tours nord pas de calais

Home » Travel Guides » France » 15 Best Things to Do in Nord-Pas-de-Calais

15 Best Things to Do in Nord-Pas-de-Calais

This region in the far north of France has been fought over for centuries, and so has all sorts of little reminders about the cultures that have controlled it.

In Lille and Arrras there’s exquisite Flemish baroque architecture, while the 20th century deposited bunkers, launch sites, memorials and other military infrastructure across the landscape – great news for urban explorers and military historians.

On the coast are photogenic little towns and fishing ports, while here and there you can check out some first-rate visitor attractions, such as big-hitting art museums, one of Europe’s largest aquariums and even a subterranean town.

Lets explore the best things to do in Nord-Pas-de-Calais :

1. Old Lille

Nord’s capital has a different look and feel to most large French cities, and that’s partly because for long periods in its history it wasn’t strictly French: In medieval times it belonged to the County of Flanders and then Burgundy, and wasn’t recognised as part of France until the reign of Louis XIV.  That Flemish influence can be seen in the brown and red brick buildings in the older part of the city, such as at the stately Place aux Oignons.

On Grand Place, check out the mid-17th-century Vielle Bourse, a glorious Flemish Mannerist complex of 24 identical buildings around an arcaded courtyard.

Inside locals can be found playing chess, and there’s also a second-hand book market here.

2. Palais des Beaux-Arts, Lille

One of the largest art museums of its kind in France, the Palais des Beaux-Arts is not to be missed.

Its huge inventory of medieval,  renaissance and baroque paintings is founded on the 1801 decree of Jean-Antoine Chaptal, which selected the 15 cities around France that would receive artworks seized from France’s religious institutions in the revolution.

All in a sumptuous Belle Époque palace are ceramics, sculptures and paintings by Goya, Rubens, Donatello, van Dyck  and El Greco.

Also riveting is the assortment of plan-reliefs, which are military scale models of cities in the region from the 17th and 18th centuries.

3. Vimy Memorial

This First World War memorial honours the members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force that were lost but have no marked grave.

The monument is at the highest point of the Vimy Ridge and was designed by Canadian architect, Water Seyour Allward.

All around this structure is a park where the Battle of Vimy Ridge battlefield is left untouched.

It’s easy to see how the landscape is still scarred by artillery, and the trenches and tunnels have been reinforced with concrete to keep them intact.

There is so much unexploded ordinance here that the park’s grass can’t be mowed by humans; rather sheep graze here instead.

Canadian students volunteer at the Vimy Memorial, and provide insightful tours around the monument and its park.

4. La Piscine Museum, Roubaix

This art and industrial museum has a remarkable setting, in the building of an art deco former swimming pool.

This was built in the 20s and 30s in lavish style by the architect Albert Baert, who blended masonic symbols into his design.

The pool was shut down in 1985 but reopened as a museum in 2000, incorporating the body of an old textile museum next door.

The galleries have textile samples gathered from the area’s factories over a two hundred year period, as well as paintings and sculptures, most from the first few decades of the 20th century.

5. Nausicaä Centre National de la Mer, Boulogne-sur-Mer

This vast aquarium is set in a repurposed casino and opened in 1991. It’s a sea life centre, with an exhibit area 5,000 square metres in size.

Most people want to see the predators in the Open Sea and California Pools, where sand tiger sharks, grey reef sharks and leopard sharks can be viewed in menacing detail.

There’s a “touch pool” too where little ones can touch the backs of harmless catsharks.

You can get up close to a wealth of other marine species too, including penguins, caiman and sea lions, and daily feeding demonstrations are a fun way to see them in action.

6. La Coupole, Saint-Omer

Taking its name from the large concrete dome covering the site, this museum is in a former Nazi bunker and V2 base.

The complex was never completed, but had the infrastructure to launch a constant stream of ballistic missiles at London.

After the war it lay idle until becoming a combined war museum and planetarium in the 90s.

You enter via the bunker’s own railway tunnel, audio guides will shed light on how the facility was built and there are displays about life in Nord-Pas-de-Calais during the war, the French resistance and military innovations made during that time.

7. Cité Souterraine de Naours

In a region that has been on the path of innumerable invading armies, it’s hardly surprising that villagers looked underground for shelter in some places.

The medieval tunnels and galleries at Naours add up to more than two kilometres, and were able to accommodate 650 people.

As you tour the 28 galleries 30 metres beneath this verdant hill in the Somme department you may be surprised by the temperature, which is a steady 9.5°C year-round.

As you go you’ll discover wells, ventilation shafts, chimneys, living quarters and even stables, and there’s constant evidence that they were used in both World Wars thanks to historic graffiti.

8. LaM, Lille

With 4,500 works in two sleek buildings this museum  presents a superb overview of 20th and 21st-century art.

The LaM was founded in the early 80s after a big donation by the Masurel family, who has been prodigious collectors.

Over time this has been expanded and the LaM now holds masterworks by Picasso, Paul Klee, Georges Braque, Joan Miró and André Derain.

Later the museum also received a large donation of Art Brut works, and so now has the largest collection of outsider art in the country.

In the grounds you can take in the sculpture garden, with pieces by Alexander Calder and Picasso.

9. Boulogne Ramparts

The cobblestone streets of Boulogne’s pretty Haute Ville are defended to this day by a ring of medieval walls erected by the Count of Boulogne between 1227 and 1231. They were built on even older defences going back to the Roman period.

Despite their age and great condition the ramparts and their four hulking gateways are relatively quiet on most days, frequented mostly by joggers and dog-walkers.

On the east side is the Château, also from the 13th century, protected by a moat and now housing the Museum of Boulogne.

10. Saint-Omer Cathedral

One of the many compelling things about this handsome cathedral is that it was constantly under construction throughout the medieval  period, and so fuses romanesque with the three phases of the French gothic style (primitif, rayonnant and flamboyant). Inside, take a look at the astronomical clock, built by the Saint-Omer watchmaker Pierre Enguerran in 1558. Ingeniously, the clock mechanism synchronises with the cathedral’s bells and astrolabe.

The organ is also noteworthy, dating to 1717 but with 19th-century additions made by the feted organ craftsman Aristide Cavaillé-Coll.

Arras has its share of Flemish heritage, and nowhere is this more evident than the beautiful Place des Héros.

This 70-acre cobblestoned square has rows of splendid gabled townhouses on three sides.

The city’s UNESCO-listed gothic belfry is also on the square, dating to the 15th century and definitely meriting a tour.

It’s the tallest building in the city at 71 metres: A lift followed by a spiral staircase will get you to the top for the best panoramas of the city and its countryside.

Arras also saw a lot of conflict in the First World War, and at Carrière Wellington you can visit the tunnels dug in a former quarry by British forces in 1917 and now kept as a museum.

12. Le Touquet

Escape to coastal resorts like Le Touquet for one of Nord-Pas-de-Calais’ favourite dishes, Moules Frites.

The mussels are cooked in a sauce made with white wine, cream and shallots and the crispy chips are served with mayonnaise on the side.

Le Touquet has a wonderful beach too: It’s absolutely massive, with clean golden sands that seem to go out to horizon at low tide.

If you follow the beach down the coast the town is replaced by forest and sand dunes.

Rue Saint-Jean is a charming street for a relaxed saunter, while in summer kids you can hire a segway or play mini-golf on the beachfront.

