The Circuit of the Paving stone - Route with accompanying notes
Departure of the House of Tourism, places Roger Salengro. To move towards the town hall. I The Town hall (1919) A a few meters only of the house of tourism throne the majestueux hôtel of city, radiating with all its splendour on the Roger-Salengro place. The primacy granted to the verticals and the bored roofs of staged attic windows evoke the moyenâgeux town halls of the North of France and Belgium. The pinions with step of sparrow (in staircase) and the decorative overload are obvious Flemish references. To note besides that the architect qualifies " belfry " before central body of the frontage. The building borrows also much from the style Louis XIII: marriage of brick and the stone, gripped chains of angle, stopped and superimposed pediments, use of fire pots to punctuate the vertical axes... Town hall will reach you the mélodieux agreements of a soft music,  celle of the chime installed (in a final way) to celebrate year 2000. This one includes/understands 14 bells melted in Holland and is capable of jouer 25 famous airs of which certain typical of North / Pas-de-Calais comme le P' tit Quinquin, Guesnels or Mining cottages... Each melody played by the chime is pretext at a toujours remarquée exit of Marie-Grouette, the legendary witch of the marsh. Indeed, at each hour of the day (of 8h with 20h), sublimates it witch cannot résister à the desire for showing its pretty little face, a such star of fashion parade. The legend of Marie Grouette was created to move away the children from the edge of water. Indeed, Marie is supposed to haunt the marsh and the water levels and to grab the children who approach too much close to the edge with his groët. From where the version in patois audomarois:  "Marie saque Groët éfants at the bottom of the aveucque iau sin groët that alle has toudis dins hand ". The groët is a hook with four or five bent teeth used by the market-gardeners. To circumvent the town hall by the left (street of Anjou) and pénétrer dans the municipal park: to go on the right just after the bridge bois et to take the first output giving on the carpark. II. The Municipal Park Bosky bower of 3 ha in full centre town, the Municipal Park is a resting place rythmé by the streaming of the river (Low Meldyck and Havelt) punctuated of the cackles of ducks and the brayings of the Saturnin ass... To leave the carpark by the left: you are street Adrien-Danvers (in the past street of the Paving stone). To continue always straight (without crossing) to the roundabout symbolizing Water and Fire. III. The street Adrien-Danvers. The street Adrien-Danvers is the original street of Arch. It was the heart of industry arquoise a long time: a jute spinning mill, a clothes industry, a mill, a brewery and a distilling had taken their districts there. 1) A Large Sainte-Catherine This hotel is in fact an old relay of station of XVIIIème century.
2) the castle (private property, defense to enter) You continue your course (along the street Danvers) when draws up in front of you an imposing castle. The origin of this building is still fuzzy for us. It is thought however that its construction date either of the Roman time, or of 6th or 7th siècle. Sa principal tower, its meutrières and its crenels leave plâner no doubt about its defensive use. It is rather difficult to release a style with this monument because it was maintes fois destroyed and rebuilt. Thus cohabit at the same time an unquestionable esthetism and a defensive aspect, giving him a completely particular charm. 3) church A some steps of the castle even rises the Saint Martin's day church, built by the Count Walbert into 646 on the consultings of Saint-Bertin him.  Il acts of a church neo-gothic hall of style with 3 parallel naves. The nave located at the center is nevertheless longer but of the same height than the 2 others. Use of stones but also of bricks in particular pour les vaults and pinions of naves. The tower which dates from the 18th century has a form  particulière with a cutting into 3 and progressive reduction of sound let us périmètre. Notons the power of the pillars of angle them so cut out into 3 niveaux. Intérêt of the arrow: openwork of decorative form and crochés in covered. Rambarde of broken quatrefoils. The arrow culminates with 45 meters approximately. With not missing inside: the organ case going back to 1856 and the baptismal font, registered with the Additional Inventory des Monuments Historical. The base which remains about it date of the 12th century. 4) the roundabout of Garenne This superb work of art symbolizes water and fire,  2 elements to which the commune must much. Water runs out on both sides of the city: the channel, the rivers et les 7 ponds thus bring freshness and softness of living with the commune. Fire, antithesis even of water, was quite as significant with the good economic development of the city since which it is essential to the fusion of glass and the crystal. On the level of the roundabout, to cross on the crossing for pedestrians and  prendre then on the left (street Emile-Delattre) in direction of the channel... After having crossed the small metal bridge, to skirt the channel while leaving on the right to the pink bridge levis.
