All the answers to your questions about the village of Nieurlet
The name Nieurlet, derived from the Flemish "Nieuwerleet" meaning "new ditch" or "canal", bears witness to its ancient origins and the importance of water in the structuring of the territory. The place called Niewerlede appears in the archives as early as 1127, thus marking the beginning of a rich history, closely linked to Flemish culture and the Audomarois marsh.
As early as 1149, Arnould IV of Ardres and his wife Adeline granted the abbey of Clairmarais the tithe of the lands dependent on their farm of Nieuwerlede, acquired from Elbodon of Nothoth. This gesture, which illustrates the close links between the local nobility and religious institutions, helped to establish the influence of this territory in the region.
In the 1551th century, Nieurlet found itself at the heart of political and military rivalries. In 1557, Claude d'Hallwin, Lord of Bambecque and Lord of Nieurlet, assumed the role of "Captain of the City of Dunkirk" in the service of Spain, then the powerful holder of the region. He lived in a castle in West-Cappel and was forced to return to his post when, in XNUMX, France seized Calais, until then under English domination, and an epidemic of plague, imported by a Spanish fleet, raged in Dunkirk.
The 1910th century marked an important stage in the identity of Nieurlet. Around 4, a railway line linking Herzeele to Saint-Momelin passed through the village, thus promoting its dynamism. Established as an independent commune on March 1928, XNUMX, Nieurlet, previously a hamlet of the commune of Lederzeele, became one of the youngest communes in France.
Today, located in the Flemish sector of the Audomarois marsh, Nieurlet is distinguished by its Booneghem ponds, recently classified and integrated into the Regional Natural Park of the Caps and Marais d'Opale. The village is also renowned for its marsh, the last marsh still cultivated in France, symbolizing the unique alliance between natural heritage and local history.
The built heritage and historical monuments of Nieurlet include:
The Church of the Immaculate Conception : built in 1885, it replaced an old 8th century church. It has Comtoise bells cast on August 1893, XNUMX by P. Drouot in Douai.
The war memorial : located in the commune, it commemorates the victims of wars.
The remains of the old tile factory : these remains bear witness to the past industrial activity of the commune, linked to the clayey nature of its subsoil.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Nieurlet, open for worship since 1885, replaced a XNUMXth century church, which was destroyed due to its dilapidated state.
The current church building was built on fairly unstable ground, which has led to several challenges to its stability over time. The church, although relatively recent, is distinguished by its two bells, cast by P. Drouot on 8 August 1893. The first bell, named "Gabrielle-Marie", measures approximately 90 cm in diameter and rings in A, while the second bell, smaller (55 cm), rings in F. These bells mark the emblematic sound aspect of the village, while the church remains a central place for the local community.
In Nieurlet itself, a restaurant allows you to enjoy local specialties:
- The Booneghem Inn: located at 114 Route de Booneghem, 59143 Nieurlet. Telephone: +33 3 21 88 28 50. This estaminet offers traditional French cuisine. Reservations are recommended
Other options are possible nearby in the Audomarois marsh and the Clairmarais marsh:
- Restaurant Estaminet La Baguernette by ISNOR (nearby, in Clairmarais) – Address: 3 Rue du Marais, 62500 Clairmarais – Telephone: +33 3 21 39 33 92. This restaurant offers French and regional cuisine.
- The Boat Builders and their waterside tavern “Les Piquinettes”. Located on the Clairmarais road in Saint-Omer. Outdoor but covered tavern. Specialties: chicken with maroilles cheese and fries, carbonnade, potje, market garden salads – 43 route de Clairmarais 62500 Saint-Omer – 06.08.09.94.88.
Here are some ideas for walks and hikes in Nieurlet and its surroundings:
- Booneghem Circuit – Distance: 8,6 km to 9,6 km – Duration: Approximately 2h30 to 3h. Starting point: Nieurlet Church. This walk has the particularity of passing through the Romelaere marsh, the Booneghem wetlands and the market garden fields. A stop at the “nature barn” in Clairmarais is recommended
- National Nature Reserve of the Romelaëre ponds : Former peat extraction site, offering a landscape of ponds and rivers. 2,5 km of developed paths are planned for walking and observing wildlife.
- Clairmarais Forest: Possibility of hiking in the forest
To visit the Nieurlet marsh, you have several options:
Boat trips
The Nieurlet pier, the Brouckailler, closed its doors in 2023.
Near Nieurlet, you have two options for visiting the marsh by bacôve or renting a boat:
- O'Marais by Isnor: located in Clairmarais
- The Boat Builders – Little extra: discovery of the last shipyard in the area offered with the guided tour in bacôve.
Hiking
- Booneghem Circuit : An 8,6 km hike (about 3 hours) starting from the church of Nieurlet. This family circuit allows you to discover the fauna, flora and market gardening production of the marsh.
- National Nature Reserve of the Romelaëre ponds : A former peat extraction site offering a landscape of ponds and rivers.
To go to Nieurlet by bus, you have the following options:
- Line 923 of the Arc en Ciel network serves Nieurlet. It stops at: "Nieurlet – Place de l'Eglise", "Nieurlet – Cité Tuilerie", "Nieurlet – Chapelle". Bus 923 connects Nieurlet to Saint-Omer in 19 minutes. It runs 3 times a day.
- From November 6, 2024, the Community of Communes of Hauts de Flandre (CCHF) has also set up an on-demand transport service to facilitate travel in the region.
It is recommended to check the exact timetables and stops on the official transport website for the Hauts-de-France region or by contacting customer service directly, as information may change.
