Chicory drying kiln
Welcome to chicory country!
Its fertile lands make the Audruicq Oye-Plage region the main area for chicory root cultivation, an emblematic agricultural specialty of the North. After harvesting, chicory roots were dried in brick kilns, known as the “Cathedrals of the Plains”.
In Vieille-Église, discover the last and only chicory drying kiln in France restored to its original state.
The association “Des Racines et des Hommes” (Roots and Men) has also installed six new sculptures around the building, depicting the iconic elements of this local know-how.
Open every 3rd Sunday of the month from April to October starting at 10 AM come discover it without delay!
For groups upon request:
Guided Tours provided by the association "Des Racines et des Hommes"
95 rue du Coupevent – Vieille-Église
The Community of Communes of the Audruicq Region and the town of Lichtervelde have led a joint project: creating a virtual chicory museum.
The municipalities of the CCRA and the small Belgian town of Lichtervelde, near Bruges, share a common history: many seasonal workers who came to work in the chicory drying kilns between 1920 and the late 1970s originated from Lichtervelde.
The two communities have been twinned since 2014. Learn more : https://www.ccra.fr/Le-jumelage-avec-la-ville-de-Lichtervelde/99/
This virtual museum project, along with the bilingual French/Flemish web documentary, was carried out with the association “Des racines et des hommes” and the CPETI as part of the Interreg cross-border program.
Chicory Festival