Pas de-calais 2019 press file

PAS-DE-CALAIS TOURISM
PRESS FILE 2019

Press contact
Benoît Diéval
PAS-DE-CALAIS TOURISM
Route de la Trésorerie - 62126 Wimille
00336 83 15 72 67
benoit@pas-de-calais.com

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SUMMARY

p. 6

p. 26
© Aurélie Leclercq, Pidz, Max LesZed, Anne-Sophie
Flament, Jean-Michel André, Brigitte Baudesson,
Shutterstock, Yannick Cadart, Éric Desaunois, Fabien
Coisy, Frédérik Astier, Alice Chaput Rémi Vimont,
Philippe Hudelle, Sophie Stalnikiewicz, Gilles Trillard,
AccorHotels, Holiday Suites, La Grenouillère, Le
Château, Le roi des Oiseaux, Le domaine des Câlines,
Sam Bellet, Christophe Gilliot François Goudeau,
Vincent Muteau, Ronald Piclin, Jardins de Séricourt,
Offices de Tourisme de Béthune-Bruay, Saint-Omer,
Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, Sophie et Jacques Rougerie,
CAHC, Karl Bruninx, Bas van Oort, Les Faiseurs de
Bateaux, Ville de Boulogne-sur-Mer, Cituation et
Ensemble, Jérôme Pouille.
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p. 20
p. 34
Mining Heritage p. 6
Craft beer p. 12
In the countryide p. 14
Staring at the sea p. 20
Events calendar 2019 p. 26
The highlights p. 34

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ACCESS
Ferry :
P&O Ferries : Dover – Calais : 90 min
DFDS Seaways : Dover – Calais : 90 min
Dover - Dunkirk : 120 min

By train :
Eurostar : London – Calais : 1h00
Paris – Calais : 1h30

Eurotunnel : Folkestone - Calais : 35 min
TGV Nord : Paris – Calais : 1h30
Paris – Arras : 50 min

From main airports, by car
To Calais
Paris Charles de Gaulle : 2h30
Paris Orly : 2h40
Zaventem-Brussels : 2h00
Brussels Charleroi : 2h20
London Heathrow : 3h00
Paris - Beauvais Tillé : 1h00
Lille Lesquin : 1h30

Motorways :
A1, A16, A26

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The Pas-de-Calais :
Three destinations, three ambiances
The « Grand Site de France » label awarded to the Deux Caps, the
opening of Louvre-Lens, the awarding of the UNESCO « Man and
Biosphere » label to the Audomarois marshlands, the Versailles-
Arras partnership, the classifi cation of the belfries and the
Coalfi eld Area as UNESCO World Heritage sites... Pas-de-Calais is
experiencing an unprecedented cultural and touristic dynamism.
Open to Europe, this area is represented by 3 tourism destinations:
the Opal Coast with its infi nite shades of blue and green, Hills
& Dales with the gentle tranquillity of the countryside and the
innovative and cultural personality of the youthful Around Louvre-
Lens destination.
With sea and cliffs, marshes and forests, slagheaps and belfries, the
Pas-de-Calais has become a European destination that is bursting
with memories and brimming with culture.
Multi-faceted, the department offers a thousand and one faces and
its people have so many stories to share...
OPAL COAST
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HILLS
& DALES
p38
AROUND
LOUVRE-LENS
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EXPLORE
PAS-DE-CALAIS’
COAST,
TOWNS &
VILLAGES

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THE WORLD OF THE MINES
Welcome to the homes of Roland, Roger, Liliane, Hélène and
Jean-Baptiste; the new accommodation sites set up at
the heart of the oldest mining town in the Nord-Pas de
Calais. Here, every room bears the name of a former resident
about whom we learn during out visit to the site...
This quirky accommodation offers thoughtful retro-design
comfort and décor, making every guest feel right at home. They
are ideally situated for enjoying a few days discovering the area’s
mining heritage.
> Cité des électriciens
Rue Franklin, 62700 Bruay-La-Buissière
Information and bookings at 00336 74 74 65 75 ou
citedeselectriciens@bethunebruay.fr
http://citedeselectriciens.fr
Opening May 2019: the Gîtes at the Cité des Électriciens

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The Hôtel Louvre-Lens :
the metamorphosis of a mining village
The silhouette of the Hôtel Louvre-
Lens is, much like the mining
basin that surrounds it, part of the
UNESCO World Heritage site. It is
a testament to the industrial past
that has fashioned the memory of
the local people and the landscape
of this region; that of an authentic
mining village, formerly known as
Cité 9.
Transforming this ensemble
of workers’ houses into a four
star hotel required great tact
and sensitivity. Esprit de France
discovered these qualities in a team
of locals.
The regular scansion of the façades
linked by glass apertures and a
large garden is now home to 52
rooms, a fitness and wellbeing
space, seminar rooms, a brasserie
and a bar. It projects the little-
known history of the destination
into the present day, one that has
become even more significant
following the opening of the
Louvre-Lens Museum located
opposite the hotel.
Rates: from €100 to €180
Breakfast 8€ / 18€
> Hôtel Louvre-Lens 4*
168 rue Paul Bert
62300 Lens
Tél : 00333 66 98 10 40
www.hotel-louvre-lens.com

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The machine awakens at 9-9 bis
The shale heaps invite you to enjoy nature
In December 1990 the last load of coal was lifted out of Pit
n°9 in Oignies. The machine that carried miners deep below
ground and brought the coal to the surface stopped running,
putting an end to 270 years of mining in the Nord and the
Pas-de-Calais areas.
Fast forward to December 2018 and the extraction machinery
at Pit n°9 is back in business! This veritable technical feat was
undertaken by the Aretec Company of Lens with the support
of ACCCUSTO SECI, an association of former miners who have
been passionate about maintaining the mining site for nearly
30 years.
In 2019, the general public can discover the extraction
machinery during visits with commentary and other highlights
provided by 9-9bis.
> 9-9bis Chemin du Tordoir, 62590 Oignies
Tel : 00333 21 08 08 00 – www.9-9bis.com
Slow down, take the time to watch, listen, breathe...
Early in the morning or at dusk, witness the spectacle of
nature awakening on the shale heaps and sharpen your
senses: listen to the birdsong, breathe in the aromas of
the undergrowth, walk with bare feet, observe the animals
that emerge from their shelters as the day dawns or as
darkness falls, gaze at the sunrise or the sunset from the
black mountains and truly grasp the magic of these places.
Night walk: Sunset and nightfall
Friday 19th April at 8pm
Breakfast on the shale heaps :
Wednesday 17th April at 8am
Rates:
€10, €7 (U18), free for children under 6
Meet: The Café-Rando at Lens-Liévin Tourism -
Base 11/19 in Loos-en-Gohelle

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Rendez-vous
2019
The Feast of Saint Barbara
at Lens
For over 100 years, Saint Barbara,
patron saint of miners, fire fighters
and pyrotechnicians has been
a symbol of the area, celebrated
traditionally by the mining communes
and associations of former mine
workers on 4th December with
processions and festive gatherings.
For the Feast of Saint Barbara in 2019,
Lens-Liévin rekindles this tradition with
artistic, cultural and festive happenings
that rally people to the emblematic
sites of local mining heritage.
> Decembre 2019
FREE
www.fetesdebarbara.com
Combi ticket:
« Lens; a mine of Art deco »
visit + football match
In the afternoon, follow a guided visit
entitled «Lens; a mine of Art deco» that
combines the history of the mining
site on which the Louvre-Lens now
stands and a discovery of the Art Deco
façades in the city centre of Lens,
followed by a match at the Bollaert
Stadium in the company of the best
supporters in France.
Combi ticket on sale from Lens-Liévin
Tourist Office and available on match
days only.
Price: €14
Poland Exhibition at the Louvre-Lens
2019 marks a century since the signing of the convention between
France and Poland « relating to emigration and immigration », which
led to the large scale arrival of Polish workers in France and, more
specifically, in the mining basin to the north of the country. Between
1919 and 1928, 280,000 employment contracts were signed because
of this. In order to commemorate this defining event for the identity
of the local area, the Louvre-Lens Museum is presenting a major
retrospective of Polish paintings from the 19th Century in
conjunction with the National Museum in Warsaw.
The exhibition retraces this very special moment in Polish cultural
history when, despite the partitioning of the country between
Russia, the Austrian Empire and Prussia, artists forged a veritable
Polish national identity, something that we are able to refer to as «
Polishness ». Thanks to prestigious loans from the national museums
of Poland, the exhibition brings together around 150 tableaux dated
between 1840 and 1918 by the greatest names in Polish art, such as
Matejko, Chelmonski, Malczewski or Kossak..
> From 25th September 2019 to 20th January 2020
Full rate €10/ 18 – 25 years: €5€ / U 18: free
99 Rue Paul Bert, 62300 Lens
Tel : 00333 21 18 62 62 - www.louvrelens.fr
Départ du roi Jean III © Dąbrowa Tomasz/Muzeum Narodowe w Warszawie

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The Around the Louvre-Lens product range
The slagheap snow globes, Boulets du Mineur
chocolate balls, miniature mining villages, chicory
confit…the Autour du Louvre-Lens destination has
developed a lovely collection of products under the
ALL brand. Trendy and representative of the area,
these products dreamed up for visitors in search
of souvenirs are available from the Louvre-Lens
boutique and certain tourist offices.
Every item is a nod to mining heritage, local savoir-
faire or the links established with Japan.
> Prices: from €4.50 to €34
Available from shops at the Louvre-Lens, and
tourist office in Lens and Béthune.
www.autourdulouvrelens.fr
The latest item in the collection: the Furoshiki bag.
Inspired by the Japanese tradition of artistic
packaging, the Furoshiki in washed linen employs
this ancestral art form to create an original bag.
The added extra of the ALL range: partnerships with
local artisans and designers ensuring a short supply
chain.

