Northern France: What's on in April

ANGELA BIRD'S

Northern France
What to do and see within 90 minutes of Calais

WHAT'S ON IN NORTHERN FRANCE

April 2008

(entries in red indicate new additions)

	PLEASE NOTE This website is really just a supplement to Angela Bird's guidebook, Northern France: What to do and see within 90 minutes of Calais (left), which gives full details in its 176 pages of hundreds of interesting and off-beat tourist sites throughout the region. What you see on the website consists of either extra topics not covered in the book (Calendar, Restaurants, Travel routes, Internet links etc), or updated information (new tourist attractions open - or old ones closed) since the book appeared. For the complete picture, order Northern France through bookshops in the UK and Ireland, or from Amazon ; it is also on sale in good bookshops throughout Northern France.	The listings on this site are supplied in good faith, gathered by the author from various sources. However it is always wise to check details with organisers or tourist offices before making a special journey. The “département”, or county, is indicated by the following official figures: 59=Nord 62=Pas de Calais 80=Somme
Until April	Déportation et génocide (1939-1945), une tragédie européenne The final months of La Coupole’s in-depth exhibition on deportation and genocide to mark the 60th anniversary of the victory over Nazism.	La Coupole, Helfaut, nr St-Omer 62
Until 27 April	Les derniers chasseurs de la vallée de la Selle : le gisement préhistorique de Saleux (Somme) During the construction of the A16 motorway in 1990, prehistoric remains were unearthed. Several hunting camps from 11,000 BC were discovered, allowing greater study of daily life in the Amiens region during palaeolithic times. These will be added to the wonderful collection of prehistoric material in the Musee de Picardie. Also on show are more items from the Gallo-Roman site (2nd century BC) at Ribemont-sur-Ancre.	Musée de Picardie, Amiens, 80
Until 11 May	Etaples hier et aujourd’hui Photographs and postcards contrast old views of Etaples with those of today. The fising village was much changed after bombing in World War II.	Musée de la Marine, Etaples, near Le Touquet 62
Until 25 May	Dunkerque, les défis de la sidérurgie sur l’eau Exhibition about the setting up of steel-making factories in Dunkerque from the early 20th century, near the port where the raw materials arrived in France. Films, photographs, models and (French) commentaries from the people of neighbouring Grande-Synthe who work in this industry today. Wed-Mon 10-12.45 & 1.30-6. 3€, children 2.50€, family 7.50€.	Musée Portuaire, Dunkerque Tél. : 03 28 63 33 39
Until 20 May	Histoire, Histoire… A new exhibition space in the Fine-Arts museum shows the history of the town through paintings, drawings, gold- and silver-work, and a model of Dunkerque’s town hall.	Musée des Beaux-Arts, Dunkerque (59)
Until 31 Aug	D’Après Nature Exhibition of paintings inspired by nature, starting with a display of natural history items from the museum’s original collections, and continuing with animals in mythology and in still-lifes. Wed-Mon 10-12.15 & 1.45-6.	Musée des Beaux-Arts, Dunkerque, 59 (tel : 03 28 29 56 00)
Until 16 Nov	Fendre l’Ombre 2008 Strange wooden figures sculpted by Christian Lapie are scattered about the grounds of the former abbey, along with (until 18 May) some of his paintings inside the abbey’s museum. Mon-Fri 2-6pm; Sat, Sun 10-12 & 2-6 (28 Apr-28 Sept, daily 10-6). Admission free.	St Riquier, nr Abbeville, 80
1-30 Apr	Festival des Epeutnaerts Annual scarecrow festival, when fantastic figures invade every corner of this village NW of St-Omer.	Moringhem, near Houlle 62
5-13 Apr	Rencontres Internationales de Cerf-Volants Spectacular annual kite festival, on the wide sands of Berck.	Berck-sur-Mer, 62
5 Apr-31 Aug	African Safari: Exhibition of sand sculptures Some 80 lorryloads of sand from a quarry in Belgium (its grains are less rounded that beach sand, and hold in place better) are shipped in to allow specialised artists to create gigantic sculptures of elephants and other animals from the Masai Mara.	La Digue (seafront) near end of Rue St Jean, Le Touquet 62.
12-20 April	Festival de l’Oiseau et de la Nature A week of bird related walks, talks, films and other events in and around the Somme estuary.	Abbeville area, 80
20 April	Vide grenier A large annual car-boot sale and brocante fair.	Rue, near Le Crotoy, 80
25, 26 April	La Nuit du Miroir aux alouettes, Anno 1585 Annual promenade performances around the old streets and ramparts of Bergues, with costumed characters in wait... Booking opened in October, so chances of a last-minute ticket are low, but who knows... (There are 2 other dates in September)	Tourist office, Bergues 59 (tel: 03.28.68.71.06)
25-27 April	Carnaval d’Ete International Another of the famous Flanders carnivals, this time spread over two days with parades of the giant Fromulus.	Steenvoorde, near Cassel, 59
25 April ANZAC Day	ANZAC Day For the 90th anniversary of the battle of Villers-Bretonneux, a special ceremony is being held at Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial, at 5.15am. (For 2008, the Somme Tourist Board is operating a special shuttle bus service from Amiens railway station to V-B memorial, departing at 4.30am. Please contact them in advance to find out about this service, using this link.)	Villers-Bretonneux, near Amiens, 80.
26 Apr (nearest Sat to ANZAC Day)	ANZAC Commemoration Each year, two commemoration ceremonies are held: - at Villers-Bretonneux: Australian Memorial, in the presence of the Australian Ambassador in France, 10am; - at war memorial in town centre, 11.30am. - at Bullecourt in memory of the battles of April-May 1917: village centre 4pm; - at Australian “Digger” memorial on outskirts, 5pm..	Villers-Bretonneux, near Amiens, 80. Bullecourt, near Arras, 62
26 April	Carnaval de Steenvoorde A great parade of giants at 3pm, followed by an afternoon of events inthe streets and evening happenings in the local estaminets.	Steenvoorde, nr Cassel 59
26, 27 Apr	Journées des Villes Fortifiées A weekend of walks and special events in the fortified towns of France, including in the north.	Bergues, Gravelines, Montreuil etc.
26 Apr-13 July	Passé Présent A sélection from the collection of the FRAC Nord-Pas de Calais Exhibition of works purchased by the region’s art foundation from 1983 to 1993. Artists represented include Carl André, Bernd et Hilla Becher, Joseph Beuys, Christian Boltanski, Daniel Buren, Isa Genzken, Hans Haacke, Bertrand Lavier, Eugène Leroy, Olivier Mosset, Panamarenko and Andy Warhol. Wed-Mon 9.30am-noon & 2-5.30pm.	Musée des Beaux-Arts, Arras, Abbaye Saint-Vaast, 22 Rue Paul Doumer Arras, 62
27 April	Rederie de Printemps More than 2,000 brocante and antique stalls are set up near the market and ancient belfry. 7am-7pm.	Amiens, 80
27 April	La Route du Louvre In anticipation of the day when the “Louvre-Lens” museum opens a few years hence, this is a day of running and walking events in the Lille/Loos-en-Gohelle/ Lens area. Main event is the Lille-to-Lens marathon, finishing on the site of the new Louvre, with around 4,000 competitors expected. Alongside it are many smaller events, such as a 10km Loos to Lens run, and walks of varying lengths starting in Arras, Bruay and seven other towns.	Lille, Loos-en-Gohelle, Lens, 59

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