Welcome to Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Welcome to the land of architecture! The Nord-Pas-de-Calais region was renamed Haute-France in 2016, as the result of the union of this region and Picardy. It is the French region at the highest altitude and is divided into five smaller departments. Moreover, it is interesting to know that this place is, together with Ile de France, is the youngest region of Northern France.
The identity of this region throughout history has been built on an industrial and craft scheme as it is a place known as "the land of museums" as it has about 50 museums and here there are different natural landscapes and some change with the position of the light!
Due to the many coves that can be found here, there are several fishing villages in this region such as Audresselles with its white houses and all the corresponding options for water sport activities, or Ambleteuse (also known as the majestic Fort Mahon), which is a fort that was rebuilt into a military fortification during the reign of Louis XIV.
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What to see
One of the most striking places to visit here is La Piscine or the André Diligent Museum of Art and Industry in Roubaix, an "old temple" of art deco hygiene where you will find different activities such as talks, courses at the Ecole du Louvre and a shop to buy what you need or take home as a souvenir, but there is also a restaurant.
At the Great Site of the Two Capes you will find cities and villages worth visiting too. This is the case of Sangatte, which is a hot spring are known for having been the first spot flown over when crossing the Channel from above. Its large beach will allow you to do many water activities. Another remarkable city is Tardinghen, which has a beautiful viewpoint over the Blanc-Nez capes and those of the English coast. Audinghen, on the other hand, is a place where you can find the remains of bunkers, left in memory of the Second World War.
Resuming our trip, it is interesting to admire the fortifications of the Gravelines area in a totally natural panorama between fresh and salt water, the bell tower of Douai (50 metres high) or the Matisse Museum in Cateau-Cambrésis if you are an art lover.
What to eat
Starting with frikandel, a sausage-shaped meatball almost inevitably accompanied by French fries. Just after that we have the marinated herring rolls, which consist of a herring fillet marinated in a sauce made of water, vinegar and a sweetener usually rolled up with some onion.
The next is the Belgian beef stew, a traditional stew with beer, which is one of the most important elements of the French Nordic cuisine as there are establishments where you can learn to make craft beer.
And you can't miss Cambrai's bêtise, a very peculiar sweet the origin of which is a culinary error resulted from adding too much mint and that has now become a popular candy recipe!
Nature
You cannot continue your journey without stepping on the Opal Coast, full of incredible landscapes where natural phenomena such as dunes, cliffs or estuaries are mixed. But it is a very complete tour to which you must also add many hiking trails.
The Opal Cape and Marshes Nature Reserve has the ideal views for lovers of maritime landscapes, as it is made up of the cliffs of Cape Blanc-Nez and those of Cape Gris-Nez, known as the Great Siege of the Two Capes, opposite England. A place that holds many extraordinary secrets that will mesmerise anyone. This way, you will be able to carry out sports activities such as sailing, playing golf or enjoying boat trips, among many other options.
Another imposing natural delight are the ruins of the towers of the abbey of Mont-Saint-Eloi in the Artois hills at the same time as the Lewarde mining museum in the heart of the Historical Mining Centre and Étrun, the village that concentrates a huge amount of heritage.
Our festivities
It is now a custom to go to traditional festivals in each region that you visit to experience the culture and tradition in first person while enjoying an unforgettable holiday. Therefore, you have different options, but we will highlight the most popular ones.
The first one, the Dunkirk Carnival, which dresses up the North in all colour. With a thorough and well ahead of time organisation, its programme includes shows such as dances, upbeat performances, or costumes in an atmosphere of laughter and alcohol.
Another important festival is the International Kite Festival on Berck beach, in April. It is one of the world's biggest kite festivals and lasts for ten days. Thousands of people come to this festival every year to learn more about this sport and compete to make themselves with the prize!
And finally, the Braderie de l'art en Roubaix, which is a free and playful space that highlights artistic recycling over two days in the establishment La Condition Publique, with more than 150 designers showing their artistic productions.
