Gosnay brings together a range of cultural and historical themes with a clearly described accommodation option. The Chartreuse du Val Saint-Esprit is known for its French gardens and hotel; the town’s history also includes the Ancienne chartreuse des Dames, sacred art and a historic watermill. You can plan your stay around gardens, history, art or a cycling trip.
Two charterhouses, two historic landmarks
The Ancienne chartreuse des Dames is partially listed as a historic monument. The Chartreuse du Val Saint-Esprit was built in 1320 and consecrated in 1324. The similar names refer to different landmarks: the protected status applies to the Ancienne chartreuse des Dames, while the construction and consecration history belongs to the Chartreuse du Val Saint-Esprit. This distinction is also useful when planning, since the hotel and French gardens are associated with the Chartreuse du Val Saint-Esprit.
Geometric gardens and extensive plantings
The French gardens of the Chartreuse du Val Saint-Esprit cover more than 15,000 m² and include twelve large, geometrically laid-out parterres. There are also more than 26,000 plants, including 24,000 “Suffruticosa” boxwoods. The area and geometric layout give an idea of the scale of the grounds; the plantings themselves may change as the gardens are maintained.
Hotel and restaurant profiles
The Chartreuse du Val Saint-Esprit is a luxury hotel set in a six-hectare park. The estate has three restaurants, each with a different culinary profile: Le Robert II is a gourmet restaurant, La Distillerie serves traditional cuisine, and Le Vasco offers more innovative cuisine. Check availability for your travel dates before booking.
The French kitchen gardens are also part of the estate: vegetables, fruit and herbs are grown there and served in the various restaurants. What is grown and how it is used may change. The gardens therefore represent not only their geometric parterres but also a connection between gardening and restaurant cuisine.
Sacred art, music and more local history
The Unité d’Art Sacré in Gosnay’s Saint-Léger Church presents sacred art from historical and contemporary perspectives. The Unité also hosts a monthly programme of free concerts, mostly featuring religious music. If you would like to include a concert in your travel plans, check the dates for your stay.
The church in Gosnay was rebuilt in 1745; its bell tower dates from 1519. The historic watermill “Le nid du moulin” still has its waterwheel. These architectural and material details add further traces of local history to the story of the charterhouses.
A visit or a cycling trip
A 1.5-hour visit to the Chartreuse du Val Saint-Esprit and its French gardens includes a snack break. Check in advance whether this option is available on your chosen date. Alternatively, the route designated by the FFC as part of the Espace VTT-FFC des collines de l’Artois leads to the Chartreuse des Dames in Gosnay. You can choose according to your preference: a scheduled visit with gardens and a snack break, or a cycling route. Check trail conditions and signage before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Sempy, Sainte-Catherine, Longvilliers, Vincly, La Couture, Souchez, Isques, Blendecques
For the broader travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.
