The best traffic-free bike rides around Avesnes-Les-Aubert

easy and pleasant walk

!! April 20, 2024 ongoing installation of kiosks at all entrances and exits of the path. (photos 12 and 13) Edit April 26, 2024: installation of kiosks completed + large stones. Traffic still possible but a barrier at each entrance and exit (4) of the path requiring dismounting, managing the passage of the bike to the kiosk.

This memorial commemorates the residents of Haspres who were killed or missing in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) and the First and Second World Wars and the war in Algeria (1954-1962). A separate memorial commemorates the French soldiers (AFN, Afrique Française du Nord) who died in the war in Algeria and the battles in Morocco and Tunisia, from 1952 to 1962.

Haspres is a municipality and has 2,650 inhabitants. The place is part of the Valenciennes district. On the territory of the municipality are the British military cemeteries Haspres Coppice Cemetery and York Cemetery (Haspres), both with fallen soldiers from the First World War.

Avesnes-le-Sec is a commune in the French Northern Department, in the Hauts-de-France region. It has an area of 10.4 km² and has 1,445 inhabitants (2020). It is part of the arrondissement of Valenciennes and the canton of Denain. Avesnes-le-Sec has a number of sites and heritage that testify to its history and culture. Some examples are: Avesnes-le-Sec Communal Cemetery Extension, a war cemetery from the First World War, where 65 British soldiers are buried. The ruins of the Moulin de Pierre, a tower mill from the 18th century, built with white limestone from the region. The mill was destroyed by a German shell in 1918. The Saint Aubertus Church, a Gothic church from the 12th century, dedicated to the patron saint of the municipality. The church has a remarkable portal with sculptures and an organ from the 19th century. Avesnes-le-Sec is also a pleasant place for walking or cycling, thanks to its green surroundings and its proximity to the River Somme. There are several routes and paths that run along the water or through the countryside. One of the most beautiful routes is the Voie verte du cavalier d'Agincourt, which connects Aniche to Escaudain over a distance of 12 km.

The church was built in the second quarter of the 18th century and was expanded in the 19th century. The church has a sober facade, characterized by the height of the bell tower, which is 51 meters high. The tower is flanked by two round chapels. The variety of the shapes of the openings that pierce the four levels of the tower, and its two-tone, give it a lively appearance. The interior of the church has simple volumes and is basilical in design with one level of elevation. The aisles are separated from the nave by a series of Doric columns supporting an original coffered ceiling created in 1992. The walls of the side chapels are decorated with beautiful wooden panels from the 18th century. A beautiful wooden painting depicting Christ in chains and the axial chapel created by sculptor Bouchardon complete the rich decor of this church.

Thun-Saint-Martin nicknamed as the little Venice of Cambrésis: 1° Sanctuary of the Unity of Schoenstatt: Chapel erected on the very spot where Joseph Engling, a young seminarian and one of the first disciples of the movement, was fatally shot on October 4, 1918. He would rest in the ossuary German from the military cemetery on the road to Solesmes in Cambrai. Throughout the year, pilgrims from all over the world come to visit this Marian sanctuary. 2° Manorial castle of the Herbais de Thun family 3° Saint-Martin Church (15th century)

The Thun Leveque lock is a double lock located on the Scheldt canal, between the municipalities of Thun-l'Évêque and Iwuy, in the Nord department. It allows boats to overcome a difference in height of 2.5 meters between the two reaches of the canal. It is part of a series of five double locks which were built between 1825 and 1830 to improve navigation on the canalized Scheldt1. The Thun Leveque lock has been classified as a historic monument since 19922. It is surrounded by a landscaped park which dates from the 19th century and which belongs to the domain of the Château de Hamel, an 18th century residence which is also protected as architectural heritage3. The Thun Leveque lock is a place of passage and discovery for boaters, cyclists and hikers who use the Scheldt canal or the greenway which runs along it.