13. Villa Cavrois, Roubaix

After lying derelict for decades, this wondrous modernist villa has recently been opened to the public following a multimillion-Euro restoration.

It was built in 1932 by Robert-Mallet-Stevens for Paul Cavrois, whose wealth came from the Roubaix textile industry.

As with the best homes in the International style, Villa Cavrois is impossibly bright, airy and sleek, and had a load of conveniences, like air-conditioning and towel heaters, that were generally unavailable at the time.

The villa was used by German forces in the war, and was ransacked and gutted in the 80s after Madame Cavrois died, which makes you appreciate the painstaking restoration effort even more.

14. Cap Blanc Nez, Wissant

For a blast of bracing sea air, follow the path up to the crest of these 134-metre-high chalk cliffs.

They’re the most northern cliffs in France, and are just along from Cap Gris Nez, the closest point in the country to mainland Britain.

From this perch you realise just how busy a shipping lane the Channel is, as the freighters glide by.

The landscape is fabulous, whether you’re looking down on the vast sandy beach below or back at the rolling green farmland.

At the headland is the Dover Patrol Monument, celebrating the naval cooperation between Allied forces to safeguard the Channel against U-boats.

15. Blockhaus d’Éperlecques, Saint-Omer

A military attraction to combine with nearby La Coupole, this is a gargantuan Second World War bunker, intended as another launch centre for the V2 rocket.

Had it been completed it would have been able to launch 36 missiles a day, but construction was interrupted by the Allied bombing campaign.

Even in its incomplete state the bunker is pretty fearsome to behold, and remains completely shrouded by the forest until you are almost upon it.

There’s an audio-guide explaining how the installation was built by slave labour, and displays indicate how the site might have looked had it been finished.

15 Best Things to Do in Nord-Pas-de-Calais:

• Palais des Beaux-Arts, Lille
• Vimy Memorial
• La Piscine Museum, Roubaix
• Nausicaä Centre National de la Mer, Boulogne-sur-Mer
• La Coupole, Saint-Omer
• Cité Souterraine de Naours
• Boulogne Ramparts
• Saint-Omer Cathedral
• Villa Cavrois, Roubaix
• Cap Blanc Nez, Wissant
• Blockhaus d'Éperlecques, Saint-Omer

12 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Written by Lisa Alexander Updated Dec 25, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

On a map of France, the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region forms the northernmost tip of the country's Hexagon. At the border of Belgium and facing the English Channel, Nord-Pas-de-Calais boasts beautiful sandy beaches, as well as serene expanses of marshland, rolling hills, and pristine forests. The region corresponds with the historic provinces of Artois and French Flanders and overlaps with parts of Picardy.

Despite being one of France's most important industrial areas, there are still pastoral farms, historic towns, and quaint villages untouched by modernity. A charming ambience and top-notch cultural attractions are also found in several cities such as Lille, Arras, and Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Plan a fabulous travel itinerary and discover the best places to visit with our list of the top attractions in Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

See also: Where to Stay in Nord-Pas-de-Calais

4. Boulogne-sur-Mer

5. gerberoy, 7. musée louvre-lens, 9. saint-omer and the marais audomarois, 10. dunkerque, 12. abbaye de vaucelles, where to stay in nord-pas-de-calais for sightseeing, nearby attractions in the picardy region, château de chantilly, somme battlefields, map of tourist attractions in nord-pas-de-calais.

Lille is the largest city of French Flanders and has a distinctive Flemish character, seen in its lovely architecture and hearty cuisine. The local cooking includes typical Belgian dishes like moules-frites (mussels and French fries) and gaufres (Belgian-style waffles).

At the heart of Lille, the Place du Général de Gaulle , is lined with elegant Flemish Baroque monuments such as the Vieille Bourse (Old Stock Exchange). The nearby Rang du Beauregard buildings exemplify an ornate Lilloise Neoclassical style.

Art museums are among the top attractions in Lille and in nearby towns. Not to be missed are the Palais des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts); the Musée du Louvre-Lens, which shares its collection with the Louvre Museum in Paris; the LaM museum of modern and contemporary art in Villeneuve d'Ascq; and the collection of fine arts and decorative arts in the town of Roubaix .

The first weekend of September, the Braderie de Lille ( Flea Market ) brings together hundreds of stalls selling vintage items and antiques. Bargain hunting at the Lille Flea Market is one of the most popular things to do in the city.

The historic capital of the Artois province, Arras has the architectural heritage to prove it. Arcaded squares, high-gabled burghers' houses, and exquisite old churches reveal the authentic character of this Flemish town.

The Cathédrale d'Arras , originally the abbey church of Saint-Vaast, was rebuilt in the 18th century in awe-inspiring Neoclassical style.

Another building of the former Benedictive monastery of Saint-Vaast is now home to the Musée des Beaux-Arts . This museum has a diverse art collection, from medieval sculptures to Dutch and French paintings. Highlights are the masterpieces by Jean-Baptiste-Camille, Corot, Charles Le Brun, Delacroix, and Rubens.

During World War One, the area around Arras was the scene of heavy fighting, which is now commemorated by several military cemeteries and memorials. On the site where the pivotal Battle of Vimy Ridge took place (12 kilometers north of Arras) in April of 1917, the Vimy Memorial pays homage to Canadian soldiers who fought and died in France during the First World War.

Calais provides a gateway to England as a port on the English Channel and the starting point for train or ferry rides to England. The high-speed Eurostar train crosses the English Channel's Strait of Dover in a 50-kilometer undersea tunnel, and takes under one hour to arrive in London. The English Channel crossing by ferry takes one hour and 30 minutes from Calais to Dover, England.

In this spectacular seaside location along the Côte d'Opale (Opal Coast), the area around Calais features expansive sandy beaches, which are popular for surfing and sailing, as well as other outdoor activities like hiking and cycling.

For those spending time in Calais (rather than simply traveling through), must-see attractions are the UNESCO-listed Flemish Renaissance-style Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) and the nearby group of Auguste Rodin's sculptures, Les Bourgeois de Calais , which commemorate the siege of Calais in 1347 by the English, and occupation until 1558.

Next to the leafy Parc Richelieu, the Musée des Beaux Arts displays paintings and sculptures from the 16th century to the 21st century. Among the masterpieces are works by Auguste Rodin, Théodore Géricault and William Turner.

The Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode (on the Quai du Commerce) has a superb collection of antique lace, as well as an assortment of vintage fashion pieces that feature lace adornments. The collections focus on the history of handmade lace from the Renaissance era to the 19th century. However, there is also an exhibit of modern lace and contemporary fashion.

As France's largest fishing port, it's fitting that Boulogne-sur-Mer has a superb aquarium and sea museum. The Nausicaá aquarium is the largest in Europe, home to 58,000 sea creatures, including 1,600 different species. Nausicaá especially appeals to families with kids, who are sure to enjoy the touch pool and entertaining sea lion performances.

Near the Nausicaá aquarium is access to a sandy beach along the Boulevard Sainte-Beuve. The beach has a yacht club and a promenade, which is ideal for taking a seaside stroll. During summertime, beach tents, lounge chairs, and parasols are available for rent; in July and August, lifeguards are on duty.

