Attractions and Places To See around Ligny-Lès-Aire - Top 20

The belfry of Aire-sur-la-Lys (in Dutch: Ariën-aan-de-Leie) is a historic, baroque belfry in the French department of Pas-de-Calais that has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2005. The striking tower is attached to the town hall and dominates the skyline of the historic town.

Many centuries ago, our ancestors discovered the possibility of harnessing the power of the elements—which, on the one hand, were helpful and useful, but on the other hand, as untamed forces of nature, could also be a threat—for various purposes, thus eliminating the need for human or animal muscle power. Mills such as these are a good example of the human engineering skills of earlier generations: The heavy millstones used to grind grain or press oil, for example, could be powered by wind or—as in this case—water.

A very well-known place for pilgrims and a good tavern which recently reopened: LA TABLE DE ST BENOIT.

The patron saint of the marginalized, Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, was born in 1748 in the picturesque village of Amettes. He is better known as "God's Traveler." A French mendicant pilgrim, he traveled the roads of Europe, from sanctuary to sanctuary until his final stop: Rome. He was canonized in 1881. The birthplace of Saint Benedict Joseph, a small chalet, has become an important pilgrimage site in Artois, dedicated to his memory and housing his belongings.

Patron saint of the marginalized, Saint Benoît-Joseph Labre was born in the picturesque village of Amettes in 1748. He is better known as the “wanderer of God”. A French beggar pilgrim, he traveled the roads of Europe going from sanctuary to sanctuary until his final stop: Rome. He was canonized in 1881. The birthplace of Saint Benoît-Joseph, a small country cottage, has become a major place of pilgrimage in Artois dedicated to his memory bringing together objects that belonged to him.

This Spanish mill was built around 1635, on the banks of the Lacquette River. It produced flour until 1938, then milling for livestock. It was bought in 1974 to be transformed into a home. It is built with brick and stone (white limestone). All that remains of the original building is the north gable (17th century), and also a porch. The water wheel is still in place but it no longer turns. The dam forms a pretty waterfall. A turret was added on the river side. It is a very beautiful private home with a beautiful garden in which you can see a stone fountain.

The Beffroi d'Aire-sur-la-Lys is a monument that is part of the heritage of Aire-sur-la-Lys. It was first built in 1355 and rebuilt between 1716 and 1724 by the architect Hérogue. It has been listed as a historic monument since 1947 together with the adjacent town hall1. The beffroi is 45 meters high and rests on four large pillars of brick and stone, two meters thick, which demarcate an interior space of six meters wide. It is of Baroque style and is part of the list of 23 belfries inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005 as part of the list of "Belfries of Belgium and France".

This is one of the finest examples of the Flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance in French Flanders. The imposing tower (62m) resembles that of Notre-Dame in Saint-Omer. Inside, the pattern of the ribs of the vaults has been transferred to the floor. The choir is closed by a beautiful rood screen; on the left is the gilded statue of Notre-Dame Panetière. The oak organ case comes from the abbey church of Clamarais. Choir and apse suffered from a bombardment in 1944. In the back you can see a beautiful Virgin and Child (15th century)