The best walks and hikes around Jolimetz

This chapel in Locquignol dates back to the Middle Ages. It is in honor of Saint Sylvester, one of the first popes from the Christian Romanesque era, from the 3rd century AD. Inside there is also a coquille Saint Jacques and a cross, often belonging to pilgrims to Compostella. There is also a statue of Saint Roch, patron saint of dogs, dog lovers, and shepherds.

The photos of the castle and the waterfalls are from Potelle Castle and do not belong here at all.

The castle, built in the 12th century by Baldwin IV of Hainaut, was the home of the Counts of Hainaut, also Counts of Holland and Zeeland. Its last sovereign was a woman who was born in the castle in 1401. Charles the Bold and then his daughter were the last sovereigns to reside there. It was then abandoned and almost completely abandoned from the 16th century. Of the prestigious castle of the Middle Ages, few remains remain: an entrance gate and a set of remarkable Romanesque cellars. The current large building called Cernay actually dates from 1681.

Monument and commemorative plaque in honour of Leon Mallard and Roger Robert, members of the FFI (Forces françaises de l'intérieur) who lost their lives near this gate during the recapture of Le Quesnoy on 2 September 1944.

The fortifications of Le Quesnoy date back to the Middle Ages and were further strengthened in the 17th century under the direction of the famous military engineer Vauban. These fortifications were necessary to protect the city from attacks and sieges. The fortifications have been declassified since 1901, but they are still well maintained. The remparts are designed in a Renaissance style with heavily fortified walls and gateways. They are built of brick and stone, which is typical of the military architecture of that period. The fortifications include several bastions, such as the Porte Faurœulx and the Bastion Vert, which are strategically placed to protect the city.

The Jardin de la Paix Belge was created in 2018 by the collective artist group Plan B, consisting of Thomas Van Eeckhout and Mathieu Allain. The park is located in the fortifications of Le Quesnoy and is a symbol of peace and memory. The park was designed with a concept in which part of the city walls of Le Quesnoy is projected horizontally onto a lawn. The walls, originally 12 meters high, are now terraces that offer a peaceful place for walks and reflection. The use of brick and natural materials, such as engraved stones, emphasizes the historical and cultural ties between the regions.

The Palace of Margaret of Burgundy in Le Quesnoy is a historic building that used to serve as the residence of Margaret of Burgundy, Duchess of Bavaria-Straubing and Countess of Hainaut, Holland, Zeeland and Oosterbant. Margaret of Burgundy (1374-1441) was the daughter of Philip the Bold of Burgundy and Margaret of Male. She married William VI of Holland in 1385, and after his death in 1417 she continued to live in Le Quesnoy as a dowager. The palace was one of her favorite residences, and she lived there with her daughter Jacoba of Bavaria. The palace is designed in a Renaissance style with strongly fortified walls and gateways strategically placed to protect the city. The building is built of brick and stone, which is typical of the military architecture of that period.

The Porte Faurœulx is part of the fortified city walls built between the 15th and 17th centuries. These walls were built to protect the city from attacks and sieges. The gate itself dates from this period and is a remnant of the military architecture of the time. The gate is designed in a Renaissance style with strongly fortified walls and gateways strategically placed to protect the city. It has a circular plan and is built of brick and stone, which is typical of the military architecture of the period.