In keeping with its maritime heritage, the town hosts the Fête de la Mer (Festival of the Sea) every year in July. The festival includes nautical parades, sailing excursions, maritime music concerts, performances of traditional seafaring songs, and visits to the fish auction and fishermen's quays. Gourmands enjoy the seafood cooking workshops taught by local chefs, and samplings of specialties prepared from fresh catches.

Tourists should also take some time to explore the Old Town of Boulogne-sur-Mer, a walled medieval city known as the Haute Ville because it's perched on a hilltop. This charming historic area is full of atmospheric cobblestone streets and picturesque squares.

Highlights of the Haute Ville include the UNESCO-listed belfry , dating to the 12th century; the Notre-Dame Basilica, which incorporates a Romanesque crypt; and the 13th-century fortifications ( Les Remparts ), which feature four gated entrances to the Haute Ville.

The ramparts that surround the Haute Ville of Boulogne-sur-Mer are the best preserved medieval fortifications in northern France. It's an invigorating experience to walk along the Promenade des Remparts , a path through landscaped gardens at the foot of the ramparts. This path also offers a chance to admire panoramas of the city.

Another interesting spot to explore is the Rue de Lille , a pedestrian street lined with restaurants, antique shops, and small boutiques.

With its tranquil bucolic setting, cobblestone pedestrian alleyways, and quaint half-timbered houses, this medieval village is a delightful place to explore. Thanks to its beauty and charm, Gerberoy is listed as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France (Most Beautiful Villages of France). The Touring Club of France titled Gerberoy as "le plus coquet" ("the most alluring") village.

Many buildings throughout the town are adorned with rose vines. Gerberoy is also famous for its Fête des Roses (Festival of Roses), which has been held in the village every year since 1928.

In keeping with the village's love of flowers, the post-Impressionist painter Henri Le Sidaner (who settled in Gerberoy) created magnificent Italian terraced gardens that he used as an outdoor art studio. Classified as a Jardin Remarquable (Remarkable Garden), the Jardins Le Sidaner are open every day from May 1st through September 30th.

Near the garden is another must-see landmark, the Collégiale Saint-Pierre, which is adorned with 17th-century Aubusson tapestries. The church dates to the 11th-century but was renovated in later centuries.

Surrounded by remnants of medieval walls, the picturesque town of Bergues is traversed by winding canals, which lend a typical Flemish ambience.

Bergues is most famous for its belfry, considered one of the finest in France. The UNESCO-listed Beffroi de Bergues features an unusual open design, with 50 bells that chime to mark the hours. As the town's top tourist attraction, the Beffroi de Bergues also has an exhibition space and music room.

An exceptional fine arts museum, the Musée du Mont de Piété occupies the 17th-century Mont-de-Piété (municipal pawnshop), which is a gem of Flemish Baroque architecture. The museum displays paintings and drawings by Flemish and French masters, including George de la Tour, Charles Le Brun, Nicolas Poussin, Anthony van Dyck, and Maerten van Heemskerck.

The Musée Louvre-Lens is an ultramodern museum space in a tranquil park. The Musée Louvre-Lens does not have its own collections, instead the museum presents rotating exhibits of artworks loaned from the Louvre Museum in Paris .

The museum's 3,000-square-meter Galerie du Temps (gallery space) features natural lighting and an innovative presentation. On display are over 200 masterpieces from the Louvre. Many exhibits focus on specific themes of artworks compiled from various time periods or representing different artistic styles.

It's easy to get to the museum from Lille (a 30-minute drive) or Paris (90 minutes by train). The train station in Lens offers free shuttle bus rides to the museum.

Address: 99 Rue Paul Bert, 62300 Lens

Official site: http://www.louvrelens.fr/en/home

Cambrai is a quiet historic town with remnants of medieval fortifications and an impressive cultural heritage. A relic of the old ramparts, the 14th-century Porte de Paris once provided an entrance into the previously walled town.

The Eglise Saint-Géry is noteworthy for its blend of French classical and Dutch Baroque architectural styles, as well as the famous Entombment painting by Rubens.

Not-to-be-missed are Chapelle du Grand Séminaire, renowned for its Baroque facade, and the Cathédrale Notre-Dame, which contains exceptional works of art, including trompe-l'oeil paintings by Martin Gheeraerts and marvelous stained-glass windows.

Art lovers will appreciate the Musée des Beaux-Arts, which has an excellent assortment of 16th- to 19th-century Dutch and French paintings. The museum's archaeology and contemporary art collections are also interesting.

Many cultural attractions are found just outside of Cambrai, including the Musée des Dentelles et Broderies de Caudry (Museum of Lace and Embroidery), housed in a 19th-century lace factory in Caudry (15 kilometers from Cambrai). This museum presents the local history of lace fabrication and embroidery arts along with craft demonstrations and fashion exhibits.

The Musée Matisse in Le Cateau-Cambrésis (25 kilometers from Cambrai) is a must-see attraction for those who admire the works of Matisse. The museum was created by Henri Matisse, who hailed from this region, and is considered one of the most important collections of Matisse paintings in the world. On displays are 82 paintings that Matisse himself donated to the museum.

Cobblestone streets and stately old townhouses reveal the traditional character of this historic market town. One of Saint-Omer's most elegant 18th-century townhouses, the Hôtel Sandelin, is now a museum with an excellent collection of European paintings, as well as decorative arts.

Other must-see landmarks are the 13th-century Eglise Saint-Denis, which has a majestic Gothic tower, and the Cathédrale Notre Dame , a splendid Gothic monument built between the 13th and 16th centuries.

In the surroundings, the Marais Audomarois (marshland) is among the best places to visit in northern France for fishing (allowed with a local fishing association card) in the gentle rivers.

Taking a boat ride through the marshland's waterways is another way to discover the wetland scenery, with its lush plant life and market gardens. There are several options for tourists: traditional artisan-crafted wooden boats led by a local boatman, row boats and canoes for rent, and guided boat tours.

For those who'd like to explore the terra firma aspects of the area, the Audomarois Forest has scenic trails for hiking and cycling.

Just 14 kilometers from the Belgian border, Dunkerque (Dunkirk) is France's northernmost town, on the North Sea near the Strait of Dover. Dunkerque has an important commercial port, as well as ferry boat access to Dover, England.

During the Second World War, Dunkerque was the scene of a dramatic military rescue as boats of Allied troops were brought to safety.

Every year before Ash Wednesday, the Dunkirk Carnival transforms the town into a wild and crazy scene of unbridled celebration. Thousands of revelers show their festive spirit, wearing colorful costumes; some carry whimsical umbrellas on long handles. The three-day carnival includes gregarious processions, musical entertainment, and joyful balls.

Douai is an old university town, originally founded by the Spaniards. The central features of the town are the UNESCO-listed Belfry , a masterpiece of Gothic architecture that dates to the 14th and 15th centuries, and the Place d'Armes , also called the Grand Place .

The Musée de la Chartreuse, housed in a 17th-century convent, contains a renowned fine-arts collection including masterpieces of Flemish, Dutch, Italian, and French painting. Highlights are the works by Véronèse, Rubens, Courbet, Renoir, Sisley, Corot, and Pisarro, as well as the precious Polyptyque d'Anchin by Jean Bellegambe (created between 1509 and 1513).

The Abbaye de Vaucelles is a remarkable 12th-century abbey founded by Saint Bernard, which was one of the largest Cistercian monasteries in the world. The abbey is classified as a Historical Monument and is considered one of the most important historic buildings in northern France.

