Biking tour Dunkirk-Bergues

Surrounded by majestic trees, here you are in the park of Strong Louis, a green lung of 33 hectares. He owes his name in former(old) very military built by Vauban, whom we can again admire the front door and the staves(moats). Opened all year long, the park offers beautiful romantic strolls or in family, but also sports and cultural activities.

Covering more than 350 hectares, the Wood of Forts includes various centers of entertaining, sports and tourist interests of closeness with in particular, the sports space and with leisure activities of Vallières Fort, the golf Dunkirk Grand Littoral or still plans of water fitted out for the practice of fishing

Situated in a old Pawnshop dating the XVIIth century, the museum of Bergues, certified Museum of France, benefits from an exceptional frame(executive) to shelter its rich collections of paints(paintings), drawings and natural history. Jewels of the Flemish baroque art, the Pawnshop of Bergues was built, between 1629 and 1633, according to the plans of the painter, the architect, the economist and the engineer Wenceslas Cobergher (on 1560 - 1634). Elegant rectangular building(ship) of bricks adorned with stone, traveled(browsed) by windows topped with arcatures, he(it) offers two remarkable pine nuts(cogs) richly decorated. He(it) was classified as "Historic Monument" in 1907.

The history of the Belfry of Bergues is long and eventful. The construction of the first Belfry dates from 1112. Rebuilt several times, confronted with the destruction of the war, it is destroyed by the German troops during their retirement by blasting in 1944. Between 1958 and July 1961, it is rebuilt with the same silhouette, but with a simplified decor. Protected as a Historic Monument in 2004, it is listed as World Heritage by UNESCO in 2005 with 22 other belfries. The Belfry is an emblematic monument of the city of Bergues. It hosts a Tourist Information Office, an exhibition hall and a music room. The inhabitants are very attached to their belfry whose jingles give rhythm to their day. In 2008, honored by the film Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis, it enjoys international renown. At 47 meters high, 193 steps allow you to access its carillon of 50 bells and to contemplate a breathtaking panorama. The carillon is 6 tons 200 bronze. The largest bell weighs 1500 kg, the largest 14 kg. The first carillon dating from 1544 had only 10 bells.

Located in the center of the primitive city, the church will be destroyed by the War of the Beggars. It will be rebuilt from 1562 in the form of a large hallekerque (market hall). The building suffered terribly during the last world war (fire in 1940 and blasting of the tower in 1944). Only one part was restored (south transept, central choir and south choir) and completed by a new construction in 1959.