The best walks and hikes around Leers

However dilapidated the castle may be, the future promises improvement: The current owners of the castle, Pierre and Annie Moulin-Duthoit and their children, are responsible for its restoration, particularly Olivier Moulin, who wrote a thesis on this heritage at the end of his architectural studies. ...that's why you can see signs of construction work from a distance (approaching close is not permitted). Source: leershistorique.fr

The Château de Royères, probably around 1100, was a feudal motte with a wooden tower and a retractable walkway... which Havide de Néchin brought as a dowry to Lambert de Wattrelos. The inhabitants of Tournai submitted to Philip II Augustus. The Tournai region would belong to the French royal family for over 300 years (1187-1521). La Royère is located in the Château de Lille, in the Flanders region, on the hills of Leers and Néchin, on the edge of the Wattines forest, on the border with Tournaisis: it is the castle of the border. In 1227, it was probably a feudal motte with a stone tower that was purchased by Arnoul IV. Wealthier than the seller Hugues de Roubaix, he may have had Tournai's stone walls built. From 1500 onwards, the lords of Roubaix also became lords of La Royère through marriage: the de Werchin and the de Melun. Pierre de Melun, governor of Tournai, lord of Roubaix and La Royère, and a Protestant supporter, was considered civilly dead by Philip II, the Catholic king. His possessions passed to the Ligne family through Anne de Melun. As a supporter of the Edict of Nantes (Henry IV, 1598), Louis XIV returned La Royère to the de Melun family. This led to family disputes: the property first went to the de Ligne family and then back to the de Melun family. A Crombez from Tournai bought La Royère, 35 hectares (Popp map circa 1850). Miss Crombez de Remond de Montmort married Count Ferdinand Costa de Saint-Gérix de Beauregard… Everything was then sold to farmers. Source: leershistorique.fr

A chapel erected in gratitude to Our Lady for protecting the residents of Leers-Noord during the bombings of October-November 1918. On the altar, besides two statues of Mary, stands a statue of a praying clergyman. I couldn't figure out who this is supposed to represent.

Trees, birds, flowers and butterflies colour this electricity box.

In the center of Leers-Noord cemetery stands a monument originally dedicated to the civilian and military victims of the First World War. Later, the names of the victims of the Second World War were also added.

There is a rather special history surrounding the church of Leers: The Border Treaty between France and the Austrian Netherlands made possible the rectification of the border between the two countries. In 1769, Leers-Tournaisis (1/4) was annexed by France, of which Leers-Châtellenie de Lille (3/4) was part, creating a single parish of 945 hectares! In 1781, part of Leers, including the Belva road, which had hindered trade, was returned to the Austrian Netherlands (405 hectares). This division did not change the situation of the pastor of Leers. Abbot Cosse simply registered the subjects of the Emperor of Austria in Leers-North and the subjects of King Louis XVI, King of France, in Leers-South, in two separate registers. Newborns were all brought to the church in Leers-France, and the dead were brought there via a path that has retained the name "Chemin des Morts" (Path of the Dead). This route began on the present-day square of Leers-Nord, followed the path of the Bazulante Cross, then the Path of Courage to reach the choir of the church of Leers-France. Source: leershistorique.fr

This cross or Calvary chapel is located on the roundabout at the town square of Leers-Noord and overlooks the St. Vaast Church at the other end of the square.

"Satcheu" is the Picardian term for "boat puller." This statue pays tribute to those who once practiced this arduous profession: from the towpath, people (or horses) pulled boats across the river or, as here, the canal (Canal de l'Espierre). The statue is a work by Sylvie Koechlin and was unveiled in 2006.