Visitors can see the former Monks' Quarters , including a chapter house, scriptorium, sacred passage, oratory, and chapel, and explore the luxuriant seven-hectare grounds, which feature various sections, including an orchard and a rose garden.

The Abbaye de Vaucelles is open to the public for visits (for an admission fee) every day except Mondays from March through October. Art expositions and cultural events are held here throughout the year.

The abbey is located 12 kilometers from Cambrai.

We recommend these delightful Nord-Pas-de-Calais hotels in Lille, Arras, and Calais:

• Clarance Hotel : luxury Lille boutique hotel, 18th-century townhouse, bright rooms, Michelin-starred restaurant, vegetable garden.
• Hotel L'Arbre Voyageur, BW Premier Collection : mid-range Lille hotel, near the old town, contemporary building, serene rooms.
• Holiday Inn - Calais : 3-star Calais hotel, harbor views, five-minute stroll to beaches, secure car park.
• ibis Arras Centre Les Places : budget-friendly Arras hotel, central location, friendly staff, sleek decor.

Amiens is the historic capital of Picardy and was long famous as a center of linen, wool, and cotton industries. The Second World War took its toll on the city. Fortunately, the magnificent Cathédrale Notre Dame d'Amiens was spared any damage.

The most impressive of Amiens' tourist attractions , this 13th-century cathedral is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world. This superb example of classic French Gothic architecture is distinguished by its harmony and overall stylistic coherence. Visitors marvel at the intricacy of the facade with its exquisite details.

Beauvais has a distinctive old-world character and noteworthy historic churches. Soaring towards the heavens, the Flamboyant Gothic Cathédrale Saint-Pierre boasts the highest roof vaulting in the world. Among the oldest churches in Beauvais is the Eglise Saint-Etienne , built in the 12th century with some later additions.

It's worth taking time to admire the church's stained-glass windows, especially the 13th-century Arbre de Jessé ( The Tree of Jesse) . Behind the cathedral is the Galerie Nationale de la Tapisserie , a center of tapestry, which displays exceptional pieces dating from the 16th century and presents workshops on tapestry weaving.

About a 30-minute drive north in the village of Folleville is the UNESCO-listed Eglise Paroissiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste . This historic church was on the medieval "Way of Saint James" pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

In the small village of Chantilly, the Château de Chantilly is one of the few castles in France that is still completely furnished with its original decor and precious antiques.

The château was the residence of the Duke of Aumale (Henri d'Orléans), whose father was Louis-Philippe, the last king of France. The Duke of Aumale inherited the Château de Chantilly from Louis-Henri-Joseph de Bourbon, the Prince of Condé.

The lavish reception rooms of the Princes of Bourbon-Condé are adorned in sumptuous 18th-century French style. The château's Cabinet des Livres (Reading Room) contains 19,000 volumes, including rare books like the Duc de Berry's illuminated manuscript from the 15th century.

In the old kitchen of the château, the famous chef, François Vatel, invented whipped cream called "crème Chantilly." The château's restaurant, La Capitainerie , serves a simple menu for lunch and afternoon tea featuring desserts made with the famous Chantilly whipped cream.

A highlight of the château is the Musée Condé , which houses France's second-largest collection (after the Louvre) of works by the Old Masters, from the Renaissance to the 19th century. Some of the finest pieces include the Portrait de Madame Duvaucey by Ingres, the Massacre des Innocents by Poussin, and Concert Champêtre by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, as well as paintings by Raphaël, Delacroix, Véronèse, Botticelli, Filippino Lippi, and Philippe de Champaigne.

Surrounding the château is an enchanting 115-hectare parkland with a French Formal Garden designed by André Le Nôtre (landscape architect of Versailles) and a romantic English Garden created in the 19th century. The property also includes the Grandes Écuries horse stables that present entertaining equestrian shows.

Official site: http://www.domainedechantilly.com/en

Surrounded by majestic forests, Compiègne defines itself as a " royal village " because of its regal past. Here, French Kings and the Emperor Napoleon I have left their mark.

Evidence of the town's rich heritage are several prestigious monuments, such as the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), a unique example of secular Gothic architecture, and the Château de Compiègne , the palace of Louis XV and Louis XVI, as well as Napoleon I and Napoleon III.

The Château de Compiègne is open to the public year-round for self-guided or guided tours. Visitors will be dazzled by the palace's Neoclassical architecture and opulent Imperial apartments of the First (Napoleon I) and Second (Napoleon III) French Empires. The palace also has three museum collections and a tea salon in the rose garden, the Salon de Thé du Jardin des Roses .

About 10 kilometers from Compiègne in a clearing of dense woodland, the Mémorial de l'Armistice (memorial site and museum) is found in the railway carriage where the Armistice of 1918 was signed. The museum displays stereoscopic (three-dimensional) photographs that bring scenes of World War I to life.

Outside the museum are numerous monuments dedicated to the fallen soldiers of France. The surrounding area has hiking trails that wind through the tranquil forest.

In the heart of Picardy, Noyon is an interesting tourist destination with a glorious Romanesque-Gothic cathedral built in the 12th century. With its purity of lines, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame reveals a solemnity and, at the same time, a brightness that inspires spiritual worship. Protestant reformer John Calvin was born in Noyons, and the house of his birthplace is now the John Calvin Museum , dedicated to the history of Protestantism.

About 10 kilometers from Noyons, the 12th-century Abbaye d'Ourscamp was a Cistercian abbey on the medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Today, the abbey is the property of the Serviteurs de Jésus et de Marie religious community and is open to the public for visits, as well as spiritual retreats.

The landscape of Somme is the site of a significant WWI battle that took place from July to November in 1916. Visitors can learn about the Battle of the Somme and discover the history of the war through the Remembrance Circuit , a 92-kilometer-long trail, which includes battlefield sites, cemeteries, and memorials.

In the town of Albert at the site of the Battle of the Somme, the Musée Somme 1916 (Somme Trench Museum) documents the history of the First World War and gives visitors a realistic insight of the trench battle experience, with recreations of scenes showing soldiers in the trenches.

More on France

We have received your request correctly.

You will receive an email with a summary of your bookings.

Can't find it? Leave us your email and we'll send you a summary of your bookings.

Share it straight to social media with your campaign ID and name

Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Latest reviews.

Interesting without being too in depth. Would definitely recommend doing this tour.

5 excursions and activities in Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Lille Sightseeing Tour

Lille Classic Car Tour

Old Lille Walking Tour

Lille City Pass

Villa Cavrois Tickets

Login to add activities to your favorites and access them from any device

This site is reCAPTCHA protected and Google's privacy policy and terms of service apply.

Visit Nord-Pas de Calais

Between sea and countryside.

At the threshold of Belgium andthe UK, the France traveland tourism region of Calais is made up of coastal areas as well as thecountryside.

The hills of Flanders and Artoislead right up to the Côte d'Opale, or Opal Coast, with beaches surrounded bydramatic cliffs that open onto the coastline of the English Channel. Theseaside resorts in this area (Berck-sur-Mer, Le Touquet-Paris-Plage andBoulogne-sur-Mer) combine the pleasures of the beach with the thrills of thecasino, and water sports activities.