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CWGC Experience
THE CWGC EXPERIENCE
In June 2019 the Commonwealth War
Graves Commission (CWGC) will open
The CWGC Experience – a unique new
visitor attraction that will shine a
light on the work of the remarkable
organisation at the heart of remem-
brance of the war dead.
Highlights will include access to the
headstone engraving process, an
overview of the metal and carpentry
workshops and insights into our pro-
cess of recovery and identification of
soldiers found on the battlefields after
ten decades.
> Opening June 2019
Admission: free.
Parking fee for groups from 12 to 20:
€20 / over 20: €50.
Booking on www.cwgc.org.
Open Monday to Friday from February
to November. 10 am-4 pm. Closed on
bank holidays.
5-7 rue Angèle Richard. 62217 Beau-
rains.
Tel: 00 33 (0)3 21 21 77 00
cwgc.experience@cwgc.org
www.cwgc.org
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission announces
‘behind the scenes’ Visitor Centre in June 2019

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ALL ABOUT BEER
The beer route aboard a VW Combi
with Les Belles Echappées
In the heart of the
Audomarois, the company
Les Belles Echappées offers
trips with a retro accent
aboard a Citroën 2CV,
Volkswagen Combi, Vespa
Calessino…In spring 2019,
Les Belles Echappées launch
the Combeer Tour. This new
itinerary lets you take the
wheel of a VW Combi in an
ambiance that is vintage and
convivial, as you explore the
brewing traditions of the
Nord and the Pas-de-Calais.
It offers a veritable immersion
into the land of the brewers,
ideal for deepening your
historic, cultural and gourmet
knowledge! It also provides
an opportunity to chat with
producers about the secrets
of their beers. Another new
feature: you are able to book
trips and guided tours directly
on line.
> Les Belles Echappées
1 Voie Communale des Murs
62500 Clairmarais
Tel : 00333 21 98 11 72
www.les-belles-echappees.com
* A consommer avec modération.

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Rendez-vous
2019
Get-together (aperitifs) around
beer and cheese by Lens-Liévin
The Spring Beer Fair
of Hauts-de-France, in
Arras
This event focusing on the
history of beer in Arras brings
together around thirty brewers.
On the programme: an
exhibition, regional products and
entertainment for everyone, even
the children.
30th and 31st March
> 30th and 31st March
Cité Nature, Boulevard Schuman,
62000 Arras
The Beer Festival in
Saint-Omer
Beer has been one of the town’s
crown jewels since 1866, the
year in which the Saint-Omer
Brewery was established. For this
weekend the town gives pride of
place to its brewing and folkloric
traditions. Breweries and micro-
breweries offer up their creations
for tasting.
> September 2019
www.tourisme-saintomer.com
Every month there is a surprising venue to discover, passionate and
fascinating guests, local beers and a wide range of cheeses: this is the
tried and tested recipe for creating a lovely after-work moment to enjoy
with colleagues, or a night out with friends and loved ones!
> One Friday every month at 6:30pm Rates: €8/pers.
Lens-Liévin Tourist Office
Tel : 00333 21 67 66 66 - www.tourisme-lenslievin.fr
We like :
The tasting board
Lens-Liévin Tourism serves up the tasting board, a new gourmet
discovery of the area that provides a convivial experience rich in
flavour. This tasting board showcases regional gastronomy and
the people that bring this to life: the Saint-Germain and Castelain
breweries, but also a Polish charcutier, a coffee roaster, a pig farmer,
a cheesemaker, the owner of a wine cellar…What we love: tasting
notes are presented on a wooden board, the symbol of sharing and
of conviviality so common across the area.
Rates: 1 board + tastings 1 person: €24.50 / 1 board + tastings 2
people: €34.50
Available on line from the web site www.tourisme-lenslievin.fr or at
the Lens-Liévin tourist office

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IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
Set between the village and the marsh, this practically secret refuge of
La Grenouillère with a table by Michelin star chef Alexandre Gauthier,
offers three original 60m² suites:
The Eau Vive suite, all on one level with private garden, outdoor hot-
tub, winter garden, Italian shower and bath, skincare products based
on flower and wood essential oils.
The Âtre suite, a duplex with private garden, conservatory, 100%
cotton perfumed linen, bathroom, Italian shower, skincare products
based on flower and wood essential oils, light well.
The Pommier Blanc suite, with mezzanine and private garden,
outdoor hot-tub, conservatory, 100% cotton perfumed linen, Japanese
bath, skincare products based on flower and wood essential oils.
La Maison de la Source in La Madelaine-sous-Montreuil
> La Maison de la Source
From €390, breakfast included.
19 rue de la Grenouillère, 62170
La Madelaine-sous-Montreuil
Tel : 00333 21 06 07 22
www.lagrenouillere.fr

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Le Domaine des Câlines in Baralle
Le Roi des Oiseaux in Montcavrel
> Le domaine des câlines
Stéphanie Cloart
Rates: suite €250 per night / €300 per night for the gîte
63 Grand Rue 62860 Baralle
Tel : 00336 66 98 63 45
www.domainedescalines.fr
Situated just a few
kilometres from Montreuil-
sur-Mer, the Le Roi des
Oiseaux gîte is a pretty
little house made of earth
and painted with lime,
typifying a rural heritage
that contributes to the
authenticity and charm of
the villages of the Course
Valley.
Tucked away in this
cocoon that can sleep four
travellers, wood is subtly
combined with grey and
natural tones. This veritable
haven of peace is perfect
for nature lovers in search
of peace and quiet.
The plus: this gîte offers
table d’hôte meals and
breakfast.
> Le roi des oiseaux
Camille Dubois et Marion Joly
Rates from €78 to €118 a night
8 Rue de la Brasserie, 62170 Montcavrel
Tel : 00336 12 14 57 87 - www.leroidesoiseaux.com
n the « Suite de Jeanne » that
has been set up in a former
pigeon loft, everything has
been thought out to ensure
the visitor’s wellbeing. On
the ground floor you can
take advantage of a spa
corner with sauna and
Balneotherapy Jacuzzi0.
Within a former farmhouse,
the « Gîte d’Hortense »
houses two rooms dotted
here and there along a
walkway that overlooks the
lounge. We love the large
spaces, the sleek decor and
the comfort of the venue, as
well as the immense garden
that encircles the property.
The plus: access to an
outdoor Jacuzzi to enhance
your stay and the possibility
of purchasing some of the
actual furniture.

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Le château in Fresnoy-en-Gohelle
Situated at the heart of a vast
flower and tree filled park, the
façade of this superb Art Deco
home has just been fully
restored.
Inside, guests can take advantage
of a lounge with wood fire, a
boudoir and a reading area with a
refined ambiance.
A magnificent staircase in the
Art Deco style provides access
to the three bedrooms. With
their wide windows that open
out over the park, they exude a
gentle elegance. The plus: access
to a pretty roof terrace, fitness
area and sauna and the use of
bicycles.
> Le Château
Jannick Blavier
Rates: from €125 to €139 per night
9 Rue du puits
62580 Fresnoy-en-Gohelle
Tel : 00336.22.19.87.25 - www.
lechateau-fresnoy-en-gohelle.com
« Wellness and relaxation » weekends
from Un Matin dans les Bois
> Les 17 et 18 mai
Relaxation treatments are subject
to a fee (per pers. €15 yoga session
/ €25 massage / €8 naturopathy)
Un matin dans les bois
100 Impasse de Fresnoy, 62990
Loison-sur-Créquoise
Tel : 00333 21 05 74 32 -
unmatindanslesbois.com
In order to accentuate the benefits of a countryside break, the guest
house establishment Un Matin dans les Bois organises energising
weekends of relaxation and wellness during May. Saturday begins with
a yoga session in the heart of nature with an instructor. To enhance this
moment of release, guests can enjoy a reflexology foot massage with
essential oils. On Sunday, a naturopathy initiation presents the virtues of
this discipline.

