The best city hikes and walks around Cambrai

Ideal for jogging

ventilation in the city

Nice viewpoint for a photo of the setting sun with its reflections on the pond.

Place Aristide Briand in Cambrai is a historically important site that was completely destroyed by German troops in 1918. The square was rebuilt between 1924 and 1932, according to a design by architect Pierre Leprince-Ringuet. The reconstruction combined Art Deco and regionalist styles, with specific guidelines for the buildings, including a minimum width of 6 meters, three levels and mansard roofs. The square has retained its harmonious appearance over the years and remains a central part of Cambrai's architectural heritage.

The Old General Hospital of Cambrai, located at 20 Rue Louis Blériot, has a rich and fascinating history. Created by letters patent of King Louis XV in June 1752, it was converted in 1754 into the former poorhouse of the Fish Market. This hospital has been extended and modified several times over the years. In 1910, it was made available to the army to serve as barracks, which led to significant transformations of the interiors1. The facades and roofs of the hospital, as well as certain architectural elements, are protected as historical monuments. The Cambrai General Hospital is a typical example of 18th-century hospital architecture, with wings built in 1754 and 1786. It played a crucial role in caring for the poor and orphans, and was run by the Sisters of Charity of the Order of Saint Vincent de Paul from 1829.

The Écluse de Cantimpré in Cambrai is a historic lock that played an important role in the development of the region's waterways. It was built in 1900 as part of the modernisation of the regional waterway network, as required by the Charles Freycinet law in 1879. The lock is equipped with two lock chambers, each 38 metres long and 5 metres wide, making it accessible to Flemish peniches and facilitating shipping. The lock is located at the junction of the canalised Scheldt and the Saint-Quentin Canal, and was part of the important port of Cantimpré, which was built in 1862. Today, the port of Cantimpré is mainly a pleasure port, but in the past it was a busy trading post with more than a hundred ships passing through every day.

The portal of the former archbishop's palace in Cambrai is a magnificent example of 17th century architecture. This portal, which is part of the current sub-prefecture, was built in 1625 by Archbishop François Vanderburch and decorated by the sculptor Gaspard Marsy. Designed in the style of the Flemish Renaissance, the portal contains impressive decorative elements such as sculpted tympanums and graceful columns. It is made of blue stone from Soignies and white stone for the decorative elements. The portal has been classified as a historical monument since 1921.

Founded in the sixth century, it is the oldest church in the city. It became the abbey church of Saint-Aubert in the eleventh century. Rebuilt between 1697 and 1745, it illustrates two architectural traditions: the Baroque of the Netherlands and French classicism. At the crossing of the transept, there is an unparalleled blue stone canopy. Its function as a warehouse for goods confiscated from the clergy during the revolution saved it from destruction. The church houses many works of art, including the Entombment by Rubens (1616) and the rood screen by Jaspard Marsy (1635), now transformed into an organ gallery.