The Grand Site des Deux Caps,covering 23 of the 120km of this coastline, is an ideal heritage France travel vacation havenoffering a beautiful landscape that is constantly changing depending on thetime of day. In the east, the plains of the France tour site Cambrésis give way to groves andwoods of the Thiérache and the Hainaut. The Avesnois Natural Regional Park,together with the Caps et Marais d' Opale Regional Natural Park andScarpe-Escaut Regional Park, offer over 3500km of paths to explore by foot.

Architecture with Flemish influences

The architecture of the Calais region is particularly attractive, and boasts an abundance of Flemish influences. Great examples include the grandiose Grand Place in Arras, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Grâce in Cambrai, the Vieille Bourse (Old Stock Exchange) in Lille, the Belfry in Béthune, the Belfry in Arras and the Bourgeois de Calais (one of the most famous sculptures by Rodin), Cambrai (belfry, citadel, cathedral), Tourcoing and its Flemish heritage, Valenciennes…

History has played a major part in shaping the identity of the region, which is both industrial and artistic. This history can be seen at the Mining History Center, the Museum of Art and Industry of Roubaix, the International Center of Lace and Fashion in Calais, the Lille Métropole Museum of Modern (Contemporary and Outsider Art - LaM), the Musée des Beaux Arts in Valenciennes (dedicated to the Flemish school of art), not forgetting the future Louvre-Lens Museum. Even more, don’t miss the Chemins de mémoire (paths of memory), which retrace the history of conflicts within the region. With around fifty national museums, this northern region is filled with a rich and diverse history.

“Les souvenirs de 14-18” (The memories of 1914-18)

We’re just a few months away from the centennial of the beginning of the Great War, so be sure to visit these many great sites: the Military Museum of Tragette in Neuville Saint-Vaast, La Coupole in Wizernes, the European Centre for Peace in Souchez (at the foot of the Hill of Lorette), and the Vimy Memoral (built for Canadian soldiers).

Food specialties

A blend of Flemish and Picard influences, the cuisine in the Calais region boasts produce that is unique to the area, such as endives . The top specialties of the region are the Carbonade Flamande (a sweet and sour beef and onion stew made with beer), rabbit with prunes, and Potjevleesch (potted meat). Choose from the artisanal beers and local liquors, such as genièvre (made with juniper), to accompany your food. The cheeses of the region are full of character, especially the Vieux-Lille and the strong cow’s-milk cheese Maroilles (orange in color), which is used to make the local savory tart called the Flamiche . The famous moules-frites should be eaten with your fingers, fresh from a chip stand !

Activities in Calais

The region features many leisure and wildlife parks, which are great for the family. One spot in particular, the Nausicäa, hosts the greatest aquarium in the whole region. Cyclists can enjoy riding on the famous cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix, while others can enjoy hot air ballooning at the Montgolfiades de Lille (where the competition takes place), or fly a kite at the International Kite Meeting in Berck-sur-Mer. Plenty of festivals and events take place throughout the year in the region, from the unique Wazemmes accordion festival in May, and the booming Dunkerque carnival in February. For shopping, check out the Braderie de Lille grand open-air flea market in Lille, and for art, check out the Braderie de l'art in Roubaix. The programming of lille3000 allows for a whole new way to discover the city. And don't forget to check out the legendary cycling race of Paris-Roubaix and its famous cobblestone routes.

A young and dynamic region full of luminous charm, Calais welcomes you into a whirlwind of festivals, history and culture.

• Remembrance Trails in Northern France (External link)
• Around Louvre-Lens (External link)
• Rendez-vous in Lille (External link)
• TWITTER - Tourisme NPdC (External link)

Lille 

A 24-hour thalasso break in Le Touquet

Cité internationale de la langue française: why you should go!

Architecture

A cultural stopover in Chantilly

SPONSORED CONTENT | Hauts de France Tourism Board

Walk The Walk in Hauts-De-France

Cycling in Hauts-De-France

SPONSORED CONTENT | Le Meurice Alain Ducasse Paris

A grand performance

THE 10 BEST Pas-de-Calais Tours & Excursions

Pas-de-calais tours.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Private Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Multi-day Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Archaeology Tours
• Literary, Art & Music Tours
• Segway Tours
• Skip-the-Line Tours
• Photography Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Entrance Ticket Nausicaa, the biggest aquarium in Europe

2. Private Round Trip Transfer to Vimy Ridge from Arras or Lens

3. The Battle of the Somme Guided Day Tour from Arras

4. Fromelles and Ypres Day Tour from Arras and Lille

5. Private Canadian WW1 Vimy & Somme Battlefield Tour from Arras or Lille

6. 1 day Canadian WW1 private tour including Vimy Ridge

7. Private Vimy and Belgium Canadian Battlefield Tour from Bruges

8. Full Day Private Canadian Battlefields Tour

9. Private Tour of the WW1 Somme Battlefields from ARRAS

10. Australian Battlefields Private Tour in Flanders from Bruges

11. Australian - Out in the Somme Day Tour - from Arras

12. 2 Day Australian Tour - from Arras

13. WW1 Canadian focused tour including Vimy Ridge

14. Private Full Day Tour of the Somme Battlefields of 1916 and 1918

15. Full Day Private New Zealander Battlefields Tour

16. Afternoon tea in the Shabby Caravan

17. Vimy and Flanders Fields Canadian Battlefield Tour from Lille

18. Australian and New Zealand Battlefield Day Tour in the Somme from Lille or Arras

19. Full-Day Canadian WW1 Vimy and Somme Battlefield Tour from Arras

20. Private Tour of Vimy Ridge & Arras battlefields from ARRAS

21. Full Day Canadian WW1 Vimy and Somme Battlefield Tour from Ypres

22. Aperitif dinner in a bohemian caravan

23. PRIVATE Australian Western Front Battlefields 3-Day Tour Ypres to Amiens

24. Private 4hr Australian Fromelles Battlefield WW1 Tour

25. WW1 Canadian Battlefields Private Full-Day Tour from Paris

26. Australian - Fromelles-Ypres Day Tour - from Arras

27. Private Full-Day Canadian WW1 Vimy and Somme Battlefield Tour from Bruges

28. Duo Heritage Pass

29. Initiations and rides in Onewheel

30. Full-Day Private Tour of World War 2 in Northern France

What travelers are saying.

• Entrance Ticket Nausicaa, the biggest aquarium in Europe
• The Battle of the Somme Guided Day Tour from Arras
• Fromelles and Ypres Day Tour from Arras and Lille
• Australian Battlefields Private Tour in Flanders from Bruges
• 1 day Canadian WW1 private tour including Vimy Ridge
• Chemin de Fer Touristique de la Vallee de l'Aa
• Les Baroudeurs
• Village des Metiers d'Art de Desvres (VMAD)
• The Battlefields Experience
• RMB transports
• Le Professeur perdu
• Les Faiseurs de Bateaux
• Le Petit Quentovic
• L'Audobarquoise
• Le Bon Accueil
• Mobilboard Le Touquet
• Mobilboard Saint-Omer
• CVB - Char a Voile Boulonnais

• Become a Member

French Travel Destinations: Top of the World, Nord-Pas de Calais

Separated from Great Britain by a narrow stretch of sea, the twin départements of Nord and Pas-de-Calais are pleasantly familiar yet delightfully different. Gillian Thornton explores the region’s coast, countryside and culture

Standing on the cliff top at Cap Gris-Nez with my back to France, I can clearly see the white cliffs of Dover sparkling in the late summer sunshine. The undulating coastline of home is just 32km away over the English Channel, though this narrow stretch of water has proved a more than effective barrier between the countries over the centuries.

