Marquise offers different perspectives on local history and getting around. The Church of Saint-Martin preserves Romanesque and Gothic features; the town hall, Château Mollack and a Bronze Age archaeological site offer other historical highlights. The Vieux Tilleul, a garden with plants from the region, Capoolco and the routes around the Bassin carrier also offer different themes for your stay. You can focus on architecture, nature, swimming or getting active.
Heritage from different periods
The Church of Saint-Martin dates from the early 11th century. Its octagonal Romanesque tower stands alongside vaults and windows in the Flamboyant Gothic style. A 17th-century altarpiece and the organ, restored in 2011, complement the architecture with distinctive features. The elements belong to different periods and styles: the tower represents Romanesque architecture, while the windows are associated with Flamboyant Gothic. The church therefore offers several distinct aspects of local history, rather than representing just one period.
The town hall also contributes to Marquise’s architectural history, but its date should be stated precisely: the foundation stone was laid on 6 April 1863. The town hall stands in the middle of Place Louis le Sénéchal and is built from local stone. The square, the regional building material and the precise date combine to offer a distinct perspective on the town’s history, without confusing the laying of the foundation stone with a completion date.
The Bronze Age archaeological site offers another historical perspective. It comprised three circular ditches, including two concentric ones, which formed two burial areas. The ditches measured 25 to 35 metres in diameter. These measurements give the site a clear sense of scale and distinguish it from the architectural remains of later centuries. Do not plan to visit the site as a regularly open attraction.
Château Mollack, the garden and the Vieux Tilleul
Château Mollack was rebuilt in its present form in the 16th century. Behind the château is a distinctive garden with plants from the region. The architecture and garden thus offer two different perspectives on the same place: the château represents its architectural history, while the garden showcases the region’s plant life. Check whether the garden is open before visiting.
The Vieux Tilleul is six hundred years old and received the designation “Arbre remarquable de France” in 2012. Its age and designation make it a subject in its own right, alongside the buildings and archaeological traces. If you also want to consider natural and cultural heritage when choosing activities, you can make this tree a focus of your visit.
Swimming and routes
Capoolco in Marquise has two swimming pools and a paddling pool. This adds a swimming facility to the cultural and historical attractions. Whether you include swimming in your stay depends on which activities are a priority for your trip.
For heritage routes, the Patrimoine en action project offers GPS-guided tours and historical information about the places visited. Check the route details before setting out. Another cultural walk is called “Randonnée Patrimoine à Marquise”; if you plan to take it, use the relevant route information to prepare.
The loop around the Bassin carrier offers mountain bike routes of 27 or 50 kilometres, as well as an 11-kilometre walk. This gives you a choice of different ways to get around and different route lengths. The distances may vary depending on the edition of the event, so check the specific route information before planning. The distances given make it easy to compare route lengths directly, but on their own they do not indicate how long the routes will take.
Discover more destinations: Marœuil, Fillièvres, Belle-Et-Houllefort, Merlimont, Maisoncelle, Coquelles, Le Sars, Westrehem.
For the broader travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.
