The Château d’Esquelbecq is classified as a historic monument; the protected site includes the moats, park, garden and ancillary buildings. The château’s main construction phases date from the 15th, 17th and 18th centuries. The estate comprises the château, gardens, a kitchen garden and a landscaped park, which visitors can explore. The site offers themed tours, workshops, exhibitions and meetings throughout the year.
Culture and History
The Église Saint-Folquin dates from the 10th century and was continuously remodelled until the 17th century. This resulted in a typical Flemish hall church with three naves of equal size. By decree of 20 July 1945, it was listed as a historic monument. The publicly accessible bell tower can be reached via more than 75 steps and has a carillon with 23 bells.
The Village du Livre in Esquelbecq is home to permanent booksellers and offers book-related events, narrated walks and artists’ workshops. The Musée-Mémorial de la Plaine au Bois also focuses on history: it presents the history of the Battle of Wormhout-Esquelbecq-Ledringhem, the little-known rearguard battles of Operation Dynamo, as well as personal belongings and the life stories of survivors. A second room presents testimonies and faces in a video.
The La Plaine au Bois site has a viewpoint with an orientation table, from which the positions and intensity of the fighting can be understood.
Regional Brewing Tradition
By prior arrangement, Brasserie Thiriez offers a one-hour guided tour. It covers the cultural and traditional significance of regional beers and brewing techniques; the tour also includes a tasting.
Landscape and Trails
The signposted circular walking route “des Chênes au château” runs for 6 or 11 kilometres through the Flemish landscape around Esquelbecq and to local sights and heritage sites.
Esquelbecq also offers donkey walks as well as self-guided or accompanied hikes lasting 1.5 to 2 hours or up to half a day or a full day. There are also two-hour horse-drawn carriage rides and trips in a Randoline suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Things to Do in the Village
Les Gigottos Automates is a 200 m² workshop in Esquelbecq featuring electrical and electronic automata. It offers numerous workshops for the whole family throughout the year.
In Esquelbecq, electrically assisted bicycles for adults and classic bicycles for children can be reserved.
Anyone considering Esquelbecq for a stay may wish to rent a holiday apartment.
More local pages: Lannoy, Fontaine-Notre-Dame, Saint-Martin-Sur-Écaillon, Condé-sur-l'Escaut, Armbouts-Cappel, Cambrai, Faches-Thumesnil, Drincham
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