A château site with two clearly distinct building periods offers a striking introduction to the history of Hucqueliers. There is also a church on the heights, historic houses in the village centre and a Nordic walking route that starts in the village. This lets you plan your stay between architecture and countryside.

Castle History and Architecture

The Château d’Hucqueliers stands on the site of a 14th-century castle. This earlier castle was demolished after the Lustucrus uprising in 1662. The present château is a neo-Gothic manor house with turrets, built at the end of the 19th century. The two building histories therefore belong to the same site, but describe different structures and periods.

The Église Saint-André also offers its own perspective on the village’s history. It stands on the heights of Hucqueliers, away from the village centre, and originally dates from the 15th century. Today, the church has two naves; originally, it may have had three. Its present form and the possible original layout can be clearly distinguished.

In the village centre, timber-and-earth houses, large brick farmhouses and dovecotes shape the streetscape. Another architectural detail is the École mairie: built in 1853, it has features typical of Second Empire architecture, including round-arched windows. Together, these buildings showcase different architectural styles and materials, rather than focusing on just one period in the village’s history.

Routes and Experiences

La Vallée des Cervidés is a Nordic walking route starting from Hucqueliers. There are three options: 3.76 kilometres is rated easy, 5.2 kilometres moderate and 10.61 kilometres difficult. This lets you weigh up the route length and stated difficulty together. The shortest and longest options differ not only in distance, but also in their difficulty rating.

If you would rather explore by bike, the tourist office offers electric bikes for hire from Hucqueliers. Rental periods range from half a day to a day, a weekend or a whole week, subject to current availability. In Haut-Pays d’Opale, guided heritage tours on foot or by bike are also offered seasonally. Their availability may vary too.

Balade en Calèche offers horse-drawn carriage rides through the valleys of Haut-Pays. Options include private and culinary experiences, where you can discover the landscapes and heritage. Availability and formats may vary. The address is 14 Grand Place, 62650 Hucqueliers. The carriage rides and guided tours take place in Haut-Pays; by contrast, the Nordic walking route and e-bike rentals start from Hucqueliers.

Small Details in the Village and Countryside

Le Thièvremont leads to a Spanish house dating from 1672 in Rue de l’église in Hucqueliers. Another tangible detail is the Quillier de la Place de la République: in this traditional game, nine skittles weighing seven kilograms each are knocked down with a 13-kilogram ball. The exact weights make the way the game is played clear, while distinguishing it from an ordinary game of skittles.

You may also spot fascines on walks through the countryside around Hucqueliers. They consist of bundles of willow laid between two staggered rows of stakes. This is a specific feature of the landscape design to look out for alongside the historic buildings.

Tailor Your Stay

This can help you decide whether to focus your stay more on the village itself or on a seasonal offering in the region.

Discover more destinations: Bermicourt, Tilloy-lès-Mofflaines, Le Ponchel, Saulchoy, Beaurainville, Rivière, Vieil-Hesdin, Fresnoy-En-Gohelle

Return to the regional travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.