Local area map | * Hesdin is on the Boulogne - Arras & Boulogne - Lille lines
Hesdin and the Seven Valleys district

Hesdin Town Hall's belfry and ornate balcony look over the main square which hosts a busy market every Thursday morning. The Town Hall entrance still bears the Spanish crest

Hesdin - a Spanish new town You're standing in the spacious town square in Hesdin, looking up at the Town Hall. The coat-of-arms on the front of the ornate balcony is that of Spain. The town was forceably moved in 1554 to its present site down in the Canche valley by order of the Spanish Emperor Charles V ("Charles Quint").

16th century Church of Notre-Dame, on a cobbled street by the River Canche.	The old Hesdin on a highly defensible site in the hills had been a dangerous French stronghold in the border wars between France and Spanish Flanders. The ruins of the old town's castle can still be seen - but most of it, including a famous 14th century pleasure park, was completely razed to the ground. The cathedral town of Thérouanne suffered a similar fate.
At Azincourt you can tour the battlefield where in 1415 Henry V's English army massacred a French army 5 times as numerous. They hailed arrows from massed ranks of longbow archers on the French cavalry, who slithered around in the mud and rain, unable to escape because of their clumsy armour and the surrounding forests. A new Medieval History Centre in the village tells the story of the battle - and is a good preparation for walking round the site.
		The Moulin de Maintenay on the river Authie is at least in part claimed to date from the 12th century. It has been restored and is open to the public.
Country walks and cycle rides The attractive countryside around Hesdin is great for walking and cycling along paths and quiet lanes in the peaceful valleys in the Artois hills. Tourist offices have maps and leaflets of marked routes, specially selected for being safe, interesting and with indications of manageability - depending on your fitness and how far you want to go.

More information	Local area map: Click on places for more information
Places to visit Agincourt Battlefield - Medieval History Centre & battlefield tour Fressin Castle - medieval ruins with spectacular reenactments "Sire de Crécuy" -cheese made on the farm "Perle de Groseille" - making a special aperitif Chocolate factory - craft workshop in the village of Beussant (10km from Montreuil) Le Moulin de Maintenay - working watermill A traditional boulangerie - near Hardelot
Background information Hundred Years' War - England v France Artois - fought-over region around Arras Relations with the English Vauban - 17th century military engineer Mills of the region

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