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Discover the Audomarois Marsh
differently
The Pays de Saint-Omer is home to the Audomarois Marsh; a corner
of paradise created by waterways and cultivated land. In spring and
throughout the summer, the company Isnor offers original ways
of discovering the Audomarois from a different angle. Among its
new services for 2019: visits to the marsh at sunrise, boat trips with
commentary, visits featuring an initiation into Nordic walking, musical
cruises and special children’s trips. Another new feature is the ability
to book your visit on line.
> Société Isnor
Halte fluviale de Clairmarais
Tel : 00333 21 39 15 15 - www.isnor.fr
Rendez-vous
2019
The Rose Festival in the
Gardens of Séricourt
This 4 hectare park listed as a
Remarkable Garden is renowned as
one of the most beautiful gardens
in France. During spring it opens up
its picturesque series of surprising
«rooms» and landscaped spaces.
For the very first time on the occasion
of Rose Fortnight, the Gardens of
Séricourt will stage a rose festival;
a weekend of workshops and
entertainments in the presence of
florists that explores the diversity and
history of the Séricourt rose gardens.
> 22nd and 23rd June
Jardins de Séricourt,
2 rue du bois, 62270 Séricourt
Tel. : 00333 21 03 64 42
www.jardindesericourt.com
Following the success of the
maiden edition, the Château
d’Humeroeuille once again
opens its gardens up to the
public in June 2019. On the
programme: expo-sale of
exceptional plants and trees
from a selection of the very
best nurseries in France, a
fine flea market with a variety
of professional stall-holders,
antique dealers, collectors and
artisans; free valuation of items
and curiosities by Mr Fabien
Mirabaud, an auctioneer from
Paris, countless entertainments
and excellent eateries and bars.
> Sunday 30th June
Château d’Humerœuille
1 place publique
62130 Humeroeuille
www.chateauflore.com
Plant Festival and flea market at
the Château d’Humeroeuille

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On Saturday 15th June 2019, the
site opens to the public following
10 years of research, tenders and
works.
> Opening on 15th June
Donjon de Bours
29 rue de l’Église
62550 Bours
Tel : 00333 21 47 95 59
www.donjondebours.fr
Constructed in the 14th Century,
listed as a Historic Monument
since 1965, this astonishing
medieval tower in the Artois
provides a rare example of
a Lord-Knight’s residence. It
has been preserved in a truly
exceptional state.
One objective: show everyone
the history of this fascinating
monument through a well-
illustrated and dedicated
scenography..
Opening of the Maison de l’Archéologie in Thérouanne
Two thousand years of history and more than a century of archaeology.
Children and adults are invited to unearth the secrets of the « Pompéï of the north »… Through collections
of objects and interpretation facilities, the public travels back to Tarvena, the capital of the Les Morins Gauls
that became a flourishing Gallo-Roman city following Julius Caesar’s conquest. It goes on to explore the
vast medieval bishopric, which was later transformed into a bastioned fortified square that withstood
attacks from the French King François I, Spanish Emperor Charles Quint and King Henry VIII of
England. You can witness the annihilation of Thérouanne in 1553 and then its renaissance as a rural burg,
which would become an extraordinary playground for archaeologists.
> Opening during the National Archaeology Days on 14th and 15th June.
Archaeological site : Rue Saint-Jean – 62129 Thérouanne
Tel : 00333 21 38 01 62 - www.patrimoines-saint-omer.fr
Inauguration of the Bours Dungeon

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New walking and cycling brochure
Pas-de-Calais Tourism will bring out its brand new walking and
cycling guide in spring 2019. A practical tool that features 16
walking trails, 16 cycling loops and a wide variety of tourist
information, it will help visitors explore the most beautiful
rural, coastal and urban landscapes of the Pas-de-Calais. Every
itinerary will be available to download and print from the web
site ign.com. The guide also presents some original initiatives
that operate across the region on the theme of walking and
cycling.
Published in spring 2019.
Available by request from Pas-de-Calais Tourism at 00333 21
10 34 60.
New medieval historic centre of Agincourt
Dedicated to the most famous and
most well-documented battle of the
Hundred Years War, the Medieval
Historic Centre of Azincourt aims to
pen a new chapter of its history.
Extended spaces and new technical
and scenography facilities will allow
visitors to rediscover this celebrated
confrontation of 1415, defined by
the crushing defeat of the King of
France, Charles VI, by the English
forces of Henry V.
The aim of this new Medieval Historic
Centre is also to place this event
in its geo-political, social and
cultural context. It will invite visitors
to discover the daily life of the
townsfolk in the XV Century.
> Opening late 2019
Agincourt Medieval Centre
24 Rue Charles VI
62310 Azincourt
Tel : 00333 21 47 70 21
https://chmazincourt.
wixsite.com/monsite-1

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STARING AT THE SEA
Thalassa sea & spa in Le Touquet totally reimagined
Following nine months of works, this 145-room
establishment has once again opened its doors. Quite
literally sitting on the sand, the hotel is located in the
heart of the elegant seaside resort of Le Touquet.
This establishment has been totally redesigned in an
extremely contemporary style.
The institute and the Ibis hotel, currently undergoing
renovation, will also be completely reimagined.
Accor Hotels has chosen a sleek decoration that allows
guests to fully appreciate the incredible scenery and
that, thanks to vast openings, bathes the premises
in natural light. An open kitchen encourages an
interaction between guests and the chef, who expertly
serves up each of the dishes on the new menu.
> Thalassa sea & spa
Front de Mer
Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

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La Matelote, 40 years of savoir-faire
Opening June 2019: Holiday Suites in Boulogne-sur-Mer
> Hôtel & Restaurant La Matelote 4*
70 / 80 Boulevard Sainte Beuve, 62200 Boulogne-sur-Mer
Tel : 00333 21 30 33 33 - www.la-matelote.com
Boulogne-sur-Mer is
readying itself to welcome
its very first tourist
residence! The new Holiday
Suites will offer 108
apartments and studios
that sleep 2 to 6 people, all
fully-equipped.
With bright interior spaces
and transparent balconies,
this accommodation will
provide unbeatable views
of the port and fortified
town of Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Guests will also be able to
book stays from just one
night.
> Holiday Suites 3*
Average rate / night: €120.
Breakfast: €10.
Pets welcome.
Boulevard du quai Chanzy
62200 Boulogne-sur-Mer
Tel : 00339 74 59 59 53 - www.holidaysuites.fr
Established in 1979,
La Matelote is part of
Boulogne’s identity. The
restaurant earned a
Michelin star 38 years
ago and it has never once
let it out of its grasp. The
secret of this longevity:
Chef Tony Lestienne
has been working in the
kitchens since the start of
this adventure and is now
assisted by his son Stellio.
At home here in the
greatest fishing port in
France, the Chef excels in
the art of preparing fish.
One of the real classics that
simply must be sampled is
the warm lobster salad.
To mark its 40th year, the
La Matelote restaurant has
a new look and is having
flagship recipes from the
past 4 decades back on
the menu.

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L’Atlantic in Wimereux, a balcony over the sea
What is the common factor that
links the two restaurants and the
18 rooms of the L’Atlantic? All of
them have a sea view!
Situated on the Wimereux Dyke,
facing the Channel, it is the only 4*
establishment on the Opal Coast
that provides direct views of the
sea. Here you can take advantage
of the sea air, the skies and their
changing light, the aerial ballet of
the gulls over the beach…
Highlights include: the new
privilege room, entirely
redesigned, with views of the sea
from its bathroom and a modern
decor with woody tones; the light
gourmet cuisine of young Michelin
star chef Benjamin Delpierre who
has skilfully taken over from his
father Alain Delpierre.
Rates for Privilege room from
157€.
> Hôtel & Restaurant
L’Atlantic 4*
6 rue Notre Dame
62390 Wimereux
Tel : 00333 21 32 41 01
www.atlantic-delpierre.com

