Try Maroilles with an aperitif, in a main dish or from a cheeseboard, or head to La Capelle’s Saveurs et Terroir grocery for cheese tart as well as rhubarb jam and other regional goodies.  In addition to Maroilles, local restaurants make good use of local cider. Buy some of the best direct from source at Clos de la Fontaine, along with apple juice, apple jelly and cider vinegar.

War and Peace

The Thiérache is known for its 60-plus fortified churches with watchtowers, machicolations, bartizans and arrow slits – refuges for the population and their livestock during wars. Among the most impressive is Parfondeval, near the Clos de la Fontaine.

A stylish spot for a tranquil night’s sleep, the Château de Clermont-les-Fermes B&B is run by a painter who uses natural products including soil from her garden. She’s also an artist in the kitchen, cooking up tarte aux Maroilles and other local dishes.

Practical Information