Serques is a friendly village of 1200 inhabitants largely occupied by the Audomarois marsh. Indeed, it represents 42% of the area of the town, or 442 hectares! It should be noted that in addition to the small canals and watergangs, the Serques marsh is crossed by two major rivers: the Muissens and the Grand Large.
In the Serques marsh, walkers can see a landscape more marked by livestock rather than market gardening. We also find isolated houses accessible only by boat. The latter are served, in terms of mail, by the last postman by boat in France.
Among the points of interest, we can mention its church, the gentle Lansbergue hiking trail, the rivers and shores suitable for vacationing... The town also includes “a restaurant at the foot of the church as well as a campsite.
The church of Serques
The presence of a priest officiating at the church of Serques goes back to 1187. The Saint-Omer church of Serques therefore has origins in the XNUMXth century, or even well before!
Today, the church of Serques takes the form of a Latin cross. Rather low (its bell tower only rises to about fifteen meters, it has only one nave. Nevertheless, the dimensions of the transept suggest the presence of three naves in the past, which is the most common with regard to the religious buildings in our regions In the Middle Ages, Flanders and the neighboring towns had churches with three equal naves called hallekerques.
Inside, the signs of the past of the church of Serques can be revealed… And dated. Some engravings indeed indicate that many elements were made in the 1813th century. Certain pieces of furniture are also remarkable: the master hotel dating from the XNUMXth century, the statue of the Virgin and the child Jesus from the XNUMXth century, the pulpit from the XNUMXth century... The only bell of the church, for its part, was melted down by the Drouot company in XNUMX. It was baptized Jeanne Thérèse in homage to her godmother, Jeanne Thérèse Réant.
The Mill of Serques
The town also has a mill installed on private property. Unfortunately, the latter has suffered the ravages of time and is now in ruins. This yellow brick mill ceased to operate in 1951, but no longer had wings following their fall in 1905. It was electricity that allowed the grain to be ground.
The Lansbergue trail
From Serques to Tilques stretches a pleasant and bucolic path along the water's edge: the Lansbergue trail. Designed to accommodate strollers and wheelchairs, this path is ideal for family outings. In this small piece of holiday marsh, you can meet summer visitors, fishermen... To the delight of children, we also note the presence of cows and donkeys grazing peacefully in the pastures at the edge of the water.
To find out more about this little hiking trail, we have produced an article specific to the Lansbergue trail.
Around the Village
Located in the heart of the Audomarois marshes, the village is surrounded by several villages, namely: Houlle, Moulle, Watten, St Momelin, Tilques and Moringhem.
Campsite in Serques
Serques has two campsites:
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- Le domaine des elms: located at 55 route de Watten. 2-star leisure campsite. Tel: 03 21 93 11 71. Site of the field of elms: domainedesormes.fr
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- The Frémont campsite: located at 7 Watten departmental road, the Frémont campsite has the 2-star leisure label. Tel: 03 21 39 86 55
Restaurants at Serques
Where to eat in the Serques marsh? The village includes a restaurant located at 1, rue de la Mairie: Chez les Tontons. A popular restaurant in the marshes, distinguished by its family atmosphere and traditional cuisine. Tel: 0 3 61 23 93 37
All the answers to your questions about Serques and its marsh
Serques, a town located in Audomarois in the heart of its large marsh, offers several interesting heritage elements to discover:
- The church of Serques, an important historical monument of the village.
- The Moulin de Serques (Moulin Davion), a testimony to the local industrial heritage. (private property). The Davion mill, dating from 1775, operated until 1951. Today, only the tower remains without a roof.
- The Lansbergue trail, a developed trail of approximately 6 km allowing you to explore the natural heritage of the Serques marsh. Note that this marsh constitutes a Natural Zone of Ecological, Faunistic and Floristic Interest (ZNIEFF) type 1.