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E.Manet, détail, Clair de lune sur le port de
Boulogne, 1869, huile sur toile©RMN-Grand Palais
(musée d’Orsay) Hervé Lewandowski
Rendez-vous
2019
A conversation with
Edouard Manet’s
masterpiece
From the mid-1860s onwards, the
painter Edouard Manet spent the bulk
of his holidays on the Opal Coast, and
more specifically at Boulogne-sur-
Mer. Inspired by the light along the
coast and by the life of the sailors and
fishermen, he painted most of his key
sea-themed works here.
An exceptional loan from the Musée
d’Orsay is exposed, a major work by
the Master Edouard Manet,; Moonlight
over the Port of Boulogne. On this
occasion, the museum will offer a new
presentation of its spaces devoted to
the landscapes of the Opal Coast.
> From 26th January to 25th March
Musée de Boulogne-sur-Mer
Château comtal, Fortified city
62200 Boulogne-sur-Mer
http://musee.ville-boulogne-sur-mer.fr
The Fêtes de la Mer festival,
Boulogne
The sea and the maritime world are honoured in Boulogne-sur-
Mer. Over four days, tens of thousands of people, enthusiasts and
professionals alike, gather to discover or rediscover the sea and all its
aspects.
On the programme: a gathering of tall ships and traditional boats,
trips out to sea aboard heritage sailing boats, ships that are open
to visitors, nautical parades, a village showcasing maritime savoir-
faire and traditions, a market of the sea, songs & dances, tastings
of seafood products, exhibitions and countless entertainments for
people of all ages.
> From 11th to 14th July
Gambetta and port in Boulogne-sur-Mer - free of charge
Office de tourisme du Boulonnais
Tel : 0033 21 10 88 10 - www.ville-boulogne-sur-mer.fr

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Learn how to cook fish in Etaples-sur-Mer
Maréis offer a programme of
culinary workshops based on fish.
This teaching kitchen provides a
unique opportunity along the Opal
Coast to learn how to prepare
locally caught seafood products.
Open to all-comers, the cookery
courses are accessible and
convivial, allowing everyone to
debunk the myths associated with
the preparation of fish dishes.
For the very first time in 2019,
Maréis are running themed
cookery courses. For St Valentines,
Easter and New Year, Chef Cyrille
Dimanche supervises and offers
advice to participants as they
create a full starter/main/dessert
menu.
> Maréis, centre de découverte
de la pêche en mer
By reservation only
Rates: €20 to €50 /pers.
Boulevard Bigot Descelers, 62630
Etaples-sur-mer
Tel : 00333 21 09 04 00
www.mareis.fr
We like :
The photo spots of the Deux-Caps
Site FREE
Limestone cliffs, immense beaches of fine sand, dune
massifs…the Grand Site de France labelled Deux-Caps
concentrates everything that is most stunning about
nature across a 23km site. In order to help visitors
immortalise this exceptional landscape, the visitor centre
has set up photo spots at the very best viewpoints.
Each spot is sign-posted by a device designed for
Smartphones, tablets, reflex…Once you have set up your
camera, you just have press click to achieve a wonderful
and perfectly framed snap!
Maison du Site des Deux-Caps
La Sence, 62179 Audinghen
www.lesdeuxcaps.fr

26
EVENTS CALENDAR 2019
The Beatles photos by Jean-Marie Périer
Jean-Marie Périer rubbed shoulders with and
immortalised all the artists that defined the 1960s.
The exhibition at the Château d’Hardelot is
dedicated to the appearance of the Fab Four from
Liverpool through the eyes of Jean-Marie Périer.
Blending pop sophistication and a joyfully relaxed
feel, the photographs on display reveal the ties of
confidence and friendship that existed between the
band and the photographer for several years.
Exhibition designed and presented by the Pas-de-
Calais Council.
> From 6th July to 3rd November
2019
Château d’Hardelot, Centre culturel de
l’Entente cordiale
1, rue de la Source, 62360 Condette
Tél : 00333 21 21 73 65
www.chateau-hardelot.com
Le printemps de l’Art déco
In the 1920s the communes of Northern France that had been
devastated by WW1 began their reconstruction.
Architects called upon the style that was in vogue during
the inter-war years; Art deco. Arras, Béthune and Lens saw
countless Art deco buildings spring up. Lens railway station,
whose silhouette recalls a steam locomotive, the former
headquarters of the Lens Mining Company and the Art deco
swimming pool of Bruay-la-Buissière offer some of its finest
examples.
The spring of Art Deco is an occasion to explore the diversity
of this art form through guided visits and special events in the
Hauts-de-France region that has a particularly rich heritage,
especially around Amiens, Arras, Béthune-Bruay, Cambrai,
Douai, Lens-Liévin, Roubaix, Saint-Omer and Saint-Quentin.
> From 1st March to 30th April
www.printempsartdeco.fr
© Jean-Marie Périer

27
The love of the coastline; a
conversation with Edouard
Manet’s masterpiece in
Boulogne-sur-Mer
From 26th January to 25th March
Thanks to an exceptional loan
from the Musée d’Orsay, visitors
can discover a major work by the
Master Edouard Manet, painted
during one of his stays in Boulogne-
sur-Mer; Moonlight over the Port
of Boulogne. On this occasion,
the museum will offer a new
presentation of its spaces devoted
to the landscapes of the Opal
Coast.
http://musee.ville-boulogne-sur-mer.fr
The « Next to Your Skin »
Exhibition; the intimate story of
the collections FREE
From 7th February to 14th April
The Museum of Béthune presents
part of its collection on the theme
of textiles at the chapel of Saint-Pry.
The history of the textile industry
has left its mark on our region,
and notably the towns of Roubaix
and Tourcoing. Thread and textiles
had great commercial value and
were traded everywhere. Béthune
was a town of great significance
where not only cloth but the linen
required for everyday life could
be purchased. The museum’s
collection is so eclectic that this visit
makes use of a range of facilities
to allow visitors to explore the
intimate history of textiles.
http://ville-bethune.fr
Baroque Nights
From 20th to 25th February
Although the frosts of winter
are still being felt, the Baroque
Nights are sure to bring a touch
of springtime to February thanks
to an explosion of spectacles:
theatre, opera, music! This festival
showcases the arts of the stage in
Europe during the XVII and XVIII
Centuries, between Le Touquet-
Paris-Plage and Berck-sur-mer,
Montreuil-sur-Mer and Etaples-sur-
mer.
www.lesmalinsplaisirs.com
Spring of Art déco
From 1st March to 30th April
In the 1920s the communes of
Northern France that had been
devastated by WW1 began their
reconstruction.
Architects called upon the style that
was in vogue during the inter-war
years; Art deco. Arras, Béthune
and Lens saw countless Art deco
buildings spring up. Lens railway
station, whose silhouette recalls
a steam locomotive and the Art
deco swimming pool of Bruay-la-
Buissière offer some of its finest
examples.
www.printempsartdeco.frwww.
printempsartdeco.fr
To Arms! Exhibition: Knights,
mercenaries and pirates, in
Saint-Omer
From 8th March to 1st
September 2019
The Sandelin Museum boasts
the most significant collection of
weaponry in Northern France.
The exhibition presents visitors
with a chronological trail: from the
predominance of cavalry using
swords and lances, to the great
manoeuvres of the 18th Century
and through the evolution of hand-
held firearms. A focus on three
leading figures punctuates this trail:
knights, mercenaries and pirates.
www.patrimoines-saint-omer.fr
Hervé Di Rosa and Giulia
Andreani in Béthune
From 9th March to 14th July
Hervé Di Rosa is on display at
Labanque with works created
during his world tour. The variety
of topics underlines the blend of
reference points and cultures that
feed his creativity.
Labanque also hosts Italian artist
Giulia Andreani. She works with
photographic documents that
evoke the episodes of XX Century
history, affirming the fact of
« being in the time of painting, that
of historic perspective and the
problems of painting in history ».
www.facebook.com/
labanquebethune

