Halinghen is a village in the Haut Boulonnais, beyond the Boulonnais depression. Two distinct points of interest can help you plan your trip: the 28-kilometre-long Haut Pichot hiking trail and the architectural and historical details of the church, chapel and former defensive battery. Visitors to Halinghen can plan their stay around hiking or cultural and historical details; the church and chapel are located in the village centre and the hamlet of Niembourg, respectively.
Hiking the Haut Pichot
The Haut Pichot hiking trail is 28 kilometres long and offers panoramic views. The section of the Le Haut Pichot trail in Halinghen leads into the village centre, then follows the D 239 for 100 metres in the direction of Carly, before continuing along a path to Haut Pichot and Mont Violette. The total distance and the section through the village describe two different levels of planning: 28 kilometres refers to the hiking trail, while the details about the road and path specify its route in Halinghen. Check the current route description before setting out, as the route and wayfinding may change. The trail length is a specific planning figure; the panorama describes a different quality. When choosing a hike, you can therefore consider the distance and the scenery separately.
Church, Chapel and Local History
The Church of Saint-Sylvestre stands in the village centre and was rebuilt in 1860/61. It contains a 1st-century altar to Jupiter, which bears witness to the Roman era. Thus, two historical reference points come together in one building: its 19th-century reconstruction and an altar from Roman times. The altar establishes the Roman connection, while the reconstruction date places the building's more recent history in context.
The stone Chapel of Halinghen is located in the hamlet of Niembourg. Its rectangular floor plan and flat-ended choir shape its design; stained-glass windows survive in two pointed-arch windows. While Saint-Sylvestre is marked by its reconstruction and altar to Jupiter, the focus in Niembourg is on the chapel's form and stained glass.
The site known as “les 40 000 briques” is a former defensive battery and is designated as a hang-gliding launch site. This brings a former military function together with an associated leisure activity; the site's history differs from the religious connections of the church and chapel.
Elevation and Landscape
Mont de Landacques, in the commune of Halinghen, reaches an elevation of 177 metres. ZNIEFF 310007275 also extends into the commune of Halinghen. At the territorial scale, ZNIEFF 310007275 comprises a mosaic of grassy steppe and wooded hills with gently varied relief. The grassy steppe represents open areas, while the wooded hills are vegetated elevations; the relief adds another dimension to this contrast in the form of the terrain. The elevation figure refers to Mont de Landacques itself, whereas the vegetation mosaic and relief are characteristics of the ZNIEFF at the territorial scale.
Discover more destinations: Desvres, Clairmarais, Gavrelle, Houdain, Saint-Laurent-Blangy, Hucqueliers, Bully-les-Mines, Leubringhen
For the broader travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.
