Olhain

The enchanted forest of Artois

An ancient forest on the first hills of Artois, a castle that has watched itself in its moat for six centuries, a stone table where fairies are said to dance… Welcome to Olhain. And soon, your adventure begins here.

🌳

≈ 290 ha

of state forest

🪨

6,000 years

a Neolithic enclosure under the trees

🗺️

450 ha

of county park, nearly 170 of them wooded

🎉

1973

the county park opens

🌳 The forest

An ancestral forest

The state forest of Olhain covers about 290 hectares on the first ridge of the Artois hills. Together with its hillside it is listed as a ZNIEFF — a natural area of ecological, faunal and floral interest — and it is managed by France's national forest office (ONF).

🎢 The Olhain park

Right next door, the Olhain county park for nature and leisure welcomes about 700,000 visitors a year: hiking, mountain biking, an all-season toboggan run, tree-top trails, golf… and a lookout tower from which a 564 m zip line sets off. A 2-hectare arboretum also hides in the forest.

💚 A forest to protect

Storms, droughts and heatwaves weaken the forest. Its management plan is diversifying the tree species, and ash trees, struck by a disease, are no longer replanted.

🔦 The secret under the trees

A LIDAR survey by the ONF — a laser that "sees" the ground through the leaves — revealed a large Middle Neolithic enclosure under the wood, about 6,000 years old: two ditches, a bank and three entrances. The "Bois d'Olhain" site has been a listed historic monument since 15 June 2023.

🏰 The castle

A castle standing on the water

In Fresnicourt-le-Dolmen, the Château d'Olhain rises from the middle of its moat. It is said to be the finest medieval fortress of Artois, and one of the best preserved in northern France. It has been a listed historic monument since 12 April 1989.

👆 Tap the numbers to visit

Eight centuries of history

1179
First mention of the Olhain family.
1204
Hugues d'Olhain, a captain of the Fourth Crusade, is at the taking of Constantinople. An earlier castle is credited to him.
1239
Jean d'Olhain founds the castle chapel.
1387
Marie d'Olhain marries Jean de Nielles, a favourite of John the Fearless: the estate passes to a new family.
1407
Oak timber is delivered for works on the "hôtel d'Olehain": the castle we see today dates from the early 15th century.
1409
Alix de Nielles marries Jean I de Berghes. The Berghes-Saint-Winock family will keep Olhain until 1900.
1641
On 6 April, the Champagne regiment seizes the castle during Louis XIII's conquest of Artois.
1654
Siege of Arras: Spanish troops occupy the castle and blow up two towers.
1710
Siege of Béthune: Dutch troops occupy it, and their artillery damages it.
18th c.
The Berghes now live elsewhere: Olhain becomes a hunting lodge.
1915
In November, during the Great War, the castle briefly serves as headquarters of the 25th infantry brigade.
1989
On 12 April, the castle is listed as a historic monument.

🗝️ The castle is privately owned. It opens on some afternoons in the warm season: check the dates on the castle's website before you come.

🪨 The dolmen

The Fairies' Table

In Fresnicourt-le-Dolmen, a huge stone slab of about 3 m by 2.5 m — some ten tonnes — rests on three standing stones. This Neolithic monument has been a listed historic monument since 1889, and the village owes it its name: Fresnicourt became Fresnicourt-le-Dolmen by decree on 8 January 1925.

🧚 The legend of the white ladies

It is said that at certain times of the year, "white ladies" come to dance in a ring around the stone, to a mysterious music. Beware the walker who comes too close: spellbound, they might be dragged under the dolmen!

A legend from oral tradition, told by the village's walking trails.

📒 Explorer's notebook

Keep your eyes open in the woods

Species you often come across in the woods of northern France. Tap a card once you have spotted it on a walk!

✅ 0 / 8 found

🥾 In the forest, stay on the paths, don't pick, take your litter home and watch without disturbing.

An indicative list of species common in the broadleaf forests of northern France — not an official inventory of Olhain.

🎮 Coming soon · In the works · working title

Olhain, the adventure

A cartoon adventure game for the whole family, born in this forest. Roam the trails, solve the riddles of the castle, meet the fairies of the Fairies' Table and find the traces of the Neolithic people.