In 1803, Napoleon amassed a huge army at Boulogne with his heart set on empire building; in 1940, German generals looked wistfully out to sea from Dunkerque after the epic evacuation of Allied troops. But no wannabe invader has successfully reached England from here since William of Normandy in 1066.

The countryside outside Montreuil-sur-Mer. Photo: C Plard

It’s a humbling thought that makes me contemplate, yet again, the weighty topic of Anglo-French relations. The Battle of Agincourt was fought here in Pas-de-Calais in 1415, and, in 1520, Henry VIII and François I staged a lavish display of royal one-upmanship near Calais at ‘The Field of the Cloth of Gold’.

Today, France’s two most northerly départements still bear the scars of two World Wars, both of which saw some of their fiercest fighting occurring on this soil. This coming year marks the centenary of the end of World War I, and Remembrance tourism here has been stronger than ever over the past five years, but there’s more to Pas-de-Calais and the Nord than this, and more than many people imagine.

The Duchesse Anne, the last remaining full-rigged sailing ship under French flag, at the Port Museum at Dunkerque. Photo: Gillian Thornton

I’ve been travelling here regularly for 20 years but there’s always something new to discover, as I proved to myself again last summer. Turn your back on the Channel and Pas-de-Calais initially feels like one big farm with huge, rolling fields punctuated with wind turbines. To the south, the lush bocage landscape of the Seven Valleys offers a timeless tranquillity amidst small fields divided by hedges and woodland.

Turn inland from Dunkerque, however, to the Nord, and the level countryside along the Belgian border has a distinctly Flemish feel, dotted as it is with small communities with unpronounceable names. Locals here are known as the Ch’tis, because of their accent and dialect, and pretty Bergues was the setting for the 2008 blockbuster comedy Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis .

Canalside at Bergues. Photo: Gillian Thornton

Regional capital Lille is now a top city break destination, less than 90 minutes from London by Eurostar. But within living memory, Nord-Pas de Calais was an industrial hotspot of textile factories and coal mines around Lille, Roubaix and Lens. Now old workplaces have been transformed into industrial heritage museums, cultural centres and leisure facilities, and the former mining basin has been awarded a UNESCO listing for urban regeneration. And, as of last year, this once cosy twosome was joined to the three départements of Picardie to form the new Hauts-de-France region.

Outside the Lace Museum in Caudry. Photo: Gillian Thornton

SYMBOLIC STARTING POINT

For me, the twin headlands of Cap Blanc-Nez, to the east, and Cap Gris-Nez, some 12km to the west – which are classified amongst the 17 prestigious Grands Sites de France – form a symbolic starting point for any northern adventure. I lingered first at the smart new Maison du Site des Deux-Caps, where you can pick up walking and cycling leaflets, hire bikes, buy local produce, and introduce yourself to the region via the excellent interactive exhibition.

From busy ports to small fishing villages, chic resorts to protected natural areas, the region’s 150km of coastline offers huge variety. Snuggled up to the Belgian border, Dunkerque was on everyone’s lips this summer with the release of Christopher Nolan’s epic movie about the evacuation of May 1940. Do take an independent or guided tour of the town’s key remembrance sites, but don’t ignore the excellent Maritime Museum or a harbour tour by boat.

Beach huts at Malo-les-Bains. Photo: Gillian Thornton

England’s last possession in France, Calais is often overlooked by holidaymakers rushing off the ferry or Eurotunnel shuttle. This time, however, I stopped to take the lift up the bell tower of the Town Hall for a panoramic harbour view. Don’t miss Rodin’s statue of the six Burghers of Calais in the gardens below, nor the City of Lace and Fashion , housed in a former lace factory just a few minutes’ walk away. The permanent collections are completed by demonstrations of the impressive Leavers machines.

Rodin’s statue of the six Burghers of Calais. Photo: Gillian Thornton

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Calais had no history of lacemaking until English industrialists from Nottingham saw a business opportunity to cater for French demand with mechanically made lace. Discover the full story through demonstrations on traditional looms, costumes, tools and techniques. Then carry on the discovery at the Lace and Embroidery Museum inland at Caudry, the town where the lace was made for the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress.

South of Calais, there’s more history to be found above Boulogne’s busy fishing harbour in the Upper Town, dominated by the Notre-Dame basilica. Head underground to visit one of the largest crypts in France, recently re-opened after a five-year restoration programme. And take time to see the medieval château, home to the Museum of Fine Arts, where attractions range from Roman foundations to an outstanding collection of Egyptology.

The sea front at Wimereux. Photo: Gillian Thornton

I’ve always had a soft spot for Le Touquet. Purpose-built in an area of sand dunes, it was so popular with wealthy Parisians that, in 1900, it was renamed Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. Take a walking or cycling tour of the Art Deco villas, get active on the broad sands, or relax with thalassotherapy. Every April, the beach at nearby Berck-sur-Mer hosts a spectacular international kite festival.

Inland from Berck, the pretty town of Montreuil-sur-Mer stands above the Canche, gateway to the Sept Vallées (the Seven Valleys) and a popular stopover for its cobbled streets, historic citadel and Victor Hugo connections. On two feet, or two wheels, you’ll find marked trails and protected natural areas to enjoy. Take a forest path in the Seven Valleys, stroll through the Dunes de Slack – the Flanders Dunes – and watch wildlife in the nature reserves of the Platier d’Oye and at Authie Bay.

The Place des Héros in Arras took its current name in 1945. Photo: Fotolia

Inland from Calais, the Art and History Town of Saint-Omer stands on the edge of the Audomarois marshes, a unique area of market gardening awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO. The excellent Maison du Marais provides an interactive overview of marshland life, and a guided excursion in a traditional at-bottomed boat is a must-do.

Cross the departmental border into the Nord and a short drive brings you to the hilltop town of Cassel with its old windmill, huge square and far-reaching views. And in the east of the département , the rural tranquillity of the Avesnois takes many first-time visitors by surprise with its peaceful lakes, quiet forests and distinctive stone houses.

Le Touquet. Photo: Gillian Thornton

MUSÉES DE FRANCE

The vibrant city of Lille offers everything from art galleries and historic buildings to contemporary fashion design, festivals and exhibitions. But not for nothing is Nord-Pas de Calais known as the Region of Culture. With 48 collections classified Musées de France, it has more national museums than any French département outside Paris- Île-de-France.

Musée la Piscine at Roubaix, a converted former baths, now the town’s Art and Industry Museum. Photo: Lille Metropole

Whatever your taste, you’ll find it here – contemporary art at LAAC in Dunkerque; Dutch and Italian Renaissance masters at Lille Fine Arts Museum; and more than 80 works by Matisse in his birth town of Le Cateau-Cambrésis. Relive the life and times of Napoleon at the Fine Arts Museum in Arras, where an exhibition staged in partnership with Versailles runs until November 18, 2018. Discover 300 years of high-class ceramics in the permanent exhibition at Desvres Ceramics Museum, and enjoy glassware across the ages at Musverre, the impressive new glass museum opened in October 2016 at Sars-Poteries in the Avesnois.

