Huby-Saint-Leu can be explored through three specific features: the Gothic Église Saint-Leu, the Marais communal d’Huby-Saint-Leu and the Ternoise at its confluence with the Canche. There is also an extensive state forest that shapes the landscape. Local history, wetland and river thus stand in clear contrast—a useful guide if you want to focus on culture, nature or fishing during your stay.
Église Saint-Leu: architectural history and furnishings
The Église Saint-Leu was built in 1506 with the support of François de Créquy, Lord of Huby and Governor of the Boulonnais. Its architecture is Gothic. Inside are two 19th-century paintings donated by the Bordes-Châtelet family. The time between the construction and the paintings connects two historical periods: the building’s construction in 1506 and a donation in the 19th century. Together with its Gothic style, the church therefore offers several specific points of reference for exploring its history. It is listed as a historic monument by decree of 5 April 1930; the national notice was amended on 24 July 2026.
Marais communal: wetland and plant life
The Marais communal d’Huby-Saint-Leu offers a very different focus. It is classified as a continental ZNIEFF type 1 and covers 5.91 hectares. Six plant species are key to the ZNIEFF classification, three of which are regionally protected. The figures answer two different questions: six species count toward the classification, and three of them are regionally protected. Alongside the wetland’s area, these details offer specific information about its plant life.
Forest landscape, plateau and valleys
Huby-Saint-Leu lies in the heart of the 7 Vallées, in the shade of an extensive state forest. The forest lies on the summit and southern slope of a low plateau that forms the edge of the Artois anticline. To the south, the plateau overlooks the valleys of the Ternoise and the Canche; to the west, it overlooks the valley of the Planquette. The valleys are not all in the same direction: the Ternoise and Canche are to the south, while the Planquette is to the west. Beech (60 percent) and hornbeam (25 percent) dominate the forest’s tree cover; roe deer, rabbits, woodcocks and pheasants are found there. The tree proportions and wildlife add specific natural features to the description of the plateau and its valleys.
Fishing on the Ternoise
The 2026 fishing regulations list a stretch of the Ternoise from Grigny to its confluence with the Canche in Huby-Saint-Leu. They also designate a fly-fishing no-kill stretch at the confluence; barbless hooks are required. The stretch description defines the fishing area between two endpoints, while the no-kill rule sets a specific requirement for the confluence. As seasonal regulations may change, check the rules for your dates before fishing.
Discover more destinations: Vieille-Chapelle, Anzin-Saint-Aubin, Saint-Léonard, Heuchin, Récourt, Bruay-La-Buissière, Marck, Audinghen
For the broader travel guide: Pas-De-Calais.
