The Conde-Bonsecours forestA superb giant sequoia, 5m40 in circumference and over 45m high, enjoys an exceptional site in the heart of the Forêt de Bon-Secours.
Conde Sur L Escaut Balade Sur Le Chemin 770x515 1
The great Sequoia 
The large Sequoia in the Condé-Bonsecours ForestThe Château de l’Hermitage is a listed historic monument, and the place where the very first mining company in Northern France was founded. As such, it is also part of the Mining Basin World Heritage Site. While the building itself is private and not open to the public, its outbuildings attract many visitors: the château’s former park, the rows of beech trees planted by Marshal de Cröy in the 18th century, the landscape perspectives created by the long driveways, the remains of the surrounding wall…
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A number of signposted itineraries make it easy for families to explore the region, including the Château de l’Hermitage circuit and the Maréchal de Cröy interpretation trail. The GR 121 and 122 offer longer routes that play happily with the border. This is also the case for two cross-border loops, for horse riders and mountain bikers, which make a wide detour into the Belgian part of the forest.
Plan Foret De Conde Bonsecours“In search of the ideal garden”, “gardening” the forest, turning it into “a natural history cabinet” – these were the words used by the Duc de Croÿ to describe his project. The château is the center of a plant world he imagined. From the rotunda (its central room), you have a view of eight paths cut through the gardens and continuing into the forest.
The Duke wanted this garden to be organized according to the rhythm of the seasons and the different species he imported. His son Anne-Emmanuel added Anglo-Chinese-inspired perspectives and fabrications, in keeping with the fashion of the day: bridge and pond, wild island, unfinished tower, Chinese bridge…
A fine example of the variety of species imported into the forest by the Duc de Croÿ, who was experimenting with the acclimatization of plants from the ends of the earth, is the 120-year-old sequoia.
The forest, which became a state-owned forest in 1924, covers 720 hectares on both sides of the border. Two-thirds of the forest is French. The dominant tree species are pedunculate oak, beech and ash, but more exotic or original species can be found along the way, such as the purple beech created by Alexandre de Croÿ in the early 18th century.
Couple out for a stroll in the Condé-Bonsecours forest 
Anafi 1.6.8Anne is a blogger, a curious traveler, a walker, a collector of atmospheres and a lover of her great region…Les Hauts de France. She came to discover the Condé-Bonsecours forest at the invitation of the Tourist Office in July 2020. You can follow her experience on her blog Plus au Nord by reading her article À Condé-sur-l’Escaut, ce que les arbres m’ont enseignés…
You can also try your hand at the adventure: the experience of “taking a forest bath in Condé-sur-l’Escaut” is available in our guide vos 10 balades (ré)Créatives.
Anne Tomczak Blogger Plus Au Nord 
Ten Recreational Walks Tourism Valenciennes Walks Conde Sur L Escaut
Château de l'Hermitage
Large Beech 
Promenade Des Cimes
Plan Escale Bonsecours
Escale Visite ForetContinue your discovery of the forest by crossing the border without leaving the forest, thanks to the interpretation areas and fun facilities at Escale forestière in Bon-Secours. Experience the Pic’orée sensory terrain and its barefoot trail.
The Escale forestière tour lasts 2 hours. It is free and includes access to the following areas:
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