Haut-Lieu brings together the Gallo-Roman Chaussée Brunehaut, a series of religious buildings and geological features. The village’s history can be traced through specific dates and names: from the road between Reims and Bavay to oratories along particular routes and a discovery site in the quarry. If you are looking for a holiday rental, this village profile can help you take cultural and landscape features into account when choosing where to stay.
Roman road between Reims and Bavay
The Chaussée Brunehaut crosses Haut-Lieu and connects Reims with Bavay. At the hamlet of Godin, an embanked section of this Roman road is well preserved for more than a kilometre. The village description thus brings together two scales: the route between the cities and a specific, well-preserved section near Godin. Anyone interested in historic routes can regard Haut-Lieu as a place with a well-preserved trace of this connection.
Church, chapels and oratories
Saint-André has been the village’s own church since 1890. Several oratories can be distinguished by their location and dedication. The Oratory of Our Lady of Prosperity, dating from 1717, stands opposite the La Grande Maison farm, at the crossroads of the Chemin de Hututu and the Chemin des Ecassettes. The cylindrical Oratory of Our Lady of Bohain was built in 1737 and is located at 32 Route de Boulogne.
At Le Godin, the Oratory of Saint Peter and Saint Charles, dating from 1854, stands a little way back from the Route de Cartignies. Of the oratories in the inventory, it is the only one dedicated to Saint Charles. On the Chemin d’Hulaine, the Oratory of Our Lady of Walcourt and Our Lady of the Afflicted has an octagonal base and a skull in its inscription. Another Oratory of Our Lady of Walcourt, dating from 1755, stands near the Château de Biwetz. The Manoir de Biwetz is documented from the 13th century.
The two chapels of Our Lady of Lourdes should also be distinguished. The chapel dating from 1890 has a two-leaf wrought-iron gate; each closed panel is decorated with a crucifix. Another chapel of the same name was added to the wall of a house on the Route d’Avesnes in 1923. The year 1890 therefore applies both to the village’s own church, Saint-André, and to a chapel: two different buildings, distinguished by their dedication, date and location.
Geological and archaeological traces
The quarry offers a different perspective on Haut-Lieu. The “Devonian / Carboniferous Boundary” geological site covers 119 hectares and is included in the national stratigraphy. The quarry is associated with hard Visean limestone. An access track to the north of a second quarry offers geological exposures. In 1854, a Merovingian cemetery was also discovered during quarrying in Haut-Lieu. The site represents the geological classification of the area, while the discovery of the cemetery forms a separate archaeological aspect of the village’s history. If you wish to see the exposures, check access arrangements in advance.
A seasonal spirulina programme
The programme for the 2026 open day at Spiruline du Haut-Lieu included tastings of spirulina flakes and tablets, as well as fresh spirulina on toast with fruit juice. The production process was also explained, from the cultivation tanks through harvesting and drying to packaging. The programme combined insights into production with specific tastings. If you are planning to attend a future tasting, check the announced dates again.
Discover more destinations: Vicq, Maubeuge, Villeneuve-D'ascq, Lannoy, Prouvy, Jolimetz, Douchy-Les-Mines, Grande-Synthe
For the broader travel overview: Nord.
