Aire-sur-la-Lys travel guide
Visit Aire-sur-la-Lys (Hauts-de-France, France)
Photo Gallery Book a visitAire-sur-la-Lys is a town in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, to the south-east of Saint-Omer and east of Boulogne-sur-Mer. The town is officially listed among the 100 'most beautiful detours' in France.
Explore Aire-sur-la-Lys
Start your visit at Aire-sur-la-Lys tourist office, situated in the main square in the town (la Grand Place). The Grand Place is unusual in France for being triangular rather than square or rectangular.
In order to provide some unity to the square, in 1722 the town magistrate restricted the size of the square and demanded that facades be adorned with decorative pilasters. Look out for these attractive features as you wander round.
As is often the case in France, the tourist office in Aire-sur-la-Lys is housed in the most attractive building - the 'bailliage'. While you are here ask for a plan of Aire-sur-la-Lys, because there are a good number of interesting sights to be seen in the town.
The bailliage is a remarkable building built of brick and stone in 1600. The ornately decorated renaissance style building has arcades around the ground floor, separated by narrow columns, ornate stone surrounds to the windows, and decorative friezes running around the outside. Many of the friezes were inspired by the Italian Renaissance.
The bailliage was originally built as a guard house for the militia of Aire-sur-la-Lys and also served as the bailiffs court - hence the name.
Dominating the Grand Place is the Town Hall of Aire-sur-la-Lys, dating from the early 18th century. You will notice the attractive facade in the neo-classical style with numerous pilasters (embedded columns used for decorative rather than structural purposes) and a balustrade with many interesting carvings.
Behind the town hall you can see the belfry, 45 metres tall and historically a clocktower and watchtower. It was built in 1715 (as part of a rebuilding of the Town Hall) on the site of an earlier tower that had been destroyed by the wars that ravaged the region in the early 18th century.
The belfry is listed as one of more than 50 across northern France and Belgium that have together been listed by UNESCO as a site of world heritage.
The other key building in the town is the Collegiale Church of Saint Peter, much damaged and rebuilt (to the original design) over the 400 years since its construction.
This chuch is a large building in the gothic-flamboyant style and most notable for the square tower and the interior with its columns lining the nave, a 17th century organ, and various other statues and decorative highlights in several of the chapels.
Also in the centre of Aire-sur-la-Lys you can see the ornate baroque style Jesuit Chapel of Saint-Jacques, the chapel to the Jesuit College.
The Jesuits were dedicated to education and set up colleges in Douai, Cambrai, Saint-Omer and Aire-sur-la-Lys. The Jesuit order was suppressed in 1761 and the chapel in Aire-sur-la-Lys was taken over by the town. For a while the army stored explosives and animal fodder in the chapel. Eventually it was reinstated as a church.
The tiny rivers of Lys and Lacquette both run through the town and offer attractive views including that of the moulin on Rue du Fresne. On the river you will find the unusual tall and narrow Beaudelle chapel which is the main part remaining of the 19th century Beaudelle Hospice.
Various water-based events happen throughout the year including the Festival of the Lys on the first Sunday of July which has musical and sports events.
Attractions nearby
The town of Saint-Omer is also worth a visit, and although it is about 50 kilometres east of Aire-sur-la-Lys we also recommend you visit Lille when you are in this region.
Explore elsewhere in the North East France. You can find more travel ideas in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais guide.
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Map of Aire-sur-la-Lys and places nearby
Visit near Aire-sur-la-Lys with France This Way reviews
Saint-Omer
The attractive centre of Saint-Omr is one of the best towns to see houses built in the Flemish style typical of the region
Saint-Omer guide
Cassel
The town of Cassel is built on the highest hill in the Flanders region and has extensive views
Cassel guide
Esquelbecq
At Esquelbec you can admire the Flemand style town centre with its Chateau and church, and visit an important war cemetery
Esquelbecq guide
Les Jardins de Sericourt
Beautiful garden to visit in the village of Sericourt.
Les Jardins de Sericourt guide
Gravelines
The principal attraction at Gravelines is the fortifications, built by the Spanish in the 16th century and reinforced by Vauban in the 17th century
Gravelines guide
The Jardin des Lianes
The Jardin des Lianes is one of our favourite gardens in this region of France
The Jardin des Lianes guideAddress: Aire-sur-la-Lys, Saint-Omer, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, 62120, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 50.639444, longitude 2.3975
Plan your visit to Aire-sur-la-Lys, Pas-de-Calais
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Beffroi d'Aire-sur-la-Lys (Belfries of Belgium and France): heritage site
- Saint-Omer: town of art and history (15 km)
- Réserve naturelle nationale des étangs du Romelaëre: site of natural beauty (18 km)
- Réserve naturelle nationale des grottes et des pelouses d'Acquin-Westbécourt et des coteaux de Wavrans-sur-l'Aa: site of natural beauty (19 km)
- La ferme du mont des Récollets: remarkable garden (19 km)
- Beffroi de Béthune (Belfries of Belgium and France): heritage site (21 km)
- Beffroi de Bailleul (Belfries of Belgium and France): heritage site (26 km)
- Les Prés du Hem: site of natural beauty (34 km)
- Beffroi d'Armentières (Belfries of Belgium and France): heritage site (35 km)
- Caps et Marais d'Opale: regional natural parc (36 km)
- Beffroi de Bergues (Belfries of Belgium and France): heritage site (37 km)
- Bergues: recommended detour (37 km)
Market days in Aire-sur-la-Lys, France
Regular market(s) are held in Aire-sur-la-Lys each Friday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)
The French version of this page is at Aire-sur-la-Lys (Francais)