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

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On a map of France, the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region forms the northernmost tip of the country'southward Hexagon. At the border of Belgium and facing the English Channel, Nord-Pas-de-Calais boasts beautiful sandy beaches, too 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 existence ane of French republic's most important industrial areas, at that place are still pastoral farms, historic towns, and quaint villages untouched by modernity. A charming ambient and top-notch cultural attractions are also found in several cities such every bit Lille, Arras, and Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Program a fabulous travel itinerary and discover the all-time places to visit with our listing of the top attractions in Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

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

i. Lille

Lille is the largest city of French Flemish region and has a distinctive Flemish character, seen in its lovely compages and hearty cuisine. The local cooking includes typical Belgian dishes similar 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 Bizarre monuments such as the Vieille Bourse (Old Stock Commutation). The nearby Rang du Beauregard buildings exemplify an ornate Lilloise Neoclassical style.

Fine art museums are amongst the summit 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 drove 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 get-go 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 pop things to do in the city.

2. Arras

The celebrated majuscule 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 sometime Benedictive monastery of Saint-Vaast is now home to the Musée des Beaux-Arts. This museum has a diverse fine 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 Earth War One, the surface area around Arras was the scene of heavy fighting, which is at present commemorated by several armed services 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 Starting time Globe War.

3. Calais

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

In this spectacular seaside location along the Côte d'Opale (Opal Declension), 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 fourth dimension in Calais (rather than only traveling through), must-see attractions are the UNESCO-listed Flemish Renaissance-style Hôtel de Ville (Boondocks Hall) and the nearby group of Auguste Rodin'due south sculptures, Les Bourgeois de Calais , which commemorate the siege of Calais in 1347 past 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 past 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, also as an assortment of vintage style pieces that feature lace adornments. The collections focus on the history of handmade lace from the Renaissance era to the 19th century. Even so, there is also an showroom of modern lace and gimmicky fashion.

iv. Boulogne-sur-Mer

As French republic's largest line-fishing port, information technology'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.

About the Nausicaá aquarium is admission to a sandy embankment along the Boulevard Sainte-Beuve. The beach has a yacht club and a promenade, which is ideal for taking a seaside stroll. During summertime, embankment 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'south quays. Gourmands savor the seafood cooking workshops taught past local chefs, and samplings of specialties prepared from fresh catches.

Tourists should besides take some time to explore the One-time Town of Boulogne-sur-Mer, a walled medieval city known every bit the Haute Ville considering it's perched on a hilltop. This charming historic area is total of atmospheric cobblestone streets and picturesque squares.

Highlights of the Haute Ville include the UNESCO-listed belfry, dating to the twelfth century; the Notre-Dame Basilica, which incorporates a Romanesque catacomb; and the 13th-century fortifications (Les Remparts), which characteristic iv 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'due south 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 take chances to admire panoramas of the city.

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

5. Gerberoy

With its tranquil bucolic setting, cobblestone pedestrian alleyways, and quaint one-half-timbered houses, this medieval village is a delightful place to explore. Thanks to its dazzler and charm, Gerberoy is listed as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de French republic (Most Beautiful Villages of France). The Touring Club of France titled Gerberoy every bit "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 yr since 1928.

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

Nearly 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 only was renovated in later centuries.

6. Bergues

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

Bergues is almost famous for its belfry, considered 1 of the finest in France. The UNESCO-listed Beffroi de Bergues features an unusual open design, with 50 bells that chime to marker the hours. Every bit the town's acme 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 Bizarre compages. 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.

7. Musée Louvre-Lens

The Musée Louvre-Lens is an ultramodern museum infinite 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 brandish are over 200 masterpieces from the Louvre. Many exhibits focus on specific themes of artworks compiled from various fourth dimension periods or representing dissimilar artistic styles.

It'due south easy to get to the museum from Lille (a 30-minute drive) or Paris (xc minutes past train). The train station in Lens offers gratis shuttle bus rides to the museum.

Address: 99 Rue Paul Bert, 62300 Lens

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

eight. Cambrai

Cambrai is a tranquillity 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 archway into the previously walled town.

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

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

Fine art lovers will capeesh the Musée des Beaux-Arts, which has an excellent assortment of 16th- to 19th-century Dutch and French paintings. The museum'south archæology and contemporary fine art collections are also interesting.

