Visit Hauts-de-France
Come to Hauts-de-France and be refreshed, enlightened, and inspired. Whether it is a vintage find in a flea market, an unforgettable meal in a Michelin-starred restaurant, the moving sight of a historic battlefield, the UNESCO-listed cathedral at Amiens, the medieval ramparts in Laon or Chantilly’s fairytale chateau, Hauts-de-France will surprise and enchant you at every turn.
At the tip of France, between Normandy, the Champagne region and Paris, Hauts-de-France is the closest region to UK shores, and all its attractions are easily accessible by sustainable means of transport.
Seismic historical events shared with the UK, including Agincourt, WW1 and Dunkirk, are visible in some of France’s most iconic sites, from Arras’ café-lined main square, the trenches at Vimy and the Thiepval Memorial to the iconic villas of Le Touquet.
Hauts-de-France is resolutely modern too, with new cultural venues and events popping up every year. Among them are the Louvre in Lens, the international music festival in Arras’ citadel, the state-of-the-art aquarium in Boulogne-Sur-Mer (Nausicaá) and Lille’s contemporary arts scene.
The great outdoors beckons, with unspoilt countryside and seascapes unfurling as far as the eye can see. Breathe in the fresh air as you watch a sunset over the water, e-bike your cobwebs away on the Deux-Caps cliffs, bird- and seal-watch in the Somme bay, swing by one of the region’s pres-tigious golf clubs or breathe in the scent of the roses at Valloires abbey: just some of the ways our region will physically invigorate and mentally renew you.
Even the food is UNESCO-listed in France, so come prepared to fill your boots (and your boot!), whether it’s in low-key foodie hotspot Montreuil-sur-Mer in the west or in culinary capital Lille in the east, in farmers’ markets or at Michelin-starred restaurant.
Tour villages-de-charme including Cassel, Gerberoy and St-Valery-sur-Somme, some with spectac-ular gardens hidden away amidst their narrow lanes. Wherever you stop off, you’ll find everything from boutique B&Bs, manors and chateaux to quirky treehouses.
Discover Lille Metropolis
Only one hour from Paris, 35 minutes from Brussels and 80 minutes from London, Lille could have lived in the shadow of ots illustrious neigbors. However, without complex, it improves and displays its difference !
Flemish, Burgundy and Spanish before becoming French, Lille owns an exceptional architectural heritage. Merchant since the Middle Ages, citadel under Louis XIV, industrious in the nineteenth and ambitious in the twentieth century, the city preserves the vestiges of this past (i.e., Citadel of Lille, surrounded by a very pleasant park), while looking towards the future.
While the district of Euralille is a concentrate of architectural audacities signed Rem Koolhaas, Jean Nouvel or Christian de Portzamparc, the area of Lille Sud became « Maisons de Mode ».
© Mel Vincent Lecigne
European Capital of Culture in 2004, World design Capital in 2020, Lille is now a reference in this sector. In large prestigious museums (i.e., Palais des Beaux Arts, LaM, La Piscine) or alternative art centers (i.e. Gare de Lille-Saint-Sauveur, Tri Postal) from the Opera to the numerous theaters to the national orchestra of Lille, culture is lived and shared every day.
During your journey in Lille, you will discover “Utopia”, the 6th thematic edition of lille3000, a cultural program that continues the dynamism born in 2004.
Then, the 2022 ESCoP conference will be followed by the Grande Braderie of Lille, which will stand from Saturday 3rd September to Sunday 4th September. It is the largest flea market in Europe and one of the most famous events in France. The Grande Braderie of Lille immerses you in an atmosphere that reflects the city itself: friendly, festive and gastronomic paradise – especially the emblem of the event, the heaps of tons of mussels in front of the restaurants – where breathe the generosity and warmth of the people of the North.
Strong of this singularity, it offers visitors a tasty mixture of Flamish joviality and French elegance, in the heart of the youngest region of France! Surprising, unexpected, visionary, creative, but also audacious, Lille captivates and enthuses its guests by its contrasts.
Where to eat in Lille?
Regional specialties
Veggie-friendly
Where to drink in Lille?
Beer bars and craft beers
Board game bars