Getting there
Our house in Vieil Hesdin is really easy to get to. It takes
about an hour from the Eurotunnel exit: you head south on the A16 autoroute, take the Berck exit and head east
to Hesdin on the excellent N39. This makes it an ideal holiday home for families not wishing to travel too far
into France, or indeed for short breaks. For those preferring to fly, it's an easy two hour drive from Charles
de Gaulle Airport, heading north on the A1 autoroute to Arras, then across to Hesdin on the N39.
About the village
Vieil Hesdin, as its name implies, was the site of the old Hesdin
before it was sacked by the Spanish in 1553. Hesdin was rebuilt at its present site, but today Vieil Hesdin remains
a pretty, peaceful village situated on the banks of the river Canche, just a short drive from Hesdin. There is
an ancient convent not far from the house and most of the village (including our house) is in a conservation area.
Plenty of quiet roads and tracks for cycling or walking along the river or in the nearby woods.
About the area
Nord Pas de Calais is a region much appreciated by the Brits
and other northern Europeans for its excellent beaches, its history, its cuisine and of course shopping. Le Pays
des 7 Vallees is a tourist area within this region having the old market town of Hesdin at its heart. Situated
at the confluence of the rivers Canche and Ternoise Hesdin has an impressive central 'Grande Place' dominated by
the 16th century town hall. Market day is Thursday, but the boutiques, restaurants and bars, its historic church
and buildings, and its status as a 3 star 'ville fleuri' (flowered town) make it a town pleasant to visit on any
day. North of Hesdin is the 'Foret d'Hesdin' extending to over 1000 hectares. 15 km of forest roads and 5 km of
one of the national Grande Randonnée footpaths make it ideal for walking, cycling and picnics.
The House
This is a 17th century farmhouse, now completely modernised.
Though not isolated, it is very peacefully situated on a quiet country lane well away from the nearest main road.
What is unusual and pleasant about the house is that you drive in from the lane through high gates into a courtyard
which is surrounded on three sides by the house and its barns. On the third side it opens out to the garden - about
an acre in all, largely laid to grass and completely fenced in, making this an ideal and safe area for children
to play. There is an open-fronted barn overlooking the courtyard which has been set up with table tennis and other
games. A selection of bicycles is provided.
The house is very comfortable and well furnished, though with an eye to making it suitable for families with children.
The entrance door leads into the well fitted and equipped kitchen, then through a short corridor (door to shower
room with wc and washhand basin) to the large airy living/dining room with French windows on both sides to the
garden and courtyard. Large dining table for 8, comfortable sitting area with television, dvd player and surround
sound hi-fi. Beyond the living room is a large double bedroom with king-size double bed and separate single sofabed.
Back to the kitchen, a door leads to another double bedroom with twin beds and en suite bathroom, and another door
takes you up a few stairs to the third double bedroom, also with twin beds.
In all then there are two double and one triple bedrooms and two full bathrooms.
Things to do
There is so much to do that it is only possible to give a brief
summary.
- Battlefields:
Agincourt with its new visitors centre is about 12 km away, and the battlefields of the Somme are within easy reach,
as is La Coupole, constructed in 1943 and now a history centre with presentations on the occupation of Northern
France.
- Beaches:
Berck Plage is about half an hour's drive as are the quieter resorts
of Merlimont and Stella-Plage. Le Touquet is a little further. There are all the usual seaside activities on offer
- windsurfing, sailing, fishing plus kite-flying - a speciality of this region.
- Markets:
there are markets in most main towns, e.g. Fruges (Saturday morning),
Hesdin (Thursday morning) and a fish market in Etaples.
- Museums:
Many museums including a ceramic museum at Desvres, an ancient Abbey at Valloires with beautiful gardens and a
mining museum
- Sport:
Superb golf courses, horseriding, walking, cycling, an aerial adventure course at Guines, boating on the rivers,
kayaking and rafting.
- Theme parks and centres:
Bagatelle at Merlimont with 44 family attractions; Nausicaa, a sealife centre at Boulogne, one of the best in Europe;
Aqualud at Le Touquet - a water theme park with a 'Magic River'
- Towns and cities:
Amiens with its beautiful cathedral, miraculously spared in the 1940 bombing; Arras with its impressive 'Places
des Heros' with buildings dating from the 11th century; St. Omer with its cathedral and Musee Sandelin; Montreuil-sur-Mer,
just 20 minutes away; and more....
Eating out
This is a region of excellent restaurants from the well known 3 star Chateau de Montreuil to the excellent "fermes
auberges" of the region with all kinds of town and country restaurants in between. Being close to the sea,
you can eat excellent fish and shellfish. Several restaurants within a short drive of the house.
Buying wine and shopping
Wine is not produced in this area, but there are many places
to buy excellent wine, from the supermarkets to the specialist wine stores of Calais eg Le Chais, Perardel, Eastenders,
and even Sainsburys and Tescos. You will also find smaller specialist wine merchants in most towns. The hypermarkets,
created out of the English cross-Channel shopping movement, include Cite Europe and the complex at Coquelles in
Calais. But better, and sometimes cheaper, can often be had further away from Calais, and there are two good supermarkets
in Hesdin, not far from the house. You can also buy foie gras near Hesdin, and local cheese, fruit and veg at the
markets.
Bookings and further information: contact Janet Rankin e-mail
janet@certainaspects.co.uk, phone 01424 830279 or fax 01424 830706. Availability: The
house will be available from 19th May 2006. Changeover day is Friday. Short breaks available outside of high season.
PRICES 2006
From £69 a night for a short break in low season (minimum 2 nights)
to short breaks weekly rates from £295 to £695 per week in high season. Please
contact Janet Rankin on 01424 830279 or 07714 897117 for more information.
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