France – Aire-sur-la-Lys (En)
Aire-sur-la-Lys is very similar to Arras, but we liked it better. It is a charming town steeped in history, featuring a UNESCO World Heritage belfry, impressive Flemish architecture, and beautiful canals.
Where to stay
We stayed at the town’s motorhome area (50.643972, 2.407624 lat, long), located right by the lovely harbour and just a 10-minute walk from the town centre. It is a beautiful spot with stunning views of the harbour and the canal. We loved it. It’s like a campsite, offering electricity, restrooms, showers, and a dishwashing area, as well as facilities for filling and emptying water tanks. The only thing missing is a washing machine. It costs 15 euros a day, all-inclusive. The entrance is quite narrow, as you have to cross a bridge to get in; I wouldn’t recommend it for motorhomes wider than 2.5 meters. We will definitely be back; it’s a charming place, as you can see in the photos.
What to see
First, we saw the beautiful harbour, since we were right there. From the harbour, we followed the L’Oduel river channel until we reached the centre.
Following the canal, you arrive at a beautiful spot where the Beaudelle Chapel is located; built in 1868, it was declared a historical monument in 2003. The chapel currently houses the tourist office, where you can borrow bicycles for free.
We continued walking until we reached the famous bell tower—a 58-meter-tall monument dating back to 1724 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site—which rises above the large cobblestone square. Also located in this square are the town hall, notable for its immense size, and the Flemish Renaissance-style courthouse, built in 1600.
On the way to the Collegiate Church of San Pedro, we come across the Disabled Soldiers’ Mill, built in 1682. The current wheel, installed in 1996, has the same diameter (5.20 meters) as the one from 1970.
We arrived at the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter, but it was under construction, so we could only view it from the outside. It is a notable religious monument known for its majestic organ and impressive vaulted ceilings featuring stellar motifs.
Finally, we took a walk through Les Ballastières: a peaceful local natural area, ideal for a relaxing stroll very close to the town centre.
We left this beautiful town and headed to Grand-Fort-Philippe, a charming place to enjoy the region’s typical architecture and nature—which you can see in the next blog post.