Many cultural attractions are constitute 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 (xv 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-run into 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 near important collections of Matisse paintings in the world. On displays are 82 paintings that Matisse himself donated to the museum.

9. Saint-Omer and the Marais Audomarois

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

Other must-meet landmarks are the 13th-century Eglise Saint-Denis, which has a imperial Gothic tower, and the Cathédrale Notre Matriarch, a fantabulous Gothic monument built betwixt the 13th and 16th centuries.

In the surround, the Marais Audomarois (marshland) is amid 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'south waterways is another way to discover the wetland scenery, with its lush establish life and market place gardens. In that location 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 expanse, the Audomarois Forest has scenic trails for hiking and cycling.

10. Dunkerque

But 14 kilometers from the Belgian border, Dunkerque (Dunkirk) is French republic's northernmost town, on the Due north Ocean near the Strait of Dover. Dunkerque has an important commercial port, as well equally ferry boat access to Dover, England.

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

Every year earlier Ash Wed, the Dunkirk Carnival transforms the boondocks into a wild and crazy scene of unbridled celebration. Thousands of revelers bear witness their festive spirit, wearing colorful costumes; some carry whimsical umbrellas on long handles. The iii-solar day carnival includes gregarious processions, musical entertainment, and joyful assurance.

eleven. Douai

Douai is an erstwhile 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 every bit the precious Polyptyque d'Anchin past Jean Bellegambe (created between 1509 and 1513).

12. Abbaye de Vaucelles

The Abbaye de Vaucelles is a remarkable 12th-century abbey founded past 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 nearly of import historic buildings in northern French republic.

Visitors tin see the former Monks' Quarters, including a affiliate 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.

Where to Stay in Nord-Pas-de-Calais for Sightseeing

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

Clarance Hotel : luxury Lille bazaar hotel, 18th-century townhouse, brilliant rooms, Michelin-starred eating place, vegetable garden.
Hotel Fifty'Arbre Voyageur, BW Premier Collection : mid-range Lille hotel, most the old town, contemporary building, serene rooms.
Vacation 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.

Nearby Attractions in the Picardy Region

Amiens

Amiens is the historic capital of Picardy and was long famous as a center of linen, wool, and cotton industries. The 2nd World State of war took its toll on the city. Fortunately, the magnificent Cathédrale Notre Dame d'Amiens was spared any damage.

The nearly 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 past its harmony and overall stylistic coherence. Visitors marvel at the intricacy of the facade with its exquisite details.

Beauvais

Beauvais has a distinctive old-world character and noteworthy celebrated 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, congenital in the twelfth century with some afterward additions.

It'southward worth taking fourth dimension to adore the church'due south stained-drinking 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.

Most a thirty-minute drive northward in the hamlet of Folleville is the UNESCO-listed Eglise Paroissiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste. This celebrated church was on the medieval "Style of Saint James" pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Château de Chantilly

In the small-scale 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 Knuckles of Aumale (Henri d'Orléans), whose father was Louis-Philippe, the last king of French republic. 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'south 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'due south restaurant, La Capitainerie, serves a unproblematic 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 French republic's second-largest collection (after the Louvre) of works by the Former Masters, from the Renaissance to the 19th century. Some of the finest pieces include the Portrait de Madame Duvaucey past Ingres, the Massacre des Innocents by Poussin, and Concert Champêtre by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, likewise equally paintings past 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 (mural builder of Versailles) and a romantic English Garden created in the 19th century. The property too includes the Grandes Écuries equus caballus stables that present entertaining equestrian shows.

Official site: http://world wide web.domainedechantilly.com/en

Compiègne

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

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, besides as Napoleon I and Napoleon 3.

The Château de Compiègne is open to the public year-round for self-guided or guided tours. Visitors will be dazzled by the palace'due south Neoclassical compages and opulent Regal apartments of the First (Napoleon I) and 2nd (Napoleon Iii) French Empires. The palace likewise has three museum collections and a tea salon in the rose garden, the Salon de Thé du Jardin des Roses.

Virtually 10 kilometers from Compiègne in a immigration of dense woodland, the Mémorial de fifty'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 wood.

Noyons

In the heart of Picardy, Noyon is an interesting tourist destination with a glorious Romanesque-Gothic cathedral congenital 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 firm 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 road 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.

Somme Battlefields

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

In the boondocks 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 State of war and gives visitors a realistic insight of the trench battle experience, with recreations of scenes showing soldiers in the trenches.