Many of these outstanding collections are housed in equally stunning buildings. In 2012, the former mining town of Lens was chosen for the first satellite museum of the Louvre in Paris, housed in an eye-catching glass building on the site of a former colliery.

The interior courtyard of the City of Lace and Fashion. Photo: Gillian Thornton

Other buildings have been imaginatively given new leases of life, too. I love La Piscine, a former Art Deco swimming pool and public baths in Roubaix and now the town’s Art and Industry Museum. And this summer I discovered a Modernist gem close by at Croix. Designed by Robert Mallet-Stevens for textile magnate Paul Cavrois, the Villa Cavrois opened in June 2015 after a major refurbishment programme.

Among many earlier architects who left their mark here is Vauban, military architect to Louis XIV, who built his signature star-shaped ramparts around towns across France. The citadel at Arras is listed by UNESCO; at Gravelines you can circumnavigate his ramparts by electric boat; and at Ambleteuse you will see a rare example of a Vauban coastal fort.

Lille’s Grand’Place has architecture typical of the Low Countries. Photo: Gillian Thornton

For a chilling insight into the events of World War II, visit La Coupole or the Blockhaus d’Éperlecques to appreciate how narrowly London missed an onslaught of V2 rockets. Dunkerque, meanwhile, tells its own story through the Operation Dynamo museum and other sites. And at Ambleteuse, I was amazed by the vast collection of international uniforms and memorabilia at the privately owned 39-45 Museum.

the Ring of Remembrance, where the names of more than half a million soldiers who fell in the Great War are recorded. Photo: Gillian Thornton

The centenary of World War I has been attracting Remembrance visitors from around the world. November the 26th saw the inauguration of the Cambrai Tank Museum 1917, featuring a British Mark IV tank that took part in the Battle of Cambrai.

The density of sites never ceases to amaze. At Neuville-Saint-Vaast – a short drive from the Canadian Memorial at Vimy Ridge and the largest French national war cemetery of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette – I passed the huge German war cemetery and, opposite each other, the Polish and Czechoslovakian memorials. And the Commonwealth casualties? Cemeteries are dotted everywhere.

The sun sets over the Fort d’Ambleteuse, which was built by Vauban under the orders of Louis XIV to defend the port. Photo: Fotolia

Last summer I paid my first visit to the Lens 14-18 Great War History Centre, which brings the whole sorry story vividly to life through archive photos and artefacts, many never displayed before.

From this excellent free museum, it’s a five-minute drive to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette. Opposite the gates stands the Ring of Remembrance, inaugurated on November 11, 2014, and accessed down a long, gentle ramp. Here, 580,000 soldiers who fell in northern France in the Great War are commemorated in alphabetical order, without distinction by nationality or rank, on an ellipse of metal tablets. This humbling memorial is all the more powerful for its simplicity; the names painstakingly recorded in a new font poignantly named Lorette.

Like so many parts of Nord-Pas de Calais, it is surprisingly beautiful.

The white cliffs of Dover, viewed from Tardinghen. Photo: Gillian Thornton

A TASTE OF NORD-PAS DE CALAIS

Fishing, farming and industry have always co-existed here, so food lovers can expect the best in local produce, as well as some enthusiastic chefs able to put new twists on traditional fare.

CHEESE: Nord-Pas de Calais serves a well-stocked cheese board including Coeur d’Arras, Vieux Boulogne and Vieux Lille. Visit artisan producers like the Ferme du Vert in Wierre-Effroy and choose from 300 cheeses matured by Philippe Olivier at his famous shop in Boulogne. With its soft texture and tangy flavour, Maroilles is a distinctive flavour of the Nord and is used widely in cooking.

Regional cheeses. Photo: Gillian Thornton

SEAFOOD: Boulogne is France’s leading fishing port and a European hub for processing produce from the sea. Visit the daily fish market, the dawn fish auction, or take a boat trip to discover the bay. Audresselles and Wissant are still active fishing villages and there’s a fish market too at Étaples, home to the Maréis Sea Fishing Discovery Centre. Try the catch of the day at any local restaurant here and you are unlikely to be disappointed.

BEER: This region has a strong brewing tradition and micro-breweries abound. Many artisan beers are only sold through local shops and restaurants, providing a great experience for beer lovers. Try 2 Caps in Tardinghen, Brasserie du Pays Flamand in Blaringhem, Brasserie Cambier in Croix, or Brasserie du Cateau in Le Cateau-Cambrésis.

Fish at Le Touquet’s market. Photo: Gillian Thornton

ESTAMINETS: Not a food speciality as such, but traditional Flemish ‘pubs’ where you can drink local beers and eat hearty fare like Maroilles cheese tart, rich carbonnade flamande , and potjevleesch , a substantial dish of four white meats with vegetables in jelly.

MUSSELS AND CHIPS: A staple of the Nord in particular – and not just on the coast. Every year on the first weekend of September, restaurants in Lille compete for the biggest pile of mussel shells outside the door during La Braderie, a non-stop antiques and flea market that takes over the city from Saturday to Monday.

From France Today magazine

Regional beers. Photo: Gillian Thornton

Windmill at the Maison du Marais, the House of the Marshes, Saint-Omer

Share to:  Facebook  Twitter   LinkedIn   Email

Related Articles

Five Must-See Sites Around Dole in the Jura

New at the Carrières des Lumières: Time of the Pharaohs

10 Reasons to Visit Juno Beach

By gillian thornton, leave a reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Important Cookie Information

We collect information from our users – this is for administration and contact purposes in connection with contributions you may wish to make to the site or your use of certain site features such as newsletter subscriptions and property enquiries.

The Good Life France

Everything You Want to Know About France and More...

Nord-Pas de Calais, best kept secret of France

• Nord-Pas de Calais

The Nord-Pas de Calais region in the north of France may not have the sun, the film stars or the ostentatious wealth of the Riviera but it does have plenty of Gallic charm and a rich culture. For those in the UK its other advantage is the fact that by making a short crossing over or under the English Channel – just 21 miles – you can have a taste of real France, real close.

And, this region is probably the friendliest and jolliest place in France!

Nord, France

Nord is the side that borders with Belgium and includes Lille as its jewel in the crown. There is a strong Flemish influence in the region from architecture and customs to cuisine and beer. A short journey from the coast you’ll find gorgeous Cassel with its famous gardens and pretty hill top town. Lille is a city of culture with its old town and cobbled square, its art galleries and museums including the Palais des Beaux-Arts, considered the second national collection of France after the Louvre in Paris. Lille is also a stop off point on the Eurotunnel route between Paris and London so has become a popular destination for both French and British weekenders resulting in a wealth of hotels and restaurants to cater to the visitors. With the opening of the Lens Louvre in 2012 the former mining basin shot to fame. It also hit headlines when the slag heaps from the now defunct mines achieve UNESCO heritage status.

