Hesdin is a commune in the Pas de Calais department in Hauts de France region. It has a beautiful town centre, with the river Canche running under the main part, and a beautiful church. Hesdin is dominated by the central square, the Place d’Armes overlooked by the 16th-17th century town hall. The contemporary Church of Notre Dame was begun in 1565 and completed in 1685. The best day to visit Hesdin is market day, Thursday, when a large range of goods can be purchased. Its main industry for certain times of the year is the production of Sugar at the dominating Sugar Beet factory. On Thursdays there is a market and in the evenings there is always music which resonates throughout the town. Some evenings there is even a free concert put on for the locals. What better way to enjoy a relaxing drink, taking in the atmosphere of the town. There is a small supermarket (Shopi) next to the post office and two large supermarkets almost next to each other just out of town.
Access
Hesdin is approximately 1 hour from Amiens airport, 70 minutes from Lille airport, and 1 hour 30 minutes from Beauvais airport. It is located just 1 hour 15 minutes from Calais ferry port.
Activities
Market day is Thursday where a good range of local produce can be purchased from the stalls in the surrounding streets. There is a lovely forest which surrounds Hesdin which offers the perfect environment for walking. If you are feeling energetic you can walk to the forest from the town (all uphill!). Fort-Mahon Plage has a great beach. If you want to find a more charming seaside town then try Le Touquet. Other activities available in the area include golf, water sports, walking, cycling, and fishing, horse riding and orienteering. Besides the beach and waterslide facility at Le Touquet there is also a waterslide and amusement park at Dennebroeucq, 20 minutes away.
Food and drink
The cuisine in this region has a mixture of French and Flemish influences. Beer is the most popular drink in the area and is often used in cooking. Many dishes also use chicory, as the north of France is the world’s leading producer. Fish and shellfish from the North Sea are very popular, especially herring, mussels and shrimps, whilst freshwater fish include trout, pike, carp and eels. Cheeses produced in the North have a strong, pungent taste and include Maroilles AOC, one of France’s oldest cheeses apparently invented by a monk in the 10th century.
The most popular drink is beer with four main types produced in the north: blonde (a light, lager type beer low in alcohol), blanche (a pale, wheat malt beer with a cloudy appearance and malty taste), brune (a dark, bitter beer made with roasted malt) and ambrée ale made with toasted malt).
Restaurants
- L’Ecurie, 17 rue Jacquemont, Hesdin 62140 Tel: 03 21 86 86
- Le Manhattan, 25 Place Armes, Hesdin 62140 Tel: 03 21 86 82 32
Our team of sale advisers at Sextant Properties will be happy to help you find a property in Hesdin. All of our agents in Pas-de-Calais are registered French real estate agents and speak fluent and English. Whatever kind of property you are looking for: flat, gite, B&B, villa, castle or mansion, we will do our best to find a property in Hesdin matching your requirements.