop the church tower: the gilded rooster is made of 14 kilograms of brass, covered with three gold leaves and has ruby eyes. The Sainte-Thérèse Chapel, meanwhile, is built of brick and flint in the Romano-Byzantine style. The rooster and the chapel provide distinct architectural and artistic-craft features; their specific materials and design distinguish them from the details given about the church tower and choir.
Balade Sainte-Thérèse: a short walk
The Balade Sainte-Thérèse is an easy walking trail, a 2.6-kilometre circular route starting in Clerques. The stated duration is 45 minutes. The distance and time provide answers to different planning questions: the distance describes the length of the loop, while the duration gives an indication of how long it takes. This makes it easier to assess as a short walk than a route with no stated distance or duration. Check the current route description before setting off.
GPX and KML files are available for the Balade and can be exported to a GPS device or another navigation tool. If you want to use one of these files for navigation, check that it is currently available before setting off. The route description and exportable formats offer two different planning aids: key details about the walk and files for use with a navigation tool.
Local cuisine and travel planning
La Taverne du Semeur is a walking-trail estaminet in Clerques. Its specialties include Carbonade du semeur, grilled ham, Potjevleesch and Tarte au papin. Culinary options thus complement the town’s cultural and scenic points of interest. Opening arrangements and the menu may change; check the latest information before your visit. When planning, you can treat the short Balade as a clearly defined activity and consider the church, statue or chapel as separate cultural highlights for the rest of your time.
Discover more destinations
Wirwignes, Tournehem-Sur-La-Hem, La Calotterie, Mouriez, Gonnehem, Herly, Caumont, Troisvaux
For the regional travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.
