Contemporary art festival in the heart of nature in Flanders
Since 2024, the Artpenteurs festival has been transforming the landscapes of Cœur de Flandre into an open-air museum. From Steenvoorde to Bailleul, via the Monts de Flandre, about ten monumental and ephemeral works take over remarkable natural sites for an outdoor artistic trail lasting several months.
Each edition invites contemporary artists specializing in land art, monumental sculpture, and environmental art to create works in dialogue with the Flemish landscape. The creations, often spectacular in size, use natural or recycled materials and interact with their environment: light, wind, vegetation, and relief.
The works are installed in locations chosen for their landscape and heritage quality:
The name of the festival is a play on words between "arpenteurs" (those who measure and survey land) and "art". The trail is designed to be explored on foot or by bike, inviting visitors to rediscover their territory from an artistic perspective. Each work is accompanied by an explanatory label and a hiking route connecting the different installations.
The Artpenteurs festival is committed to an eco-responsible approach: works created from natural or recycled materials, trails accessible by soft mobility, raising awareness of local biodiversity and natural heritage.
After the success of its first edition, the Artpenteurs festival returns in 2026 with 11 ephemeral works installed in the landscapes of Cœur de Flandre from June 1st to October 31st. Artists and designers specializing in land art and contemporary art are invited to create monumental works in interaction with the landscape and the environment.
By car: The artwork sites are spread between Steenvoorde, Bailleul, and surrounding towns, accessible via the A25 (Steenvoorde or Bailleul exit). Parking lots are available near the starting points of the routes.
By bike: The route is ideally suited for discovery by bike. Cycle paths connect the different artworks.
On foot: Marked hiking trails allow you to explore the festival from one artwork to another.
The festival is accessible from June to the end of September/October, with free and open access. The works are visible day and night.
Festival is entirely free and open access.
The trail follows country paths that are not always accessible to people with reduced mobility. Some works are located by the roadside and accessible by car. Contact Cœur de Flandre Agglo for adapted routes.
The trail is suitable for families. Children particularly enjoy discovering the monumental works in nature. Bring clothing and shoes suitable for country paths. Picnic areas are located along the route.
Take advantage of the festival to discover the exceptional landscapes of the Monts de Flandre: Mont Cassel, Mont des Cats and its abbeys, traditional estaminets, and artisanal breweries of the region. The network of hiking trails allows you to combine art and discovery of the Flemish terroir.
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Sites naturels du Cœur de Flandre
Monts de Flandre, 59114 Steenvoorde