Hikes in Eperlecques

The Great Route Path  GR 128 runs from Wissant to Aachen. The route in France is highly recommended due to the tranquility, natural beauty, and authentic villages that sometimes resemble old Flemish ones. I have adjusted the route in France slightly to keep the stages approximately between 12 and 15 kilometers and also to consider available parking spots. We stay for a midweek each time and look for accommodation somewhere in the middle of the stages we plan to undertake. We park the car at the end point of the walk. Then we bike to the starting point. We pick up the bikes by car and then drive back to our accommodation, or make a visit somewhere along the way by car. The route in French Flanders is approximately 150 kilometers. We completed it in 3 midweek stays. The stages are divided as follows:   STAGE 1:        WISSANT – PEUPLINGUES 1                          15 Km walking and 8 Kilometers cycling STAGE 2 :       PEUPLINGUES – HAMES BOUCRES                                       12 Km walking and 6 Km cycling STAGE 3 :       HAMES BOUCRES – BOUQUEHAULT                                    12 KM walking and 15 Km cycling STAGE 4:        LE VENTUS d’ ALEMBON – AUDENFORT                               10 Km walking and 11 Km cycling STAGE 5 :       AUDENFORT – TOURNEHEM SUR HEM                           13 Km walking and 9 Km cycling STAGE 6:        TOURNEHEM SUR HEM – FôRET d‘ EPERLECQUES                           12 Km walking and 8 Kilometers cycling STAGE 7:        Fôret d’ Eperlecques – WULVERDINGHE                           12 Km walking and 12 Km cycling STAGE 8:        WULVERDINGHE – NIEURLET                          10 Km walking and 8 Km cycling STAGE 9:        NIEURLET – BUYSSCHEURE                           12 Km walking and 5 Kilometers cycling STAGE 10:     NOORDPEENE – CASSEL                          12 Km walking and 10 Km cycling STAGE 11:     CASSEL – GODEWAERTSVELDE                           16 Km walking and 15 Km cycling STAGE 12:     GODEWAERSVELDE – BANENBERG (Belgium)                          12 Km walking and 11 Km cycling STAGE 13:     BANENBERG – KEMMEL Via walking junctions and GR 5A to the Kemmelberg where the GR 128 starts in Belgium. ALL STAGES CAN BE CONSULTED SEPARATELY ON THE MAP Recommended off path: The beaches on the Opal Coast Channel Tunnel Expo Visit to Saint Omer Visit to Cassel

GR128-3- Tournehem-sur-la-Hem ---> Watten 3rd stage of the Flanders trail GR128August 4, 2020 at 07:42 20km

This stage passes along a combination of fields, patches of forest, small asphalt roads, unpaved roads for agricultural traffic, but above all peace and quiet. Nort-Leulinghem is the only village, further a bit of ribbon development along the Rue du Communal in Bayenghem-les-Eperlecques. At the edge of a forest we pass 2 sloping concrete walls decorated with graffiti, from here the V1s were aimed at England. We are reminded  that this region was a nerve center for the continuous attacks by the Germans on the channel. The list of launch platforms for V1, the so-called "Vergeltungswaffen", in department 62 Pas de Calais is very long.Not far from here, in Eperlecques, the Nazis built a huge complex for launching their V2 vertical rockets, a precursor for the more peaceful expeditions into space.The current Blockhaus of Eperlecques is more of an open-air museum, among other things you walk in that bunker with a concrete ceiling 5 meters thick above your head.Closer to Cap Griz Nez, in Mimoyecques, you can visit the underground launch installation for the V3 bombs and of course on Griz Nez itself, the Batterie Todt, where a supergun targeted all traffic on the channel. For those interested further in the war history of the region:See TIPS and HINTS further under the DETAILS section. After we parked the car on the forest road of the Eperlecques woods we cycle to Tournehem via: D 219 towards Muncq Nieurletfirst street left into Rue de la PanneDescend to NordausquesThen the D 218 to Tournehem

We divided this stage into 2 parts: From Watten up into the Fôret d’Eperlecques is about 8 km of walking. From Watten further to Wulverdinghe is another 5 km extra, so in total, we will walk a good 13 km. We parked the car at the top edge of the forest and cycled down to leave the bikes in Watten at a small parking lot. This way, the bike ride was just a downhill glide without effort. We walk the first part through Watten first, visit the church, and then cross the bridge to walk along the canalized Aa for a bit. At "La Bombe," we go left and follow a small stream past some identical houses. Under the railway and then climb through the forest. The Eperlecques forest is one long unpaved but fairly wide forest road. In the Fôret d’Eperlecques, the monumental winter oak dominates the first two-thirds of the walk. A bit further, it becomes more of a mixed forest. Near the end, you come to a small chapel: Notre Dame des 3 Cayelles. According to an old legend, this was once the meeting place for the local druids. In more recent times, vespers were held here on August 15th to celebrate the Holy Virgin; many pilgrims walked here early in the morning to participate in this early Eucharist service. An old legend, however, tells: The word “cayelle” indicates a chair in the local Picardy dialect. According to an old cult, the “3 cayelles” signify the presence of 3 Goddesses who had to guard the crossroads of 3 roads on the path Saint Omer took on his Christianization journey through France. Personal remark: The 3 Goddesses, tired from their guarding task, could not keep wandering here and perhaps asked God for a comfortable chair to rest on from time to time? The second part of the walk goes from Watten to Wulverdinghe, ETAPPE 7B then.

This trail allows you to discover a wooded landscape of the late Artois hills, interspersed with canals and watergangs. The varied relief offers a unique panorama, a superb walk with breathtaking views.

GR145-4 carriere Tournehem - Thérouane 7 juin 2021 06:21:074ème Day Via Francigena

Départ place de l'église d'EperlecquesPasser devant et tourner à gauche vers Mairie Terrain de foot Bien après le terrain, prendre le chemin à droite puis à gauche et tout droit vers Watten.Attention, en descendant dans la forêt suivre le sentier et ne pas vouloir atteindre le blockhaus

Passer devant l'église d'Eperlecques et tourner à gauche vers "Mairie - Terrain de foot" - Bien après le terrain, prendre le chemin à droite puis à gauche et tout droit vers Watten.Attention, en descendant dans la forêt suivre le sentier et ne pas vouloir atteindre le blockhaus.