28
Locon plants festival
23rd and 24th March
This is the first horticultural event in
the Hauts-de-France region, where
the amateur and professional
gardner alike can find a wide variety
of plants and flowers.
A rendez-vous for artists, landscape
designers and garden lovers.
www.fetedesplanteslocon.com
Homer at the Louvre-Lens
From 27th March to 22nd July
2019
The Louvre-Lens Museum presents
the largest ever exhibition in France
dedicated to Homer, author of The
Iliad and The Odyssey, these two
famous epic poems that form the
basis of Western culture. It offers
an unexpected journey into the
rich Homeric world, a universe as
beautiful as it is mysterious. After
a prelude devoted to the Gods
of Olympus and the Muse that
inspired Homer, this exhibition
sets out to explore the « Prince
of Poets », whose very existence
is disputed. The exhibition then
brings back to life the main heroes
and storylines of The Iliad and The
Odyssey. The trail also takes you
back to some of the most famous
scenes of the Trojan War featured
in other epic poems that have now
disappeared but were still popular
during Antiquity. These reveal the
profusion on ancient epic literature
and the miraculous preservation of
the works of Homer.
www.louvrelens.fr
The Spring Beer Fair of Hauts-de-
France, in Arras
30th and 31st March
This event focusing on the history
of beer in Arras brings together
around thirty brewers. On the
programme: an exhibition, regional
products and entertainment for
everyone, even the children.
The Urban Conquest exhibition
in Calais
From 6th April to 3rd November
The museum of fine-arts in Calais
opens its doors to street-art, a
phenomenon that has earned a
major place in the recent history
of creativity. This exhibition also
reaffirms that the museum is
open to multiple art forms with
exhibitions that are accessible to
the uninitiated. Through more
than 60 works and creations
by pioneering artists from the
60s to the present day, URBAN
CONQUEST goes back to the origins
and the evolution of urban art.
www.calais.fr
Anniversary of the Battle of Arras
Tuesday 9th March
9th avril 1917, 24 000 soldiers
emerged from the Wellington
Quarry to start the Battle of Arras,
an operation of diversion before
the attack of the CHemin des
Dames.
they lived in those underground
tunnels, dug by the New Zealand
Tunneliers, during the weeks which
preceded the offensive
A ceremony is held at 6.30am,
French time, in front of the
Memorial Wall.
www.carrierewellington.com
The international kite Festival
at Berck-sur-Mer FREE
From 6th to 14th April
Focusing on the theme of the
voyage, the 33rd edition will take
place on the beaches of Berck, a
seaside resort in the natural setting
of the Baie d’Authie. Over a whole
week, hundreds of butterflies,
octopuses, puppets and birds
will fill the sky with colour. Along
the paths of the « Gardens of the
Wind » or during the traditional
« Night Flight », spectators will be
treated to some poetic and magical
moments. At the crossroads of
European, Asian, Oriental and
Trans-Atlantic cultures, this meeting
will host a selection of the very best
kite flyers in the world.
www.cerf-volant-berck.com
Portrait imaginaire du poère Homère
© Musée du Louvre - Thierry Ollivier 2011

29
The Scallop Festival at Etaples-
sur-Mer
20th and 21st April
It is one of the star products of the
« City of Fishermen », a renowned
shellfish for which the fishing
community of Etaples is strongly
represented among the scallop
fleet of the Opal Coast. For two
days, the scallop takes pride of
place amidst a backdrop of folk
music and gastronomy.
https://etaples-sur-mer.fr
Wellbeing weekend at Belval
Abbey
27th and 28th April
Through workshops and
conferences, participants will
explore various methods of
relaxation. Individual sessions,
group workshops, conferences,
walks, detox meals. Organised by «
Ternois Bien-être ».
http://belval.fr
Shakespeare Nights
From 4th to 23rd May /
Mentored by Michael Lonsdale
The only Elizabethan theatre in
France, inaugurated in 2016,
is proud to host Shakespeare
Nights*. This high-point on the
calendar will allow the greatest
number of people possible to
experience the universal appeal of
Shakespeare: set off to discover an
Elizabethan theatre and the work
of Shakespeare.
*In partnership with Shakespeare
Days organised by Saint-Omer.
www.chateau-hardelot.fr
Shakespeare Days
From 11th to 28th May
The Shakespeare Days adventure
began in 2015, when an original
edition of the complete works of
Shakespeare, the « First folio »,
was identified by the Library of
Saint-Omer. Ever since that day,
the Pays de Saint-Omer and
La Barcarolle have organised a
month-long annual event that
showcases the great English
playwright. The 2019 edition will
tackle the theme of power that
so greatly inspired the works of
Shakespeare.
www.labarcarolle.org
Opening of the Cité des
Électriciens
17th May 2019
Totally redesigned, the oldest
mining town in Pas-de-Calais has
become a reference point for
exploring the landscapes, the
towns and the living conditions
of the mining communities. The
site features an interpretation
centre of 1000m² equipped with
numerous interactive facilities
and rounded off with educational,
artistic and communal gardens.
A venue for artistic residencies
and tourist breaks, the Cité boasts
three artists’ residences, four gîtes
and a furnished room that have
all been set up in former miners’
dwellings. The so-called Carins,
small outbuildings, have been
converted and fully restored, as
chicken coops, saunas or laundry
rooms that can be used by guests
who are staying on site.
www.citedeselectriciens.fr
Opening of the Maison de
l’Archéologie in Thérouanne
14th and 15th June
This new archaeological centre
plunges the visitor into the
adventure of Thérouanne;
two thousand years of history
and more than a century of
archaeology. Children and
adults are invited to unearth the
secrets of the « Pompéï of the
north »…The public travels back
to Tarvena, the capital of the Les
Morins Gauls; exploring the vast
medieval bishopric, which was
later transformed into a bastioned
fortified square and witnesses
the annihilation of Thérouanne in
1553 and its renaissance as a rural
burg.
www.patrimoines-saint-omer.fr
Inauguration of the Bours
Dungeon
Sunday 15th June
Constructed in the 14th Century,
this astonishing medieval tower in
the Artois provides a rare example
of a Lord-Knight’s residence.
Following 10 years of research,
tenders and works, the site opens
to the public! On this occasion,
entertainments, shows and music
will all take place around this
fortified house...
www.donjondebours.fr

30
Carte blanche to Olivier
Theyskens; In Praesentia
From 15th June 2019 to 5th
January 2020
On the occasion of its 10th
anniversary, the Cité de la Dentelle
et de la Mode has given carte
blanche to Belgian designer Olivier
Theyskens who is known for
reveries in which the costume is
the principal actor. « In Praesentia
» is a project constructed in
fragments and through collisions,
inspired by a creative dialogue
between the singular work of
Olivier Theyskens and the historic,
textile and industrial collections of
the Cité.
www.cite-dentelle.fr
The Rose Festival in Séricourt
22nd and 23rd June
This 4 hectare park listed as a
Remarkable Garden is renowned
as one of the most beautiful
gardens in France. During spring
it opens up to passionate visitors
and novices alike to offer a
stroll through its picturesque
series of surprising «rooms»
and landscaped spaces. For the
very first time on the occasion of
Rose Fortnight, the Gardens of
Séricourt will stage a rose festival.
A weekend of workshops and
entertainments in the presence of
florists that explore the diversity
and history of the Séricourt rose
gardens.
www.jardindesericourt.com
Memories of the Treaty of
Versailles
From 28th June to 11th
November
Within the framework of the
commemorations to mark the
First World War, the « Château de
Versailles in Arras » partnership
presents a definitive event based
around the Treaty of Versailles,
signed in the Hall of Mirrors on
28th June 1919 and marking
the end of the conflict. In order
to retrace this historic event,
around a dozen works taken from
the collections of the Château
de Versailles will be displayed
exclusively at the Museum of Fine-
Arts of Arras.
www.facebook.com/mbaarras
The Plant Festival and flea
market at the Château
d’Humeroeuille
Sunday 30th June
Following the success of the
maiden edition, the Château
d’Humeroeuille once again opens
its gardens up to the public in
June 2019. On the programme:
expo-sale of exceptional plants
and trees from a selection of the
very best nurseries in France,
a fine flea market with a variety
of professional stall-holders,
antique dealers, collectors and
artisans; free valuation of items
and curiosities by Mr Fabien
Mirabaud, an auctioneer from
Paris, countless entertainments
and excellent eateries and bars.
www.chateauflore.com
Main Square Festival
From 5th to 7th July
Every year, the Citadelle hosts the
Main Square festival that brings
together big name acts from the
world of pop, rock and electro on
the same bill. Over three days, the
biggest international artists lay
siege to the citadelle of Arras
www.mainsquarefestival.fr
Saint-Omer Jaaz Festival
5th to 9th July
Over 30 jazz concerts are held
around the town. Enjoy an
afternoon drink laying on a deck
chair in the garden of the Motte
Castrale to the sound of free jazz
or a big band concert sitting on a
terrasse after dinner.
The Jaaz festival is growing year on
year.
www.saintomerjaazfestival.fr
The Beatles photos by Jean-
Marie Périer
From 6th July to 3rd November
2019
See page 26
The Fêtes de la Mer festival in
Boulogne-sur-Mer
From 11th to 14th July
Over four days, the sea and the
maritime world are showcased
at Boulogne-sur-Mer. On the
programme: a gathering of tall
ships and traditional boats, trips
out to sea aboard heritage sailing
boats, ships that are open to
visitors, nautical parades, a village
showcasing maritime savoir-faire
and traditions, a market of the
sea, songs & dances, tastings of
seafood products, exhibitions and
countless entertainments.
www.ville-boulogne-sur-mer.fr

