Lille _ Place aux Oignons © CRTC Hauts-de-France - Benoît GuilleuxLille _ Place aux Oignons © CRTC Hauts-de-France - Benoît Guilleux
©Lille, Place aux Oignons |Hauts-de-France Tourisme - Benoît Guilleux

Nord Department

Surprising and friendly

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You will be truly transformed by the end of your stay in the Nord, where the art of celebration meets cultural and artistic heritage. The authenticity of French Flanders and the unique light of the Opal coast will captivate you. All this is just an hour from Paris by train, or two and a half hours by car. Brussels is only an hour and a half away by car.

Northern France_Hauts De France_NordNorthern France_Hauts De France_Nord
©Northern France, Hauts De France, Nord|Jean-Luc Verbrugghe

The Nord department’s 10 essentials

  • Stroll around the lanes of Lille’s old town
  • Plunge into World War II history in Dunkirk
  • Discover the poignant World War I battlefields and memorials of French Flanders
  • Rejuvenate on fine sandy beaches and in seaside resorts
  • Be inspired by museums and galleries from across the arts world
  • Climb to the top of ancient belfries
  • Taste traditional French Flemish dishes such as potjevleesch, a terrine-type dish, and moules frites (mussels and chips)
  • Savour the flavours of an authentic waffle from iconic patisserie Meert
  • Join in with the festivities during the famous street market, the Braderie de Lille, or la sortie des Géants, the annual giants’ parade in towns and cities across the region
  • Browse art in new and unusual places
Northern France _ Lille _ Vieux Lille © CRTC Hauts-de-France - AS FlamentNorthern France _ Lille _ Vieux Lille © CRTC Hauts-de-France - AS Flament
©Northern France, Lille, Vieux Lille |CRTC Hauts-de-France - AS Flament
Northern France _ Cassel © OT Cœur de Flandres - Isabelle d'HulstNorthern France _ Cassel © OT Cœur de Flandres - Isabelle d'Hulst
©Northern France, Cassel |OT Cœur de Flandres - Isabelle d'Hulst
Northern France _ Dunkirk _ Longe-côte © Opale Longe Côte Office de Tourisme et des Congrès de DunkerqueNorthern France _ Dunkirk _ Longe-côte© Opale Longe Côte Office de Tourisme et des Congrès de Dunkerque
©Northern France, Dunkirk, Longe-côte| Opale Longe Côte - Office de Tourisme et des Congrès de Dunkerque
Northern France _Douai _ Belfry © CRTC Hauts-de-France - Ariane ForniaNorthern France _Douai _ Belfry © CRTC Hauts-de-France - Ariane Fornia
©Northern France, Douai, Belfry|CRTC Hauts-de-France - Ariane Fornia
Northern France _ mussels and french fries © CRTC Hauts-de-France - AS FlamentNorthern France _ mussels and french fries © CRTC Hauts-de-France - AS Flament
©Northern France, mussels and french fries |Hauts-de-France Tourisme - Anne-Sophie Flament
Northern France _ Lille _ Meert Patisserie © CRTC Hauts-de-France - Jean-Luc VerbruggheNorthern France _ Lille _ Meert Patisserie © CRTC Hauts-de-France - Jean-Luc Verbrugghe
©Northern France, Lille, Meert Patisserie|Hauts-de-France Tourisme - Jean-Luc Verbrugghe
Northern France _ Lille _ flea market © Office de Tourisme de Lille - Olivier DuhamelNorthern France _ Lille _ flea market © Office de Tourisme de Lille - Olivier Duhamel
©Northern France, Lille, flea market |Office de Tourisme de Lille - Olivier Duhamel
Northern France _ Roubaix _ Musée de la Piscine © CRTC Hauts-de-France - AS FlamentNorthern France _ Roubaix _ Musée de la Piscine © CRTC Hauts-de-France - AS Flament
©Northern France, Roubaix, Musée de la Piscine|Hauts-de-France Tourisme - Anne-Sophie Flament
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    Explore the Nord Department

    Experiences to live in the Nord department

     

     

