In Colembert, architectural history and landscape can be seen in very different details: the castle stands in the village beside the church and opposite the town hall; the Wimereux also rises in Colembert. At Mont Dauphin, there is also a hiking trail and the La Warenne nature area. When planning your trip, you can weigh up whether the buildings, the river source or the landscape are the strongest draw.
The Castle in the Village
Colembert Castle was built between 1776 and 1784 by the Count of Saint Aldegonde under the direction of the architect Giraux Sannier. The client, architect and period provide a concrete starting point for exploring the building’s history. It is located in the village beside Saint-Nicolas Church and opposite the town hall; it is visible from the departmental road. This makes it easy to place the castle within the village landscape, without focusing solely on its architecture: it is surrounded by a landscaped park with a variety of ornamental trees. The building’s history and the landscaped grounds are two distinct aspects of the same place.
Saint-Nicolas: Style, Protection and Bell
Saint-Nicolas Church is a Romanesque building. Its facades and roofs have been partially protected as historic monuments since a decree dated 28 December 1984. The church was opened for worship on 31 October 1786. This date adds a distinct historical reference point to the information about its style and protection. The church also houses the Antoinette bell, which weighs 630 kilograms. Saint-Nicolas brings together different scales: the classification of the building, the protection of certain parts and the weight of a single feature. Together with the neighbouring castle, the church offers a second, distinct way to explore Colembert’s architectural history.
The Source of the Wimereux and the Le Mont Dauphin Trail
The Wimereux rises in Colembert. The Le Mont Dauphin hiking trail crosses the source via a footbridge and leads into the forest. In clear weather, you can walk as far as an orientation board. The water source, bridge and forest mark the trail through different landscape features. If you are interested in the connection between the river and the hiking route, the source is a striking landmark: it is not only located in Colembert, but the trail crosses it via a footbridge. The forest and orientation board add two further points of reference to the route description.
La Warenne on Mont Dauphin
La Warenne de Colembert is located on Mont Dauphin, one of the highest points of the Boulonnais cuesta. Its elevation is 203 metres. La Warenne is one of seven Natura 2000 sites designated for their limestone slopes and the conservation of limestone grasslands. Here, the landscape and nature conservation take centre stage. A circular hiking trail in La Warenne leads to an orientation board and a biodiversity area. This trail has a different focus from Le Mont Dauphin: there, the source and forest are the main features; here, it is navigating the nature area and its biodiversity zone. Check access conditions for the circular trail in La Warenne before setting out.
Planning Your Trip
The road connection can also be factored into your plans: the N42 passes through Colembert and is a motorway-style route between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Saint-Omer. It connects two named places while also passing through Colembert. The information about the castle and church, by contrast, concerns specific buildings in the village; the source, forest and La Warenne offer different points of interest. If you are looking for hotels in Colembert, you can use these differences to decide whether architectural history or the landscape better suits the purpose of your trip. The attractions can help you choose what to focus on, without presupposing any particular accommodation or facilities.
Discover more destinations: Givenchy-en-Gohelle, Houdain, Izel-lès-Équerchin, Marenla, Wirwignes, Belle-Et-Houllefort, Ouve-Wirquin, Écuires.
Return to the regional travel guide: Pas-De-Calais.