31
The Redcurrant Festival in
Loison-sur-Créquoise
20th and 21st July
The Le Perlé de Groseille wine
cellar presents two festive days
exploring the ancient way of
pressing redcurrants. Fizz, cider,
preserves…visitors will be invited
to sample all the specialties of the
house to a backdrop of Gypsy Jazz,
old-fashioned games and donkey
rides. On Saturday evening, a
fireworks display will light up the
valley. On Sunday, a market of
red fruits and flea market will take
place in the wine cellar and the
village.
www.leperle.fr
« Les misérables » sound & light
show in Montreuil-sur-Mer
26th July - 5th August
On the 4th September 1837,
Victor Hugo visited Montreuil-sur-
Mer, its ramparts and its abbey.
A few years later, he chose to use
this city as the setting for much of
the first part of his most famous
novel...
500 volunteers are involved in the
show, wearing the costumes of
their forebears and the characters
from the novel. Mixing reality and
fiction, history and literary life,
all are brought together under
the magic of the medieval city
ramparts
www.lesmiserables-montreuil.com
Saint-Omer boat parade on the
river Aa
Sunday 28th July
Traditional bacove boats from
the audomarois marshes are
decorated with thousands of
flowers and greenery to parade
on the canal. A local market, fair
and concerts add some coulours
to this quirky event !
50 years ago; Mankind’s first
steps on the Moon
On 21st July 1969, Mankind
set foot on the surface of the
Moon for the very first time, an
amazing feat undertaken by the
United States. The whole world
had its eyes fixed on the Moon
and the stars. To mark the 50th
anniversary of Mankind’s first
steps on the Moon, La Coupole
presents an original exhibition
on the origins and fundamentals
of the quest to conquer
Space. Displayed in four major
sections, the exhibition tackles
the technological and scientific
challenges that such an expedition
involved, the Moon Hoax or
science in the face of conspiracy
theories, a few perspectives of the
Earth and the Moon and the race
to the Moon between USSR and
the USA.
From July 2019 to June 2020
La Coupole, Rue André Clabaux
62570 Wizernes
Tel. : 00333 21 12 27 27 - www.
lacoupole-france.com
Piano folies festival in
Le Touquet
August 2018
150 artists, 60 concerts unfolding
wherever the public may be, at
any moment and in any place : in
the casino, on the beach, even at
the horse riding centre !
www.lespianosfolies.com
The Fêtes d’Arras
August 2018
The flea market at Bidasse,
the Andouillette Festival, the
conflagration of the belfry: over
the course of three weeks, the
city of Arras beats to the rhythm
of local festivals, colourful
rendezvous that delight locals and
visitors alike.
Béthune Retro
From 23rd to 25th August
Festival-goers are plunged into
the world of the 50s and 60s;
the beautiful American cars, the
fashion and music that defines
Rock’n’roll. This three-day free
festival is the perfect place in
which to stick to the 1950s dress
code. A gathering of hot-rods
and other U.S cars & bikes, more
than 40 concerts by international
bands across the six stages, dance
floors, pin-up parades, exhibitions,
vintage market, hair and make-
up salons, barbers, camping for
festival-goers.
http://bethuneretro.ville-
bethune.fr
Flobart Fishing Boat Festival
Late August
Wissant celebrates traditional
fishing and honours the boat of
the Boulonnais coast. Tastings
of local seafood, maritime crafts
stands, exhibition of Flobart boats,
streetartists, concerts of sea
shanties and maritime folk music
in the open air.
www.terredes2capstourisme.fr

32
Locon Garlic fair
Sunday 26th August
An unusual fair that is perfect for
a pleasant Sunday in the country.
A rural village fete at the heart
of which local producers sell
garlic, onions and shallots in this
countryside setting.
www.foirealail.fr
Festival of the andouille
in Aire-sur-la-Lys
Sunday 1st September
Speciality of the town, the
Andouille sausage is celebrated
every year on the first Sunday of
September. In the morning: fun-
run. In the afternoon: at 15h there
is a carnival procession followed,
at 18h, by the traditional throwing
of the Andouille from the bailiff’s
balcony.
The Beer Festival in Saint-Omer
September 2019
Beer has been one of the town’s
crown jewels since 1866, the year
in which the Saint-Omer Brewery
was established. For this weekend
the town gives pride of place to its
brewing and folkloric traditions.
Breweries and micro-breweries
offer up their creations for tasting.
The Poland Exhibition at the
Louvre-Lens
From 25th September 2019 to
20th January 20202019 marks a
century since the signing of the
convention between France and
Poland « relating to emigration
and immigration », that led to
the large scale arrival of Polish
workers in France and, more
specifically, in the mining Basin of
the north of the country. In order
to commemorate this defining
event for the identity of the local
area, the Louvre-Lens Museum is
presenting a major retrospective
of Polish paintings from the 19th
Century in conjunction with the
National Museum in Warsaw.
www.louvrelens.fr
Herring King Festival in Etaples
10th & 11th November
For a whole weekend, this
«traditional» rendezvous floods
Etaples with all the effervescence
of past fishing seasons. Smoked,
grilled or marinated, the Cité des
Pêcheurs invites you all to come
and sample this seasonal fish.
www.etaples-tourisme.com
The Feast of Saint Barbara in
Lens-Liévin FREE
Early December
For over 100 years, Saint Barbara,
patron saint of miners, fire fighters
and pyrotechnicians has been a
symbol of the area, celebrated
traditionally by the mining
communes and associations
of former mine workers on 4th
December with processions and
festive gatherings. For the Feast
of Saint Barbara in 2019, Lens-
Liévin rekindles this tradition
with artistic, cultural and festive
happenings that rally people
to the emblematic sites of local
mining heritage.
www.fetesdebarbara.com
Licques Turquey Festival
Mid-December
Every year, just before Christmas,
the village of Licques beats to
the rhythm of the Turkey Festival
(classified as one of the 100 most
beautiful festivals in France):
terroir market, procession of the
noble Ladies and Gentlemen of
the Confraternity of the Turkey
of Licques, tasting of Licquoise
stew, lunches and dinners with
entertainment…
www.paysdopale-tourisme.fr
Arras Christmas market
Late November to late
December
The Christmas village in Arras is
set up in the Main Square and
has become one of the largest
north of Paris. The collection of
magnificent baroque façades is
unique in Europe and provides
a prestigious showcase for this
location which is completely
devoted to the festivities. With
its chalets, skating rink, merry-
go-round, musical shows and
workshops, and the delicious
smells floating around, the
Christmas village goes all out to
create a festive atmosphere in
anticipation of Christmas Eve.
www.noelarras.com

33
Once Upon a time in Le Touquet
Late November to late
December
The town transforms into a real
Christmas village, with a unique
display of Christmas lights.
Children delight in the magic
of the Enchanted Forest, and
can even take their wish lists to
Father Christmas’ grotto and have
their picture taken with the man
himself§ From the picturesque
Christmas market to horse and
carriage rides, and even an ice rink;
you won’t be left disappointed !
www.letouquet.com
Béthune Christmas market
Late November - 31st December
Béthune Christmas market is
located in the Town Square,
by the Belfry Tower. The public
can enjoy the open-air skating
rink, horse-drawn carriage rides,
children’s workshops, and a
host of entertainment, as well
as all the produce and gifts for
sale at the chalets set up on the
cobblestones. There’s something
for everyone at the Christmas
Town, from the delicious smell
of sausages cooking, to roast
chestnut sandwiches from Alsace
to the traditional waffles of the
North.
www.tourisme-bethune-bruay.fr
The Winter Illuminations in
Calais
From 27th to 31st December
Designed and created by Le
Channel National Theatre in Calais
with the support of the Hauts-de-
France region, this event looks set
to illuminate the end of 2019 and
will provide a festive occasion for
its many spectators as we look
forward to the new decade!
http://lechannel.fr

3434
Côte d’Opale, 10 must-sees
on the seaside
Nausicaa,
Becomes one of the world’s largest
aquariums
In 2018, a massive expansion of NAUSICAA, the
French National Sea Centre in Boulogne-sur-Mer
(France), opened to the public..
An amazing destination for lovers of the sea, where
you can experience the vastness and fragility of the
Ocean.
Built in the shape of a Manta Ray, the new building
houses one of the largest aquariums in the World,
holding a staggering 10,000 m3 of water (to give an
idea of the scale, the equivalent of 4 Olympic pools).
Modelled on the island of Malpelo, off the coast of
Colombia, this giant aquarium recreates the
ecosystem of the high seas. Sharks, manta rays and
shoals of other fish will populate this ecosystem, with
almost 60,000 creatures in the community!
An 18 metre-long transparent tunnel offers a totally
immersive experience with panoramic viewing angles.
A vast viewing panel, measuring 20 metres long and
5 metres high, gives spectacular views for the visitor.
The exhibition also features interactive attractions
and dazzling new sights
Grand Nausicaa opened on19th May 2018
Boulevard Sainte-Beuve, à Boulogne-sur-Mer
www.nausicaa.fr - Tél : 00333 21 30 99 99

