Located less than 10 kilometers from Saint-Omer, the village of Moulle occupies 47 hectares of the Audomarois marsh. It contains the source of the Houlle river, although the location is also claimed by Houlle, the neighboring village. Indeed, the source of this tributary of the Aa begins in a field located at the limit of the two borders!
What a funny name !
The village of Moulle has a very curious name. This has nothing to do with the Bouchot mussel or with the anodont, the freshwater mussel living in the depths of the Audomarois marsh. Its toponymy would indeed come from the term "meulen" meaning "mill" in Flemish.
The church of Moulle
In terms of heritage, the village has a church dating from 1840 dedicated to Saint-Nicolas. The latter is decorated with stained glass made by a master glassmaker from Amiens. However, its origins are much older. In 1346, the church of Moulle, then fortified, was able to resist the English siege.
The ruins of the castle
The Moulle campsite lets you discover the remains of an old castle. It was formerly the seigniorial castle called “du Vert Manoir”. Past testimonies tell us that it had 52 doors and 365 windows, in relation to the number of weeks and days in the calendar. After being transformed into an English military hospital during the Great War, the castle was demolished in 1920.
A river in the wrong direction
La Houlle emerging between the village of Houlle and Moulle, has the particularity of having a current rising upstream. The reason is simple: the village of Moulle conceals a large pumping station bringing water to the agglomeration of Dunkirk, which causes this phenomenon. The catchment field located in the village has a chalky layer in its basement producing 17 million m3 pumped each year!
Around the village
Located in the heart of the Audomarois marshes and eight kilometers from Saint-Omer, Houlle is bordered by three bordering villages: Serques, Moringhem and Houlle.
Camping in Moulle
2 campsites are located in the village of Moulle on the edge of the Audomarois marsh:
- The Poplars (11 Rue des Silos)
- The rose garden (4 Rue des Silos)
All the answers to your questions about the village of Moulle
The history of the commune of Moulle goes back several centuries:
Medieval origins
The first mention of Moulle dates back to 1087 under the name of "Monela" in the charters of Saint-Bertin. The name of the village then evolved over the centuries: Monella (1119), Munela, to finally become Moulle. The origin of the name comes from the Flemish "meulen" meaning "mill".
The first charters attest to donations and transfers of land to the Church. Over the centuries, Moulle developed under the influence of local lordships and ecclesiastical institutions.
In the 52th century, the seigneurial castle, known as "du Vert Manoir", helped to forge the identity of the village. According to tradition, this castle had 365 doors and XNUMX windows, symbolically recalling the passage of time and the cycles of the year.
During the wars, particularly during the First World War, Moulle underwent transformations and was rebuilt while preserving its rich architectural and cultural heritage. Today, the village harmoniously blends tradition and modernity, offering a peaceful and authentic living environment.
The municipality covers 539 hectares.
Moulle's built heritage includes several remarkable elements:
Saint-Nicolas Church : Built between 1840 and 1842 on the site of a previous building. It has an organ made by Arnold Heidenreich, donated by the owner of the Château de Moulle.
The war memorial : Topped with a war cross.
A plaque commemorating the dead of the Crimean War and 1870.
Lost heritage : Moulle Castle. Located on the site of the current campsite, it was used as an English military hospital during the First World War, then demolished in 1920. The chronicles report that this castle called "Vert Manoir" had 52 doors and 365 windows, recalling the subdivisions of the year.
The Saint-Nicolas church in Moulle has a history dating back to the 19th century:
The current church was built between 1840 and 1842 on the site of a previous building.
It therefore replaces an old church, of which we have no details on the date of construction or the appearance. The church has an organ made by Arnold Heidenreich, which was donated by the owner of the Château de Moulle.
Several options for walks and hikes are available in Moulle and its surroundings:
Le Lansbergue in Tilques: An easy walk of 5,88 km with an elevation gain of +7 m, lasting approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. This route takes you to the heart of the Audomarois marsh.
Other hiking ideas around Moulle are available on Video hiking
To visit the Moulle marsh, which is part of the Audomarois marsh, you have several options:
Boat ride
Several companies offer guided boat tours in the Moulle area:
The Boat Builders in Saint-Omer (9km away) offer free or guided walks all year round, visits to the last shipyard in the marsh as well as meals by the water.
Welcome in Salperwick (3km) offers guided tours of the Audomarois marsh and boat hire.
In the dream corner : boat and canoe hire in Salperwick.
The Audobarquoise : guided tours by small boat in Saint-Martin lez Tatinghem.
The House of the Marais located in Saint-Martin les Tatinghem (7km): interpretation center and guided tours.
Hiking : The marsh offers several hiking trails, some of which are accessible to people with reduced mobility, such as the Lansberg trail in Tilques.
Moulle offers several accommodation options for travelers:
Camping: Camping Le Vert Manoir. It has 112 pitches and offers caravan and mobile home rentals. The campsite offers entertainment, Wi-Fi access, a children's playground and accepts dogs.
Gîtes: The Gîte de Langlebert is a spacious gîte that can accommodate 8 people, located a few kilometers from Saint-Omer and its marshes. The gîte de la Héronnière, located in Houlle, a stone's throw from Moulle.
Motorhome area: The Vert Manoir Campsite has a parking area for camper vans.
Other options nearby:
The Marais Rooms: A bed & breakfast located in an old farm in Tilques, approximately 5 km from Moulle.
Tilques Castle: An elegant hotel with indoor swimming pool and tennis court, also located in Tilques.
Here are some options for eating and drinking in Moulle:
The Getaway: A café-brasserie offering traditional cuisine.
To go to Moulle by bus, you can use the following service:
Mouvéo TAD (Transport on Demand): This service allows you to reach one of the Mouvéo network's feeder points. Reservations must be made in advance at 0 800 510 232. The service operates every day from 7 a.m. to 19 p.m., except Sundays and public holidays25.
