Follow the Lumbres – Remilly – Verquin – EN green route

The second life of a railway

The Calais – Anvin line has been in service since 1882 as a passenger railway line, but has not been used since 1955.

On the Lumbres – Remilly-Wirquin section, it has now been transformed into a soft link, a 5.5 km walk in the heart of nature. The track is now surfaced, but the 2 rail wires are still visible, a reminder of the past. Just like the Pays de Lumbres, taking this route is like strolling through the countryside, passing through the villages of the Vallée de l’Aa and taking the time to recharge your batteries.

Behind the scenes of the Chemin de Fer Touristique de la Vallée de l'Aa

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Rails of the tourist railway of the Aa valley
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Tourisme en Pays de Saint-Omer

Meet history

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

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Immerse yourself in nature

The soft link can be used on foot, by bike or on horseback. From Lumbres, the first footbridge takes you across the Aa, a small river that rises not far from there in Bourthes.

The route then takes you past the villages of Elnes and Wavrans-sur-l’Aa. Here 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 footpaths have been laid out here. Take a diversion and climb Mont d’Elnes for a lovely view of the surrounding villages and the Pays de Lumbres. It’s not unusual to come across a flock of sheep on these paths.

As you cross these hillsides, you’ll come across the remains of a railway platform that enabled wagons to cross the Aa to reach a mill on the other bank.

Continue your walk to the terminus of the line! Welcome to Remilly-Wirquin station. The building is typical of the railway architecture of the time, and the station has now been converted into the town hall.