A specific work of art, archaeological finds and two named routes reveal Vieil-Moutier from different perspectives. This distinction can help with trip planning: the history of the village can be read chronologically, while the routes cater to different activities.

The village’s history across several periods

The statue “Saint Omer” dates from the 16th century. It was classified as a protected object on April 19, 1985. The century in which it was created and its later protection date mark different milestones: one dates the object, while the other dates its classification.

The name Vieil-Moutier also means “old monastery” and is linked to the period when the village belonged to Samer Abbey in the 12th century. Roman-era pottery and terracotta objects have been discovered in the area, and Merovingian graves have also come to light. The place name points to its medieval abbey connection, while the finds take us further back to Roman and Merovingian times. Chronologically, the story spans the Roman and Merovingian periods, the 12th century and the 16th-century statue. A Roman cippus, a small altar-like funerary stele used for burials, was once built into the wall of a church. The cippus is no longer in the church.

The small church in the hamlet of La Calique dates from 1879. Its construction date adds a clearly dated 19th-century landmark to the picture of older finds.

A stay in 1916

During a visit to the troops stationed in Vieil-Moutier, Winston Churchill stayed overnight at the Beau-Site manor house in 1916. Alongside archaeological finds and building dates, this adds a personal episode to the village’s history.

Trails and landscapes

The routes can first be distinguished by activity. The “Les Haillures” hiking trail passes through Vieil-Moutier, as does the “Le Bocage” cycling route. If you plan according to the activity, there are two named options: Les Haillures for hiking and Le Bocage for cycling.

Mont de la Calique reaches an elevation of 204 m. In clear weather, it offers a view of the English coast. The elevation is a fixed topographical value; the distant view expressly depends on the weather. This means the same landscape feature combines a measurable elevation with a conditional view.

On a regional scale, the Bocage boulonnais is a hilly agricultural landscape of meadows bordered by hedgerows. Triangular-shaped limestone slopes border it and open towards the sea. Unlike the individual Mont de la Calique, the Bocage describes a regional landscape type: the two offer different scales, from a named high point to a broader landscape.

Discover more destinations: Lisbourg, La Couture, Mazingarbe, Camiers, Willeman, Acq, Labroye, Torcy

For the broader travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.