    Lille _ Maison Folie de Wazemmes _ Somehow I don't feel comfortable _ œuvre de Momoyo Torimitsu © Jean-Pierre Duplan - Light MotivLille _ Maison Folie de Wazemmes _ "Somehow I don't feel comfortable" _ œuvre de Momoyo Torimitsu © Jean-Pierre Duplan - Light Motiv
    ©Lille, Maison Folie de Wazemmes, "Somehow I don't feel comfortable", œuvre de Momoyo Torimitsu |Jean-Pierre Duplan - Light Motiv
    Art for All
    Art comes alive in unexpected places! An old fort, a farm, a former hospice or a disused factory – all these relics from our past are being repurposed to pass on their...
    Saint-Valery-sur-Somme_Spa Be Baie © CRTC Hauts-de-France - Teddy HeninSaint-Valery-sur-Somme_Spa Be Baie © CRTC Hauts-de-France - Teddy Henin
    ©Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, Spa Be Baie|Hauts-de-France Tourisme / Teddy Henin
    Unwind in fabulous locations!
    Would you prefer a spa in an exceptional environment, a museum-hotel, steeped in history, or looking out onto a breath-taking view of nature? In Lille, Valenciennes, or Somme...
    Brissay-Choigny_Eglise_sur_la_Voie_Verte © Teddy Henin - Agence Aisne TourismeBrissay-Choigny, l'église sur la Voie Verte
    ©Brissay-Choigny, l'église sur la Voie Verte|Teddy Henin - Agence Aisne Tourisme
    Cycling the Scandibérique route
    A sociable adventure to share among friends on part of France’s longest cycling route –something to make you look and feel very sporty! The route is also a foodie adventure for...
    Roubaix _ les Ateliers Jouret _ green market © Les Ateliers Jouret - Delphine BarbryRoubaix _ les Ateliers Jouret _ green market © Les Ateliers Jouret - Delphine Barbry
    ©Roubaix, les Ateliers Jouret, green market |Les Ateliers Jouret - Delphine Barbry
    Artists in their Studios
    Isn’t it fascinating to watch the creative process unfold in front of you? Chatting with artists in their ateliers, marvelling at the originality of their ideas, or being drawn...
    Paysage de Flandre ©CRTC Hauts-de-France - Eric GATINEAUPaysage de Flandre ©CRTC Hauts-de-France - Eric GATINEAU
    ©Paysage de Flandre |Hauts-de-France Tourisme / Eric GATINEAU
    Cassel
    Cassel is the quintessential Flemish village if ever there was one. Nestled amongst the Monts des Flandres foothills, it’s perfect for nature walks; learning about the history...
    Bergues_Vue Aérienne©florian Michel Flo Brooklyn MichelBergues Vue Aérienne©florian Michel Flo Brooklyn Michel
    ©Bergues, vue aérienne|Florian Michel Flo Brooklyn Michel
    Bergues
    Your visit to Bergues will rhyme with the chime of the belfry, reminiscent of scenes from the cult French film Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis (welcome to the sticks), which...
    Parc Asterix Goudurix © S Cambon - Parc AstérixParc Asterix Goudurix © S Cambon - Parc Astérix
    ©Parc Asterix, Goudurix| S Cambon - Parc Astérix
    Top 10 fun activities to share
    The Hauts-de-France region is blessed with activities for families, each more fun than the next. From unusual rides in classic 2CVs and boating around the floating gardens of...
    Esquelbecq_le château © Stephane Fedorowsky-Association du ChâteauEsquelbecq, le château et les jardins
    ©Esquelbecq, le château et les jardins|Stephane Fedorowsky-Association du Château
    Flemish style: follow the crow-steps!
    Look upwards when you explore the Flemish towns of French Flanders, whether roaming the narrow streets of Lille’s old town and Bailleul, or smaller villages like Cassel. You’ll...
    Villeneuve d'Ascq _ Le LaM, Lille Métropole Musée d'art moderne, d'art contemporain et d'art brut © Frédéric Iovono - LaMVilleneuve d'Ascq _ Le LaM, Lille Métropole Musée d'art moderne, d'art contemporain et d'art brut © Frédéric Iovono - LaM
    ©Villeneuve d'Ascq, le LaM, Lille Métropole Musée d'art moderne, d'art contemporain et d'art brut |Frédéric Iovono - LaM
    Outsider Art – the stirring, offbeat art of “the mad”
    These artists didn’t know they were creating Art with a capital A! The term Outsider Art was coined to describe the work of an unclassifiable group of people – they might...
    dunkerque-le-plus-palais-de-lunivers-et-des-sciences-17-crt-hauts-de-francemarc-vidal-e1675091008552.jpg
    ©CRT Hauts-de-France - Marc Vidal
    The PLUS, a space odyssey
    “Ask for the moon, and we’ll give it to you”, that’s the motto of the Palais de l’Univers et des Sciences (PLUS) in Capelle-la-Grande, close to Dunkirk. Get comfy in the...
    Haillicourt, Terril du pays à part, ©CRTC Hauts-de-France - Fabien CoisyHaillicourt, Terril du pays à part, ©CRTC Hauts-de-France - Fabien Coisy
    ©Terril du pays à part à Haillicourt|Hauts-de-France Tourisme / Fabien Coisy
    Scale a black mountain
    The Mining Basin is a UNESCO World Heritage Site crowned with terrils (slag heaps), black mountains formed from the waste material generated by coal mining. And they are just...
    Lille _ Vue de la Grand Place © CRTC Hauts-de-France - Stéphanie GheearertLille _ Vue de la Grand Place © CRTC Hauts-de-France - Stéphanie Gheearert
    ©Lille, Vue de la Grand Place |Hauts-de-France Tourisme - Stéphanie Gheearert
    Lille
    From the top of the town hall’s belfry, the whole of Lille is laid before you. It’s a view that stretches from the Porte de Paris, bearing the hallmark of Louis XIV, and runs...
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