Vincly offers two distinct ways to enjoy a stay: walking trails through the Lys Valley and the heights of the Artois Hills, and a history of architecture made tangible by its churches, chapel and former castle site. The 12-kilometre Les Monts trail leads to the village and passes close to the chapel of Écouflans. This makes it easy to focus separately on nature and heritage; the trail lengths also provide a practical benchmark for planning.
Natural environment and walks
The INPN record dated 11 June 2024 places Vincly within the ZNIEFF area “La Haute Lys et ses végétations alluviales en amont de Thérouanne,” a type 1 ecological inventory area. In the natural environment described, the Lys follows a natural course with numerous meanders lined by riverside alder woods. In the Matringhem–Vincly sector, outcrops of primary rock known as Grès de Matringhem are also quarried. The river landscape and geology thus form two distinct aspects of the region’s natural setting.
The Les Monts walking trail passes through the Lys Valley and over the heights of the Artois Hills. It combines the quiet landscapes of the valley with panoramic views from the high plateaus. The route leads to the village of Vincly and passes close to the chapel of Écouflans. Écouflans is a hamlet of Vincly. A ridge section of the walk to the chapel offers views of Vincly and the Lys Valley; visibility depends on conditions.
The 12 kilometres of Les Monts and the 14.39 kilometres of the walk to the chapel provide a concrete comparison of route lengths. A route description updated on 7 April 2025 also gives an average duration of 4 hours and 35 minutes for the chapel walk, as well as a moderate difficulty level. Check the route and local trail conditions before setting out; if the route changes, its listed details may also change.
Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Voyage Chapel
The small neo-Gothic white-stone chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Voyage stands within the municipality of Vincly, halfway between Beaumetz-les-Aire and Reclinghem. Abbé Eugène Decroix, parish priest of Matringhem, built it in 1876. The chapel in the hamlet of Écouflans has been regarded as a place of pilgrimage since time immemorial.
Saint Thomas of Canterbury Church
Saint Thomas of Canterbury Church has a striking façade set apart from the village centre. It consists of a choir and a lower nave, topped by a small wooden bell tower covered with slate. The north wall is said to date from the 12th century and is considered a rare surviving element of the first church building. The west gable was once entirely made of sandstone and flanked by two very low buttresses. Of the two bells, only one remains; the other was removed during the French Revolution.
Castle site and local history
Vincly’s medieval history is linked to seigneurial land management. Remains can be seen at the site of the former castle on the banks of the Lys, bearing witness to its past.
Discover more destinations: Loos-en-Gohelle, Guisy, Écuires, Hulluch, Gosnay, Escalles, Boubers-Sur-Canche, Beaumont
For the broader travel guide: Pas-De-Calais.