VI. The channel of Neuffossé and Low Meldyck 1) the channel of neuffossé to arrive to the drawbridge, you will have to go along the channel by the tow path. The tow path was borrowed formerly by the horses which drew the barges. The channel of neuffossé, to the gauge of 350 tons, connects Surface-on-the-Lily  à Dunkirk. Its contruction began in 1753 to finish in 1774. Thought by Vauban as of 1688 for defensive use, it especially was useful for the economic development of the area audomaroise. Indeed, the carriage of the goods was made essentiellement par the water way to the 19éme century.  2) the siphon Before arriving at the drawbridge, you will notice on your left a small lock gate. To this place, the Aa river (connects low Meldyck) passes out of siphon under the channel of Neuffossé. The lock gate is thus used to control the level of the channel by rejecting the surplus of water in the river. To borrow the drawbridge and to continue all: you arrive at the Great Winnowing. 3) Great Winnowing True guard of the city, Great Winnowing takes care on our commune by controlling water of Low-Meldyck. In the same way, Small Vannage (situé on its right side), control water to the marsh. The date unit completion of XVIIIème century. Continue always straight, pass under the level crossing and borrow the first bridge to cross the channel. To take then on the right: the Forest of the children is offered to your eyes. VII. The Forest of the Children It is on the site of an old deposit of rubble that rise more than 2.000 trees to give life to the forest of the children. Each tree, sponsored by old a Arquois young person of less than 15 years, will be placed under its protection and will bear its name on a plate. 3 ha of alders, of Ashes, wild cherry trees, oaks or other charms thus supplement a natural site of a remarkable richness (proximity of the Forest of Rihoult-Clairmarais, ponds of Malhôve and Beauséjour). To continue straight and to take on the right after having passed under the level crossing to join the marina.
VIII. The Marina a small air of holidays plane on the marina which attracts tourists more and more. A greeting of quality and many services  (bar, restaurant, river lodging, rings of mooring, bicycles nautical...) are the keys of this success.  Au beginning of the century, the water level was much more significant. Called " the Range ",  l' place was very attended and allowed many activities: fish, bathe and... race of outboard motor boat during the Fifties. To cross the nautical base until let us bridge mooring and to take the small dirt track from the bottom on the line. To go straight to the stop then to cross the level crossing on the left. To take then the second on the right and to go up the street of the Leclerc Marshal. On your left is a grazing ground which was used as prison camp during the second war. A little further, you can see theSaint-Louis church. In top of the slope, a small glance behind you will make it possible to have a splendid point of view on Saint-Omer and Audomarois with in particular the cathedral Our-Lady. To take then on the right (street Jean-Jaurès) to the stop. On your left draws up a superb tower dominating the city and Audomarois. Il acts of the old water tower. To move then towards the line (which occurred P.M.France), the traverser (sur the crossing for pedestrians: prudence) and outward journey on the left right avant le railroad (street Curia) to find itself with the foot of the Elevator. IX. The Ship lift of Fontinettes Site unique in France, the Ship lift of Fontinettes was set up in 1887. Les technical used at the time were exceptional: foundations with the compressed air, freezing of the grounds... The work includes/understands two vats being able to accomodate each one a barge: to go up and the other to go down. The principle of operation of the building was all the more brilliant since it is simple. Indeed, it suffisait d' to add a little water in the vat top to reverse balance and to make cross the 13,13 meters of unevenness to the two barges. This system based on simple physical principles (communicating muds, Roberval balance de...), had the advantage of consuming only very little energy. Moreover, it was fast since it was not necessary that 22 minutes to carry out the operation. Despite everything these advantages, the ship lift quickly appeared inadapté devant the rise of the river traffic. It was thus replaced by the lock of Fontinettes, larger lock of the department. To pass under the elevator while skirting the railway. On the bridge spanning the channel,  un glance on the left will enable you to see the lock of very right Fontinettes. Continuer to the old station of Arch. The old station of Arch, which is not any more in service currently, was a junction between the lines Saint-Omer - Lumbres and Arques - Wardrecques. The traffic was fed in particular by the cement factory of Lumbres,  la paper mill of Wizernes and the Crystal manufacture of Arch. On the level of the station, to take on the right (street of the station), then with gauche (rue of Europe) and the second on the left (street of very right Normandie). Aller, to pass under the vault: the pond of Batavia is offered to vous. Le to circumvent by the line and to make the turn to the 3/4 of it. The pond of Batavia is in fact a gigantic water tank for the lock of Fontinettes. One can see his rejections there from time to time. By making the turn of the pond, you will undoubtedly have noticed a superb castle (private property): the castle of Batavia. To continue straight (path of the pond and street of Provence). Prendre to the end to go down again on the left the avenue of the General Gaulle pour to join the Large one Places and the House of tourism. You will undoubtedly have noticed the second ront-point transformed into work of art. This crystal work was installed in 1997 with the memory of Mr Jacques DURAND,  qui remained 70 years with the head of the Glassmaking Crystal manufacture of Arch.