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Beautiful cycle path along the canal, EV5.

Beautiful cycle path along the canal.

Many centuries ago, our ancestors discovered the possibility of harnessing the power of the elements—which, on the one hand, were helpful and useful, but on the other hand, as untamed forces of nature, could also be a threat—for various purposes, thus eliminating the need for human or animal muscle power. Mills such as these are a good example of the human engineering skills of earlier generations: The heavy millstones used to grind grain or press oil, for example, could be powered by wind or—as in this case—water.

The small village of Delettes includes the hamlets of Upen d'Amont, Upen d'Aval, and Westrehem. Crossed by the Lys River, it boasts a pretty sluice mill built on the banks of the river.

Aire-sur-la-Lys

The Federal Ballastières ponds are located on the Lys basin, in the territory of the commune of Aire sur la Lys. These old ballast pits, resulting from the extraction of ballast, are today at the heart of a vast natural area of approximately 109 hectares. The federal fishing zone is divided into two bodies of water. These ponds, of varying depth, are home to cyprinid fish species such as roach, bream, carp, and predators such as pike and perch.

The chapel was built in 1877 thanks to a donation from Jean-Baptiste Beaudelle, a wealthy resident of the town. He wanted to build a chapel for the hospice of Aire-sur-la-Lys, and so the Chapelle Beaudelle was born. The building is designed in a neo-Gothic style, which was a popular architectural movement at the time.

This is the former chapel (end of the 17th century) of the Collège Sainte-Marie. The facade is in Jesuit style. The rich decoration follows the Flemish tradition: ringed columns and pillars, broken pediments and curled, inverted consoles.