Things to see and do Nord-Pas-de-Calais

The coast runs from Dunkirk to Bray-Dunes, last city French before Belgium. The 15 km of beach are surrounded by North Sea and 700 ha of dunes listed as national nature reserve. Impossible not to fall for water sports: sand yachting, windsurfing, kayaking, speed sail, kite surfing... You can also relax by placing your towel, renting a kiosk... Children or adult, everyone can practice an activity safely thanks to professionals who accompany them. The quality of its natural areas, its sustainable tourism approach and its recreation nature offer enabled the Dunes of Flanders to be labelled 4-star Nautical station.

In the Gothic style, brick on sandstone base, its listed gate dating back to 1582 is him in Renaissance style. The rich furniture of the interior comes from the recollet convent. Its stained-glass windows of different colours make it one of the most exceptional churches in Northern France.

In this very airy park, you can walk around, admire the plants and works of art and be transported to different regions of the world. The walk lasts 2 hours and a little more with the children captivated by the discovery of games and the observation of animals. Landscape artists and plastic artists maintain this space labeled "Remarkable Garden". Numerous outdoor activities are offered in good weather: exhibitions, concerts, shows... The park is closed between November and April.

Built at the end of the th century, this former military building became the cultural centre of the city of Mons. On the occasion of Lille 2004 European Capital of Culture, this building, nestled in a island of greenery, becomes one of the Metropolis's Folie houses. Today the building houses the municipal library, the conservatory, a multimedia area, a game, an open-air theatre and a restaurant in one of the vaulted halls of the building. It is also the seat of the cinema association, Time Exquisite.

It is a 3 km circuit in the city centre from the station to the Mines Offices. The nose in the air, let us tell you the fantastic evolution of this city in historical and architectural terms. The facades will be a pretext for a presentation of the various architectural movements since the reconstruction in the s until today. The visit shows the overlapping of different styles - Flemish, Art Deco… The circuit also makes a beautiful share of the men who did Lens.

The place is ideal: Fort Risban is originally a fortified island erected to lock the port of Calais and to prevent any attack from the enemy. It was taken over by the English in the 14th century who built the Lancaster tower still visible today in the munitions ware house. Then the French won against the Spanish here in the 16th century and the Germans made this place a link of the Atlantic wall during the Second World War. The walls of the fort have recently been renovated and are an outpost of the history of the engagements and invasions that shook the city.

In the heart of the regional nature park of the Avesnois and on the edge of a lake of 180 hectares, come and relax and enjoy the charms of nature. The park of Val Joly was created on this artificial lake, which saw the disappearance of some villages during the construction of the dam, but became a base that drains tourists from the whole region and constitutes an extraordinary recreation base for the youngest. On site you will discover a varied offer of accommodation and a range of indoor and outdoor activities concocted for the whole family: the aquarium and its centre of environmental initiation, adventure trails, sailing, horse riding… not forgetting the water centre where you will enjoy the slide, steam bath and outdoor basins. You will only have the embarrassment of choosing a unique stay and discovering a plethora of shops and restaurants. Other assets, the resort has a conference and entertainment centre. But of course you don't have to do the archi-consumer and you can also just enjoy this beautiful nature!