Licques

We found out about the village of Licques when we visited the tourist office in Ardres They told us about the river Hem valley and recommend several villages to visit.

Although we stay in the area a couple of times a year in the nearby town of Marquise. We did not know about this lovely valley 10 miles down the road.

Our visit was in December on a cold Winter morning.Licques has several shops two large quality furniture shops and cafe bars.Most important of all it has 3 bread shops.Which is good for a smallish village in a rural setting.

The History of Licques

Licques is a small village located in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It dates back to the 11th century when it was first mentioned in a charter of 1046. The village was part of the lordship of Licques until the French Revolution. In the 16th century, it was known as a prosperous agricultural village, and it maintained its rural character throughout the centuries.

Places to See in Licques and Nearby Licques has several attractions and places of interest for visitors to explore. The main attraction is the Church of Saint-Eutrope, which dates back to the 12th century and is classified as a historical monument. The village also has a 12th century castle, the Château de Licques, which is now a private residence. Other attractions in the village include the 16th century town hall and the ancient Roman ruins.

Nearby, visitors can explore the nearby town of Calais, which is home to the impressive Calais Lighthouse, as well as a variety of museums, galleries, and shops. There are also several beautiful beaches in the area, including the popular Wissant Beach.

Turkey Walk at Christmas

One of the most popular events in Licques is the traditional turkey walk at Christmas. Every year, the village holds a procession of people dressed as turkeys who march through the town center. The procession is accompanied by a brass band and is led by a person dressed as a rooster. The procession is a tradition that dates back to the 19th century and is a great way to celebrate the festive season in Licques.

A Licques cafe and one of the furniture shops

The local petrol station you fill up and then pay at the bar

Google street map

shows the village centre



Places to stay in the village we usually spend a couple of hours a year in Licques in December.This year we found a location in the middle of the village to stay for a week in June.The house has 6 bedrooms on 3 floors and was an old coaching Inn.We normally stay just outside a village or town so it was nice to be able to walk across the road to the bread shop.The Monday morning market adds a bit of colour for a few hours.We also visited one of the local Bars which was also a restaurant and petrol station and parcel drop off and pick up point.

Inside the house front lounge and hallway