Located in the Nord department in the Pas de Calais department (Hauts de France region), Watten is a commune which is surrounded by the rivers Aa and Colme, the former being part of the canal routes linking Calais, Dunkerque and Belgium. In the centre is the Church of Saint Gilles, built in 1236, which stands out as the key monument of the commune with its unique architecture. The hill next to the commune, dubbed “The Guardian Angel”, has an abbey which was erected upon it in the 17th century by Jesuits from Great Britain. Also, the windmill at the hill’s summit and its partly remaining citadel dates back to 1731 and has in recent years been largely restored. There are numerous shops and small businesses including cafes, restaurants and more functional ones such as banks, a post office and pharmacies. Transport from Watten comprises a station with trains departing hourly towards Boulogne, Calais, Dunkerque and Lille. It is situated 55 minutes from the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer which has low cost ferries to Dover in the UK.
Access
There is a train station in Watten, with trains departing hourly towards Boulogne, Calais, Dunkerque and Lille. It is situated just 55 minutes from the ferry port at Boulogne sur mer which serves low cost ferries to Dover. The Eurostar/ shuttle station at Calais is only 50 minutes away.
Activities
There is a market which was established in 1428 which still takes place today every Friday morning in the centre of the town. Activities such as archery and cycling are popular in the area. There are also many walks and paths through stunning forests and scenery including the “Bois Royal”, named after King Louis XIV who once walked through it. Entertainments include the festival of Pentecost, celebrated annually at the beginning of June. There are numerous shops to browse and lots of restaurants serving local specialities in the town.
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, blanche, brune and ambree.
Restaurants
- Au Relais des Pecheurs, 13 Rue de la Gare 59143 Tel: 03 21 88 10 11
- L’Auberge Flamande, 2 Grand Place 59143 Tel: 03 21 88 56 16
Our team of sale advisers at Sextant Properties will be happy to help you find a property in Watten. 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 Watten matching your requirements.