35
Hiking on the Grand Site
des Deux-Caps
The 23km stretch of protected
landscapes and habitats from Cap
Blanc-Nez et Wimereux boasts a
rich fauna and flora.
The best thing to do is to explore
on foot along the GR 120 walking
route and the countless other
walking trails.
The Maison du Site des Deux-
Caps welcomes visitors with a
programme of nature and disco-
very activities : Nordic walking,
electric bike hire, departure
points for walks and mountain
bike trails.
Maison du site des Deux-Caps
Ferme d’Haringzelle,
à Audinghen
www.lesdeuxcaps.fr
Tél : 00333 21 21 62 22
Explore the Crypt in
Boulogne-sur-Mer
One of the largest in all France,
the crypt is a veritable maze of
galleries that stretch beneath
the entire surface of the basilica
of Notre-Dame.
In a space that has been
completely redesigned,
from the floor to the restored
frescoes, a trail highlights the
collections of tombstones and
religious art, evidence of the
medieval church and of the cult
of Notre-Dame de Boulogne
The Crypt in Boulogne-sur-Mer
Rue de Lille, à Boulogne-sur-Mer
crypte.ville-boulogne-sur-mer.fr
Tél : 03 21 87 81 79
Discover France’s largest
WW1 Cemetery
Etaples Military Cemetery is the
largest cemetery for Commonwealth
forces in the whole of France, with
more than 11.000 male and female
soldiers graves.
During the First World War. the
military had extended the largest
British base in France. Over a million
men passed through the training
camp and hospitals between
March 1915 and November 1918
A sign at the entrance summarises
in English the history of the
cemetery and a QR code provides
access to additional content.
Route départementale 940 ETAPLES
Tel : +33 (0)3.21.09.56.94
Website : www.cwgc.org

3636
Exploring the seafront architecture of
Le Touquet-Paris-Plage
This resort is over a century old and carries its age with charm!
Beyond the dynamism of its events and sports scene, Le
Touquet stands out because of its seafront architecture.
At the beginning of the 20th Century, the resort experienced a
veritable «Golden Age». The covered market, the Westminster,
the race course, the aerodrome, the town hall, the post office
and the Quételart villas all provide precious evidence of this
era.
A bike ride is the best way to appreciate the architectural
elements of the resort.
Office de Tourisme du Touquet-Paris-Plage
Palais des Congrès
www.letouquet.com – Tél : 00333 21 06 72 00
An initiation into sand yachting
The Opal Coast is undoubtedly the cradle of this sport that
became popular in the 1910s. With their long expanses of
fine sand, the beaches of the Opal Coast provide the perfect
playgrounds for enjoying this discipline that requires just one
thing: wind.
The enormous advantage of this sport is that that you can very
quickly pick up the technique and start enjoying yourself !
Many clubs propose this activity, with English-speaking instructors
Sampling the fruits of the sea
Cod, whiting, sole, herring… the fruits of the sea are the pride of
local gastronomy! The port of Boulogne-sur-Mer supplies most
of what is served by local restaurateurs as well as supplying
members of the public that find the very best fish at the
markets and on the stalls on the quayside.
Good to know: in Etaples-sur-Mer, Maréis offers a programme
of culinary workshops based on fish, a unique opportunity on
the Opal Coast to learn how to prepare the local catch.
10 pers. / course. Rate: 20€ per pers
Mareis, sea fishing centre
Boulevard Bigot Descelers, à Étaples-sur-Mer
www.mareis.fr – Tél : 03 21 09 04 00

3737
Discover the Centre for
Lace & Fashion in Calais
Emblematic of a savoir-faire that is
unique in the world, this centre is
the leading museum of lace woven
on a draw-loom. Housed within an
authentic lace manufacture site of
the 19th Century, the collections
retrace the history of lace from its
manual production right up to the
most contemporary creations.
The high-point of the visit: seeing
the famous Leavers in action,
monumental cast-iron machines
that allow exceptional fabric to be
produced.
Cité de la dentelle et de la mode
135 Quai du Commerce, à Calais
www.cite-dentelle.fr
Tél : 00333 21 00 42 30
Entente Cordiale at the
Château d’Hardelot
How could you fail to be surprised
by the fantasy of this building
with allures of a Tudor manor !
Restored by two English aristocrats
in the 19th century, the château
became a hot-spot for the British
« gentry ». Nowadays, a visit to the
fully-furnished interior plunges the
general public into a truly Victorian
ambiance.
As well as the château there is
the Elizabethan theatre, whose
music and theatre programme
celebrates Franco-British cultural
relationships.
Château d’Hardelot
1 Rue de la Source, à Condette
Tél : 03 21 21 73 65
Set off in the tracks of the
Second World War
During the Second World War, the
coast of the Nord became one of
the key sections of the Atlantic
Wall, a system of German coastal
fortifications that stretched from
Norway to Spain.
The beaches of the Opal Coast still
retain a number of reminders of
these defences.
The Remembrance Museum
in Calais, the Todt Battery in
Audinghen, the 39-45 Museum in
Ambleteuse and the Mimoyecques
Fortress reveal all aspects of the
conflict along the Opal Coast.
Addresses for the sites and museums
on www.history-pas-de-calais.com,
Second World War section.

38
Hills & Dales, 10 must-sees
in the countryside
A boat trip around the Audomarois
Marshes
Saint-Omer, city of art and history has a lovely market
and a preserved heritage : cathedral, Jesuit chapel,
castle mound, great houses… The Hôtel Sandelin,
which houses the collections of the museum, is one
of the finest examples of an XVIIIth Century mansion
house.
This is without doubt one of the most pleasant
spots in the Pas-de-Calais. Situated in Saint-Omer,
the Audomarois Marshes earned the UNESCO
« Men and Biosphere » label in 2013. This area covers
3,700 hectares and stems from 13 centuries of work
in altering the course of the River Aa, clearing and
transforming a swamp into a marshland that can be
cultivated and inhabited.
Today, the marshes can be visited on Bacôves; small
traditional wooden boats.
La Maison du Marais visitor centre presents the
natural environment of the marshes as well as
guided boat tours
La Maison du Marais
36 Avenue du Maréchal Joffre, à Saint-Omer
www.maison-du-marais.fr – Tél : 00333 21 11 96 10
Rémi Colin, the last local boat maker, or « Faiseur de
Bateau » proposes visits of his workshop as well as
boat trips onboard his hand-made embarcations,
from April to September
Les Faiseurs de Bateaux
48 route de Clairemarais, à Saint-Omer
Tél : 00336 08 09 94 88

39
Vintage motoring with
« Les belles échappées »
In the Audomarois countryside,
« Les belles échappées » offers
excursions with retro accents
aboard a Citroën 2CV, Combi
Volkswagen, Vespa Calessino…
Combining the pleasures of driving
with discoveries, a road book is
supplied to every driver prior to
departure.
Among the new offers to explore
in 2018: trips on classic mopeds
that have returned in force and
themed circuits with a chauffeur
so you can be guided in total
freedom.
« Les belles échappées »
Chemin des murs, ferme de
l’abbaye, à Clairmarais
www.les-belles-echappees.com
Tél : 00333 21 98 11 72
Travelling along the Via
Francigena,
From Canterbury to
Rome
In the Pas-de-Calais, one road
in particular leads to Rome. The
Via Francigena begins in Calais
and crosses the department
up until Rocquigny in around a
dozen stages of approximately
20 kilometres. This former
pilgrimage route is a blessing for
walkers that want to head off the
beaten track. On the way, the Via
Francigena reveals one or two
secrets: Licques Abbey, the old
linden of Quercamps, the Acquin-
Wesbtécourt grotto, the birth
house of Saint-Benoît Labre...
www.mongr.fr : Via Francigena in
the Pas-de-Calais, four days in the
footsteps of the pilgrims of Rome
Dive into history at La
Coupole
A gigantic WW2 underground
bunker, La Coupole was designed
to prepare and launch V2
rockets, the secret weapons with
which Hitler planned to destroy
London. Converted into a historic
remembrance centre, La Coupole
allows visitors to understand the
challenges of total war and the
stages in the conquest of space
that stemmed from the technology
used for the V2. La Coupole also
includes a 3D Planetarium that
offers an unforgettable journey
into Space
La Coupole, rue André Clabaux,
62570 Wizernes
www.lacoupole-france.com
Tél : 00333 21 12 27 27