The church of Serques has an ancient history, dating back almost a millennium:
The church seems in fact to have existed very early in the history of the village, probably before 1187, the date on which the first known priest of the parish is mentioned.
In terms of structure and architecture, the present church has the shape of a Latin cross with a single nave. Dates engraved on the walls allow us to date certain parts: 1756 on the south transept, 1731 on the lintel of the sacristy window, and 1851 on the exterior wall of the nave.
History of the church of Serques in a few key dates:
In 1597, during the war between France and Spain, the church was attacked and looted by French soldiers while the inhabitants had taken refuge there.
In 1660 the church tower collapsed.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the clergy and the nobility fought for the recognition of their respective rights linked to the bell tower of Serques.
The church was sold during the French Revolution, along with the land on which it was built.
Until the 1970s, large processions took place, particularly for Corpus Christi in June.
His heritage:
The church houses a bell named Jeanne-Thérèse, listed as a historic monument, cast in 1813 by the Drouot family.
Inside there are listed features including the 17th century High Altar and a 16th century oak sculpture of the 'Virgin and Child Jesus'.
The history of the commune of Serques goes back several centuries:
Medieval period:
The first mention of the name of the locality dates back to 1129, in the form "Segeka". In 1170, Arnould, lord of Serques, donated half of the village to the abbey of Licques by becoming a monk in this monastery.
Modern period:
In 1705, Guillaume Marcotte, merchant and alderman in Saint-Omer, became lord of Serques and other fiefs in the region.
The municipality joined the Pays de Saint-Omer urban community (CAPSO) on January 1, 2017.
It should be noted that a significant portion of the municipal territory (42% or 442 ha) is occupied by the Audomarois marsh, mainly used for livestock farming.
Here are some options for eating and drinking in Serques, Pas-de-Calais:
L'Angélus: This establishment offers local dishes à la carte and grilled meats cooked over a wood fire.
The Domaine les Ormes campsite bar: Located in Serques, this approximately 60m² bar offers a welcoming space where everyone is welcome. It serves a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Themed evenings, such as card tournaments, are organized. A foosball table and a pool table are also available.
Lilipizz Vending Machine Serques: for your takeaway pizza cravings
Salad'bar – a food truck-based chip shop located on the main road for your quick meals.
Here are some accommodation options in and around Serques:
Domaine les Ormes Campsite: Located in the heart of the Audomarois marshlands, this campsite offers tent pitches, mobile home rentals, an indoor heated swimming pool, a bar, and entertainment. It is open from April 1st to mid-October. The campsite has 83 pitches, some of which are available for year-round mobile home rentals.
Camping Le Frémont: Also located in Serques, this campsite offers pitches and mobile homes connected to mains drainage, with drinking water and electricity. It provides services such as a snack bar, an outdoor swimming pool, a children's playground, and accepts pets. It is open from April 1st to October 15th.
Serques also has gîtes and guest rooms:
In the Heart of the Marsh : This unique cottage features a private spa and is located in Serques, in the heart of the Audomarois marshland, just minutes from Saint-Omer. This cottage can accommodate up to 4 people and has one bedroom.
Marie Grouette's gîte is located 1,7 km from the centre of Serques.
Other accommodation options near Serques:
La Fermette de Marie Grouette , located 2 km from the centre of Serques, in the Ecou marsh. This bed and breakfast offers a peaceful setting with greenery and activities such as pedal boat rides.
Najeti Hotel Chateau Tilques Located 2,2 km from the centre of Serques, this hotel offers a romantic setting in a castle with an indoor pool.
Camping le Grand Large: Located 3,2 km from Serques, this campsite offers mobile homes among other accommodations.
To get to Serques by bus, you can use the following services:
Mouvéo TAD : This on-demand transport service serves Serques. It is designed for residents of rural areas without regular urban bus routes. The service operates Monday to Saturday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Reservations can be made by phone at 06 80 79 01 20, Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and must be made in advance. Visit the Mouvéo website for more information or the Serques town hall website!
