introduction

Apart from a short guide available at the Office de Tourisme, there appears to be nothing much in English that more thoroughly informs the interested visitor about this rather special little town’s history and in particular, of its buildings and monuments. This website is a modest attempt at remedying that absence and while we have tried as best possible to ensure that everything here is correct, where error occurs it is undoubtedly Adrian’s.

Our knowledge and its translation here has, of course, not come from nowhere and so what you may be intending to read has been informed by a variety of sources, acknowledged at the end of this page. However, all the opinions and commentary are the sole responsibility of Adrian, as is the overwhelming majority of the photographs.

Our hope is that you will enjoy what this website offers and for those of you unfamiliar with Bergues, that it might persuade you to visit the town and in so doing take another look at this part of France, so often just driven through on the way to supposedly more interesting (but indisputably warmer!) parts of this wonderful country.

This website comprises three pages and was first published in August 2021:
1. ‘A Little History’ which tells something of the town from earliest days to current times;
2. ‘The Town Walk’ where we take a look at the town’s built heritage within the perimeter fortifications;
3. ‘The Fortifications Walk’ where we go on a long walk around the town’s defensive walls.

Directly below, you’ll find a plan and directions to arrive at the starting point of both walks, whether you’re coming by car, bus or train. Both walks include a step-by-step series of detail plans which will guide you along the walks, from start to finish. And everything may be seen by bicycle too.

Please do feel free to contact us with any comment, especially if it adds to our knowledge. Apart from English, Elisabeth speaks French, German, Dutch, Spanish and Italian so don’t be shy!

Adrian & Elisabeth