The best traffic-free bike rides around Boisjean

The town of Montreuil-sur-mer is surrounded by a rampart, built between the 13th and 17th centuries. Take advantage of this walk of about 3 km, in the cool of the trees, to discover the impressive military heritage of the town. Be careful around the ramparts (over 40 metres high) Bikes must be kept on a leash.

The Hôtel-Dieu was founded in the 13th century by Gauthier de Maintenay. The hospital and chapel have been run by the Augustinian sisters since 1252 and were badly affected by the mysterious natural disaster of 1467. The sanctuary was rebuilt and consecrated in 1475. All that remains from the 15th century is the flamboyant portal.

Very pretty valley, quiet road

Impressive cliffs, but you can't cycle underneath them.

The Bras de Bronne, a tributary of the Canche that crosses the city, once served as a natural border. While part of the village was in Artois, the bell tower was in Boulogne: the parish came under the diocese of Boulogne. The patron saint is the founder of the neighboring diocese, Firmin, first bishop of Amiens. In the choir is a beautiful effigy of the saint, sculpted in the 16th century. Marles-Sur-Canche and its parish church dedicated to Saint Firmin contain treasures such as the statue of Saint Nicolas from the 16th century, the bronze bells from 1805 or the Altar from the 18th century. Despite its humble appearance, its history is set in stone. The building combines a sober nave with a beautiful choir in Flamboyant Gothic style, more slender. This contrast between the two sides is astonishing. The Saint Firmin church is thus strongly marked by the architectural heritage of the 15th century. The Marlois are attached to their church which, despite regular work since 1812 and the numerous renovations, shows a worrying state of health, visible by the numerous deteriorations: cracks, detachment of the cladding, broken stones, crumbling, weakened masonry of the buttresses, decaying structural wood.

It is in the Pas de Calais, in the heart of the green valley of the Canche, 20 km from Le Touquet-Paris-Plage and 5 km from Montreuil sur Mer, a fortified city steeped in history and a secret city of the Templars, that is the mansion Francis... The little Lord of Montville, who had a bit of a delusion of grandeur, had this astonishing residence built of chalk rubble in the style of a fortress built in the 17th century. Partly concealed by the large porch covered with Virginia creeper, the Francis manor is typical of Boulogne manors, these stately homes designed to protect themselves from prowlers. Past the porch, you will first be greeted by a benevolent heterogeneous fauna, a miniature replica of Noah's ark, basking in a vast enclosed courtyard.

From 1916, the town of Montreuil-sur-Mer became the decision-making center of the British armies under the command of Marshal Douglas Haig. For 3 years the small town lived in English time. In residence at Beaurepaire Castle, Marshal Douglas Haig receives prestigious guests such as Raymond Poincarré or the King of England George V. In 1928, Douglas Haig died at his Bermersyde Castle in Scotland. In 1931, a committee wishing to pay tribute to this important British figure, considered one of the architects of victory, entrusted the sculptor Paul Landowski with the creation of an equestrian statue representing him. The famous director of Christ the Redeemer of Rio delivers his work that will be inaugurated with great pomp in the presence of the Marshal's widow and André Maginot. In 1940, the Germans unlocked the statue and sent it to Germany to be melted down. In 1950 a second impression was made from the original plaster. This sculpture is enthroned in front of the Montreuil theater and is now a listed monument. ville-montreuil-sur-mer.fr/patrimoine

The chapel of the former hospital now belongs to Best Western Hotel Hermitage. It was rebuilt in 1874 by Clovis Normand, a pupil of Violet-le-Duc and architect of the Neuville Carthusian monastery. The portal in Flamboyant Gothic (15th century) is still there. The chapel is notable for its high spire.