The greenway Lumbres - Remilly-Wirquin

When the trains of yesteryear give way to hikers, runners, mountain bikers and riders, discover the gentle link Lumbres - Remilly-Wirquin in the heart of the Aa valley, an old converted railway line.

The second life of a railway

Established in 1882 for passenger transport, the CalaisAnvin line has not been in use since 1955.

On the Lumbres - Remilly-Wirquin section, it has now been transformed into a gentle link or greenway, with 5.5 km of walks in the heart of nature. The track is now covered with a coating, the 2 rail wires are still visible, as witnesses of the past. Like the Pays de Lumbres, taking this route means strolling in the middle of nature, crossing the villages of the Aa Valley, recharging your batteries for a walk.

Rub shoulders with history

The journey begins in Lumbres, the old railway splits into two portions: one is the gentle link, the other is still in operation and is used by the local tourist railway association, the association du Chemin de Fer Touristique de la Vallée de l’Aa (CFTVA). This section of the track continues on to Arques where the association runs historic trains. The perfect opportunity to admire the largest steam engine still in operation north of Paris! See a 1943 locomotive pulling a passenger train from the 1930s, these trips are a real immersion in history.

Immerse yourself in nature

The gentle link can be taken on foot, by bike or on horseback. From Lumbres, a rst footbridge takes you across the Aa, a small river which has its source not far from there, in Bourthes.

The path then takes you past the villages of Elnes and then Wavrans-sur-l’Aa. Now you are in the heart of the nature reserve of the caves and lawns of Acquin-West-Bécourt and the hillsides of Wavrans-sur-l’Aa. A park and paths are laid out there. Allow yourself a short detour with the ascent of Mont d’Elnes and enjoy a lovely view of the surrounding villages and the Pays de Lumbres. While walking along these paths, it is not uncommon to come across a herd of sheep.

Crossing these hills, you will discover the remains of a platform that allowed train carriages to cross the Aa to reach a mill on the other bank.

Continue the walk to the end of the line! Welcome to Remilly-Wirquin station, the building is typically recognisable from the railway architecture of the time and the station has now been transformed into the town hall.

In the Pays de Lumbres, sport is life-sized!

900 km of trails to get away from it all! 19 hiking routes, 13 mountain biking routes and 5 Nordic walking routes. Information and itineraries to be found on the Lumbres

Tourist Of ce website: www.pays-de-lumbres.com