You will love the North! Colorful, rich, moving, inspiring... Live new experiences and put your senses in motion for a weekend or a longer stay! Surprising, offbeat, trendy, festive, dynamic, natural, the North is all this, with the added bonus of conviviality. Come, you will see, human warmth is contagious! This destination will delight you. First of all, let's set foot in Lille. This city has everything to surprise, with its Vauban fortifications, its absolutely heroic ancestral history and its estaminets to be damned. The Place du Général-de-Gaulle reminds us how much the North is French, by its name, but of Dutch inspiration in its architecture. The buildings lining the square are reminiscent of the two-colored houses of Bruges or the Grand Place in Brussels. As for the Old Stock Exchange, it is the junction between the two, in a sublimated atmosphere on the border between nobility and popular effervescence. There would be too much to say about this city, but remember that you will be very unwise not to visit it, and even more so if you don't take the trouble to settle down in a small estaminet in the old town. As for Dunkerque, it offers more sporting and nautical activities, which will not displease those who are afraid to indulge in the joys of maroilles pies and other culinary delights of the department!

When to go Nord ?

When to go to the North ? In February and March don't miss the Dunkirk Carnival! It's the event every year in the City of Corsairs. Dates to mark with a red cross in your agenda! Otherwise, every first weekend of September, the biggest flea market in Europe takes place for two days and a night of madness! The Braderie de Lille is certainly one of the most famous events in France and beyond. Imagine 10 000 "bradeux" exhibiting on 100 km of sidewalks where, during 33 hours non-stop, everything is bought and sold! Crowds from all over the world flock there to find the rare pearl, to pick up bargains, but also and above all to immerse themselves in an atmosphere that reflects the city: friendly and festive.

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Discover Nord

Between land and sea, the Nord department is full of discoveries and beautiful escapades to do for a few hours, days or weeks. You will discover here a real conviviality, and inhabitants proud of their roots. In the Lille Metropolis, you will find a cultural life that is abundant and in constant evolution. European Capital of Culture in 2004, the capital of Flanders organizes many events throughout the year and is often thought of when it comes to innovation. In the Avesnois, open your eyes wide and enjoy the tranquility of the countryside and the green expanses between your visits to towns and villages. In the Dunkerque region and Flanders, we think of the beach and its pleasures, but also of the famous villages like Cassel or Esquelbeck. And finally, in the Cambrésis, the Douaisis and the Valenciennois, enjoy the pleasures of the cities while discovering the historical heritage!

Pictures and images Nord

À vélo en Flandre. Destination Coeur de Flandre
Tarte au sucre. ALF photo - stock.adobe.com
Café rando Kerk Hoek à Terdeghem. Dominique Lampla
Canal central. Lawrence BANAHAN - Author's Image

The 12 keywords Nord

1. # Avesnois

The best kept secret of the North, some say. A jewel to be protected at all costs say others. A territory where Epicurus would have felt at home, say some locals. All this is true: the Avesnois is the greenest, most pastoral and authentic part of the North. Listed as a Regional Nature Park, the Avesnois is beautiful, protected and worth visiting!

2. # Mining basin

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Slag heaps that dot the landscape, once industrial and now family-owned, where nature has reclaimed its rights, as in Douai. Mines that were closed yesterday and have become museums today, to perpetuate the heritage and knowledge of the elders. A UNESCO inscription and the recognition of a unique element of the North, present everywhere.

3. # Café-rando

There are more than a hundred of them, spread all over the North department. They are sometimes the only business in a village or an old pharmacy now converted. However, they all have something in common: the assurance of being welcomed, of finding a hot drink, information and a smile when you arrive.

4. # Carnival

The one of Dunkerque, known worldwide and which attracts crowds every year. Those of Bailleul or Cassel, which bring families and dancing giants: the Carnival is an essential part of the heritage of the North. We party, we celebrate life, we sing ritual tunes, year after year: this is also the North, popular and joyful.

5. # Citadel

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Louis XIV wanted a line of fortresses to protect France in the North. Vauban, the most brilliant military architect of his time, was given (almost) free rein to satisfy the royal desire: this is how these typical citadels were born, from Bergues to Lille, from Gravelines to Quesnoy. Beautiful visits and discoveries!

6. # Dunkerque

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City of privateers, city of battles, city of carnival, city of the ocean and port, Dunkirk cannot leave anyone indifferent. Sometimes you come here without really knowing why and you leave wondering how to get back here, quickly! With a great cultural offer, the proximity of Bergues and Gravelines, it is the ideal destination for a citytrip!

7. # Cheeses

From Maroilles to the Tome de Cambrai, including the Pavé bleu, the Boulette d'Avesnes and other marvels to be discovered in each of the territories, the North is a land where cheese is held in high esteem. It is not only tasted: it is also cooked, matched and accompanied. We know how to use it to delight the taste buds!

8. # Giants

Several meters high, asleep 364 days a year, they rarely come out. Maybe they are shy? Maybe they don't want to be seen when they are not dressed in their best? In any case, they often live with their families and are sometimes heroes and heroines. They like to dance: they are the Giants of the North!

9. # Lille

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The northern capital is a leading destination and a major international gateway. It must be said that with the beauty of its old town, its cultural vitality and its crazy energy, there are many things to do! But Lille is also the metropolis and Roubaix, Tourcoing, Villeneuve-d'Ascq where there are many treasures to visit.

10. # Hiking

Whether it is urban, through fields, a bit steep, along a beach, along a dune or in forests, hiking is omnipresent in the North. From the landscapes of the Avesnois to urban walks, from the beaches of Zuydcoote to the memory trails of the Cambrésis, there is something for everyone, at all levels: come and check it out!

11. # Traditions

Regional languages still very much alive (Ch'ti, Flemish), a renowned sense of hospitality, age-old festivities such as the carnival, old-fashioned games still played, estaminets that are still alive: the North is proud of its traditions and its identity.

12. # Bike

There is the official bike, a paved race with a terrible reputation, which has become a mythical event: the Paris-Roubaix. And then there is the more popular, touristic bike, a little Charles Trenet and a lot Nord. With the formidable network of nodes, there is no need to bother: the route is created almost in real time. Ideal for a nice outing!

You are from here, if...

You are familiar with the Pierre Mauroy stadium and have celebrated the victory of LOSC in Ligue 1 in 2021.

You like strong cheeses. Like maroilles for example.

You know the names of your Giants and their families and you know that they only come out for Carnival. Never before, never after!

You know THE best French fry shop in the North, the one where you are sure your American will be perfect!

You know that there is not one but TWO Flanders.

You know that the Avesnois is the best kept secret in the North and that it is the ideal place to relax with your family!

You found it logical that Cassel was named the French people's favorite village in 2018.

You're used to climbing slag heaps and belfries without being out of breath.

You know how to play all the Flemish games and you know all the rules.

You have already pedaled on the cobblestones of the Paris-Roubaix (and you understand the pain of those who fall)!

You know the best beers and breweries in the North.

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