Pas de Calais France

Pas de Calais takes in the Opal Coast with 150 kms of immaculate beaches and lovely seaside resorts including the ever popular Le Touquet . The Opal Coast or Côte d’Opale runs from the Belgian border to the edge of the River Somme and has some very charming and elegant resorts. The coast has attracted painters and artists over the years including Turner who loved to paint the boats and fishermen of Pas de Calais. There is gorgeous countryside like the Seven Valleys with its quaint villages and historic villes such as Montreuil-sur- Mer and Hesdin . It was a visit to Montreuil-sur-Mer in 1837 which inspired Victor Hugo’s famous book Les Miserables and with a new film of the book released in 2012, its bound to be a place that fans will want to visit. Just 30 minutes from Calais Port you’ll find lovely towns such as St Omer with its unique marshland, great architecture and huge choice of restaurants and brasseries.

About Nord Pas-de-Calais

Nord Pas de Calais is one of France’s smallest regions but it’s famous for its joie de vivre and has a reputation for being the merriest and friendliest region of France with its love of carnivals and parades with historic giant figures in attendance.

In days gone by the region was one of industrial and manufacturing output – coal, steel and textiles in particular. There are still signs of Nord-Pas de Calais’ industrial past from the Textile Museum in Calais to the coal slag heaps to be seen in the Nord.  These days though the region’s main output is fishing, agriculture and tourism.

Boulogne in Pas de Calais is the location for France’s biggest fishing port; the fertile countryside with weather similar to the South of England and therefore wetter than most of France means that it’s perfect for growing many types of vegetable. The locals welcome tourists with open arms and much friendliness with many English speakers amongst them – indeed the history of Pas de Calais and England goes back many centuries. For a time Calais was under English rule and the region has always been popular with the British thanks to its close proximity and its charm. Charles Dickens once said that Boulogne was his “favourite French watering hole”, Nelson’s Lady Hamilton and Beau Brummel both lived in Calais and Noel Coward and Ian Fleming holidayed regularly at Le Touquet.

There’s always plenty to do and see in the region, from great street market s to fabulous brocantes – the second hand markets for which France is so famous; from great local cuisine to Michelin starred eateries; from museums and galleries to battlefields and war memorials; from parades and carnivals to Christmas markets .

Market Days in Calais town are:

Wednesday and Saturday, Place des Armes closes about  12.30; Thursday and Saturday, Place Crevecoeur closes about 12.30

There are hundreds of markets in the region – for information see our detailed guides to markets in Pas de Calais .

How to get to Calais

From the UK Calais is easy to reach

By Eurotunnel from Ashford (Junction 11a on M20)

By Ferry – P&O from Dover to Calais, DFDS Seaways from Dover to Calais, or DFDS Seaways from Dover to Dunkirk

By Train – Eurostar from London to Calais Frethun

On Foot – P&O from Dover to Calais and then take the bus outside the ferry terminal to Calais Town Centre and railway stations from where you can take a train to major towns and villages in the region or to Paris.

By Air: from Lydd Airport to Le Touquet airport with Lydd Air.

Latest Posts

All about French art de vivre

Recipe for crème brûlée

Le weekend in Cassis

French Riviera VIP vacation

Chickpea cuisine of the south of France

The last Scourtinerie in France – traditional mats of Provence

Related posts.

One of the best places to enjoy Autumn in France | Pas-de-Calais

Discover real Pas-de-Calais: heritage, history & heavenly beaches

Agincourt | The legends and a historic museum

What to see and do in Wimereux, northern France

Get updates and stay connected - subscribe to our newsletter.

Everything You want to know about france and more…

The Good Life France is the leading independent website about all things French from travel to culture, gastronomy to property and practical guides & more…

Let's get social

Everything you need to know about cycling in France your independent guide

Where to cycle: Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Lille to paris bike route.

We rode from Lille Eurostar to Paris via the Somme on this six-day cycling itinerary.

La Vélomaritime - EuroVelo 4 Central Europe bike route

Map and accommodation for the French part of La Vélomaritime EuroVelo 4 Central Europe bike route from Roscoff to Kyiv.

Bike hire in Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Need to hire a bike in Nord-Pas-de-Calais? Then check out our bike hire shop listings

Taking bikes on trains to Calais and the Somme - map and advice

What you need to know about taking a bike on trains to Calais, the Somme and other places in the Hauts-de-France region of France.

Bike routes around the Compiègne forest

Join Mark Cramer as he spends a couple of days cycling around the forests of Compiègne, an area that has lovely bike routes for all abilities.

Les 4 jours de Dunkerque

Dunkirk's annual pro-cycling race is the premiere festival of cycling in Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Cycling the Western Front Way

The Western Front Way is a walking and cycling route that follows the line of No Man's Land from World War One.

Bike route for cycling from Calais to Paris

Richard Peace has this bike route suggestion for cycling from Calais to Paris.

Bike hire in Calais

Reader Q&A: Laila wrote to ask about hiring bikes in Calais.

EuroVelo routes in France

Eight of the 14 EuroVelo routes pass through France – Andrew Sykes has this overview of which ones go where.

On the blog

Help with bike hire in France

I've launched a 'bespoke' bike hire service to help you find bike rental in France. Here's how I can help you.

Posted: 21 Mar 2024

Cycling in France?

Search for tours & accommodation

What are you looking for? What are you looking for? All Accommodation - Campsites - Hotels, hostels and B&Bs - Self-catering All Tours - Guided - Self-guided

Where do you want to look? Nord-Pas-de-Calais Where do you want to look? All France /r/n Alsace /r/n Aquitaine /r/n Auvergne /r/n Brittany /r/n Burgundy /r/n Champagne-Ardenne /r/n Corsica /r/n Franche-Comté /r/n Languedoc-Roussillon /r/n Limousin /r/n Loire Valley-Centre /r/n Lorraine /r/n Midi-Pyrénées /r/n Nord-Pas-de-Calais /r/n Normandy /r/n Paris-Île-de-France /r/n Pays de la Loire /r/n Picardy /r/n Poitou-Charentes /r/n Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur /r/n Rhône-Alpes /r/n

Popular articles

• Bespoke planning help
• Help with bike hire
• Buying bikes in France
• Shipping bikes to France
• Cycling insurance
• Easy way to buy train tickets for bikes
• Taking bikes on Eurostar
• Ferry tickets to France
• Canal de Garonne itinerary
• La Velo Francette itinerary
• Paris bike routes
• French dictionary for cyclists
• How to choose a cycle tour
• How to choose a bike route
• Cycling with a GPS
• MTB in France
• Cycling for charity

Share this:

Receive our newsletter.

Your details are safe and will not be sold to a 3rd party, we promise.

Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS

© 2011-2021 Freewheeling France | Copyright, Cookies, Privacy and Advertiser T&Cs |

• Planete Terre
• Sous L Ocean
• Sous L'océan
• Arts Culinaires
• Faune Et Flore
• Egypte Antique
• Parc D Attraction
• Parc D'attraction
• Bibliothèque
• Labo De Recherche
• Retour Dans Les Années 70
• New York, New York!
• La Bella Roma
• Grand Magasin
• Défilé De Mode
• Stations Touristiques
• Bienvenue Au Japon
• Salle De Concert
• Solutions Mots Fléchés

Tour À Cloches Célèbre Dans Le Nord-Pas-De-Calais - CodyCross

Ici vous trouvez la solution exacte à Tour À Cloches Célèbre Dans Le Nord-Pas-De-Calais pour continuer dans le paquet CodyCross Cirque Groupe 83 Grille 5 .

Solution pour Tour À Cloches Célèbre Dans Le Nord-Pas-De-Calais

Solutions du même grille, d'autres mondes, derniers niveaux, autres jeux.