40
Take your time in the gardens
The countryside is brimming with scenery that recalls Monet.
At Reflets de Jardin in Penin, magnolias and rhododendrons
stretch out around a body of water that is dotted with water
lilies. In Chériennes, the Jardin des Lianes offers a horticultural
trail that is reputed for its rare hortensias. At La Caloterie,
the Jardin de la Goutte d’Eau is home to an English-style
quadrille with mixed border. In Séricourt, people flock to see
the cathedral of roses and the topiary garden. Whilst at
Bergueneuse, steel sculptures sit alongside the irises and the
peonies.
Association des Parcs et Jardins du Nord/Pas-de-Calais
www.parcsetjardins-npdc.fr - Tél : 00333 21 03 62 31
Discover the pottery of Desvres
For three centuries, the potters of Desvres have excelled in the
art of ceramics. At its high point, the production at Desvres
exported to the whole world, with its all-round knowledge a
particularity of the site. The museum showcases the history
of this savoir-faire through a presentation of 600 objects,
from the very first production in the 18th Century to the most
contemporary creations.
Musée de la Céramique
Rue Jean Macé, à Desvres
www.musee-ceramique-desvres.com
Tél : 00333 21 83 23 23
Discover the Pas-de-Calais in the company of a
greeter !
Pas-de-Calais Tourism has established a network of
greeters « Made in Pas-de-Calais ». This volunteer network
now has sixty members. It allows visitors to see the area in a
different way, in the company of a local who knows and loves
the area.
Visits are free of charge, for 6 people maximum
Booking required
www.greeters62.com - Tél : 00333 21 34 10 60
accueil@pas-de-calais.com

41
Strolling on the ramparts
of Montreuil-sur-Mer
Montreuil-sur-Mer is just the type
of little town that people love to
explore when on holiday. With is
narrow, cobble-stone streets, its
picturesque houses and fine
restaurants, this fortified town
seduces visitors immediately.
To fully appreciate the charm of
Montreuil-sur-Mer, the simplest
thing to do is to take the path
along the ramparts, a circuit
spanning 3km between the town
and the countryside.
Office de Tourisme de Montreuil-sur-Mer
11-13 rue Ledent
www.tourisme-montreuillois.com
Tél : 03 21 06 04 27
Sampling the best of
gastronomy
For several years, Montreuil-sur-
Mer has forged a reputation for its
culinary savoir-faire. Michelin star
chefs and local producers have
contributed to making this fortified
town with just 1000 inhabitants
one of the hotspots of French
gastronomy.
In order to promote the arts of
the kitchen and advise visitors,
Chef Alexandre Gauthier and
expat Londoner Tim Matthews,
owner of Maison 76, had the
idea of creating La Destination
Gastronomique: an on-line guide
to help you sample the best of
Montreuil-sur-Mer.
ladestinationgastronomique.com
Treat yourself to the
chocolates of Beussent
These « Grand Cru » chocolates are
among the very best. Reputed for
the quality and care taken in their
production, the chocolatiers at
Beussent produce their chocolate
from beans grown at their own
plantation situated in the Amazon
region of Ecuador. Visiting the
chocolate factory and enjoying
a tasting allows enthusiasts to
discover all the secrets of this
exceptional chocolate.
Visits and sampling on site with prior
booking
66 Route de Desvres, à Beussent
www.choco-france.com
Tél : 03 21 86 17 62

42
Around Louvre-Lens, 10 must-sees
in town
Another way of visiting the Louvre
Among its treasures, his museum houses «the time
gallery ». With more than 200 works taken from the
Louvre in Paris, it offers a trip through 5000 years of
the history of art, from the birth of the written word
up until the mid-XIXth Century.
It provides an unexpected connection between works
drawn from different schools of art, techniques and
civilisations.
A partial renovation of the time gallery is carried
out every year, around the date of the museum’s
anniversary.
Since the museum opened in 2012 access to the time
gallery has been free.
Louvre-Lens, rue Paul Bert, Lens
www.louvrelens.fr – Tél : 00333 21 18 62 62
Homer at the Louvre-Lens
From 27th March to 22nd July 2019
The Louvre-Lens Museum presents the largest ever
exhibition in France dedicated to Homer, author of
The Iliad and The Odyssey, these two famous epic
poems that form the basis of Western culture. It
offers an unexpected journey into the rich Homeric
world, a universe as beautiful as it is mysterious.
This exhibition sets out to explore the « Prince
of Poets », whose very existence is disputed. The
exhibition brings back to life the main heroes and
storylines of The Iliad and The Odyssey and some of
the most famous scenes of the Trojan War featured
in other epic poems that have now disappeared
but were still popular during Antiquity. These reveal
the profusion on ancient epic literature and the
miraculous preservation of the works of Homer.
Temporary exhibition

43
Experience the main
events Around the
Louvre-Lens
People in the Mining Basin have
always loved getting together for a
celebration.
More than ever, the destination
Around Louvre-Lens is bursting
with energy, offering a multitude
of gatherings, big and small.
Exhibitions at the Louvre-Lens,
the Les Enchanteurs festival, Les
Rutilants, the Main Square Festival,
Béthune Retro, the arts and crafts
fair… a month never goes by
without there being a rendez-vous
to experience or a festival to share !
www.aroundlouvrelens.com
Discover the remarkable
mining heritage sites.
Across 353 sites in the Mining Basin
that are listed by UNESCO, five are
recognised as remarkable sites.
Pit 11/19 in Loos-en-Gohelle has
become a knowledge hub with
regards to sustainable development;
the Mining History Centre of Lewarde
is the largest mining museum in
France ; the 9-9 Bis in Oignies
combines heritage and regeneration,
focusing on current music; Wallers-
Arenberg is home to the « Creative
Mine » audio-visual centre and the
Cité des Electriciens in Bruay-la-
Buissière, the oldest Coron mining
village in the Mining Basin, which has
been entirely restored (opening May
2018).
UNESCO sites listed here :
www.bassinminier-patrimoinemondial.org
Climb the highest
slagheaps in Europe
From the summit of the twin
slagheaps of Loos-en-Gohelle,
the views are unbeatable. At 145
metres above sea level, the view
stretches for 30 kilometres in all
directions.
Nature has steadily reconquered
these mountains of schist that,
nowadays, provide a veritable
playground for walkers, sporty types
and families. A walk reveals some
beautiful botanical surprises, with
a chance to discover dozens of rare
plants known as thermophiles.
La Chaîne des terrils
Rue Léon Blum, à Loos-en-Gohelle
www.chainedesterrils.eu
Tél : 00333 21 28 17 28
Expe-
riencing
major
events
in
Around
Louvre-
Lens

44
Going from belfry to belfry
Whether you are in Arras, Béthune or Douai, they are
impossible to miss !
The belfries, veritable reference points for locals and visitors
alike, proudly loom above the heart of the towns of Northern
France. Built in the Middle Ages as a symbol of the freedom
of local communities, they have been classified as World
Heritage by UNESCO.
Special mention must go to the one in Douai, whose incredibly
entertaining visit retraces the history of belfries across the
region.
www.douaitourisme.fr – Tél : 00333 27 88 26 79
They came from across the Globe
In this key sector between the Ypres battlefields
and the River Somme, the Artois was defended
by the French until February 1916, and then by
the Commonwealth nations (British, Canadians,
Newfoundlanders, South Africans, Indians,
Australians and New Zealanders).
Many cemeteries and memorials are witnesses
of this diversity.
Find out more on
www.history-pas-de-calais.com
Explore the treasures of Art deco
In the 1920s the communes of Northern France
that had been devastated by WW1 began their
reconstruction.
Architects called upon the style that was in vogue
during the inter-war years; Art deco. Arras, Béthune
and Lens saw countless Art deco buildings spring up.
Lens railway station, whose silhouette recalls a steam
locomotive, the former headquarters of the Lens
Mining Company and the Art deco swimming pool of
Bruay-la-Buissière offer some of its finest examples.
www.printempsartdeco.fr

45
Admire the architecture
of the squares of Arras
Discovering Arras begins at the
Grand’Place and the Place des
Héros, famous for their façades
in the Flemish-Baroque style.
On the Place des Héros, the
Town Hall can be visited from top
to bottom by scaling the belfry
and descending into the Boves,
an underground network of
galleries beneath the building.
When the weather is fine, the
terraces that flank these squares
are the ideal places for enjoying
the unique architectural setting.
Pass Boves + belfry available
Arras tourism office
Hôtel de Ville – Place des Héros
www.explorearras.com
Tél : 0033 21 51 26 95
Sample Page 24 craft
beer at the Saint-Germain
brewery
At the origin of this brewery
established in 2003 are three
beer enthusiasts that wanted to
bring their own recipes to life.
From the outset, the brewery’s
philosophy was founded on using
local ingredients in order to carry
on the brewing and agricultural
traditions of the region. The result:
the flagship beers of the Page 24
range are brewed exclusively from
local hops
Tours each Saturday
Brasserie Saint-Germain
26, route d’Arras, à Aix-Noulette
www.page24.fr
Tél : 00333 21 72 24 24
Step into the history of
WW1
Major museums and visitor centres
allow the public to understand the
causes and consequences of the
First World War.
The largest French cemetery at
Notre-Dame de Lorette and
the Ring of Remembrance
international memorial, Lens’14-
18 war & peace centre, the
Wellington Quarry, the visitor
centre, parc and Canadian
memorial et Vimy Ridge.
Details can be found on
www.history-pas-de-calais.com

Pas de-calais 2019 press file

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