Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Ruins of la Royère castle – Gravel track loop from Pecq

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Ruins of la Royère castle – Gravel track loop from Pecq

Moderate

riders

Ruins of la Royère castle – Gravel track loop from Pecq

02:58

46.4km

170m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: April 18, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Parc naturel des Plaines de l’Escaut

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

3.51 km

Ruins of la Royère castle

Highlight • Castle

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

Translated by Google •

Tip by

7.85 km

Singletrack and Farm Track with View of Néchin Water Tower and Saint-Amand Church

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Very nice single track in the middle of the fields with a nice view of the water tower and the Saint-Amand de Néchin church. The portion continues on a paved agricultural road in fairly poor condition. Portion for MTB and Gravel only!

Translated by Google •

Tip by