Conques, Gordes, Cassis, Riquewihr or Balazuc are just some of the towns that are usually labeled among the most beautiful in France. But the truth is that in a country with more than 35,000 municipalities, determining which is the most beautiful is clearly somewhat risky. For this reason, for twelve years, a program on public television has questioned the French about it with great success.
At the beginning of the summer, The French Favorite Town, broadcast by the France 3 channel, brings together millions of viewers in front of the television to announce the name of the winning town. For weeks, Internet users have voted for their favorite among fourteen small towns with outstanding history and heritage. And the one chosen in 2023 has been Esquelbecq, a tiny town in the Nord and Pas de Calais region.
Esquelbecq, which takes over from Bergheim -in the Great East- is in all probability a total unknown to the vast majority of Spanish tourists. Located in the heart of French Flanders, next to the Belgian border and about thirty kilometers from Dunkirk, this town of just over two thousand inhabitants seduces with its heritage, its dynamism and an intense cultural life. With a markedly Flemish character - a small part of the population in the area still preserves the language - it is recognized with the Heritage Village seal (heritage village).
The town is crossed by the Yeser, a river that from Roman times until the Middle Ages was a commercial navigation route, and dotted with hundred-year-old oaks. The beauty and tranquility that it exudes today makes it difficult to imagine the harshness experienced by the German occupation during World War II with a terrible battle. Today, a monument built in memory of the seventy British soldiers murdered on May 28, 1940 by order of the Waffen SS in the Plaine au Bois and the barn where the massacre took place are testimonies to the crimes that occurred.
One of the main attractions of Esquelbecq is its castle, an impressive feudal-looking construction whose origins date back to the 9th century. Declared a historical monument, it has the shape of a large quadrilateral flanked by eight towers surrounded by moats, which is accessed via two bridges. Its gardens, recently restored, are an exceptional example of Flemish Renaissance gardens, which today are practically non-existent. The interior of the fortress can be visited with prior reservation, while the gardens, orchards and park -in total around seven hectares- are open to the public from April to October, from Saturday to Sunday.
In addition to the castle, the Grand Place, the castle inn and different chapels and churches, such as Saint Folquin, dating from the 10th century, deserve special attention. Its bell tower, a true marvel, houses a carillon with 23 bells that every quarter hour they offer typical melodies of the region. It is worth climbing the 75 steps, since from the top the panoramic views of the town and the Yser plain are enviable.
However, not all the good feelings in Esquelbecq end with a visit to its historic buildings. And it is that the town is a Village du Livre, a book village -the first north of Paris-, in which, in addition to having five bookstores, it is a meeting place for all lovers of books, writing and the art.
Activities around printed paper are scheduled throughout the year; literary cafés, writing workshops, storytelling, fairs, readings, conferences, animations, markets -they are organized on the third Sunday from October to May-, printers' meetings... One more reason among many others to get to know the favorite town of the French of 2023.
