ANGELA BIRD'S
Northern France
What to do and see within 90 minutes of Calais


WHAT'S ON IN NORTHERN FRANCE 

August 2010
(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.

62=Pas de Calais
59=Nord
80=Somme

 

 

 

Until earlyAug

Son et Lumière “ Les Misérables à Montreuil-sur-Mer”  Enjoyable open-air show within the walls of the citadel, telling the story of Victor Hugo’s visit to the town and of his epic novel “Les Misérables”. Book tickets in advance through Montreuil tourist office.

 

 

Montreuil 62

Until late Sept

« Amiens, la cathédrale en couleurs »

The summer illuminated show, at nightfall, bringing to life the wonderfully-carved medieval sculptures on the West Front of the cathedral. Not to be missed!  Daily: June 10.45pm; July 10.30pm; Aug 10pm; Sept 9.45pm. Free; no booking required.

 

Cathedral, Amiens, 80
(tel: 03 22 71 60 50)

Early Aug

Grande Brocante du Centre Ville  Large flea market taking place in the town centre.

 

Place de Gaulle, Etaples, nr Le Touquet

Early Aug

Festival “Les Malins Plaisirs” Twentieth edition of this theatrical festival; plays will all be in French, so will requie a good knowledge of the language.

 

 

Montreuil, 62

 

 

 15 Aug

Cavalcade d’Eté  Summer carnival parade through the streets.

 

Boulogne-sur-Mer 62

15 Aug

Journée des Peintres dans la Rue  Artists set up their easels and can be seen at work all around this picturesque town.

 

Montreuil, near Le Touquet. 62

15 Aug

Blessing of the Sea  A parade of fishing and pleasure boats goes out to see to lay a wreath in memory of missing sailors. On same date each year.

 

Petit-Fort-Philippe, near Gravelines.59

Late Aug

Pilgrimage: Grande procession  Costumed locals celebrate the mysterious arrival on the shores of Boulogne of the wooden statue of the Virgin, washed up in a boat.

 

Boulogne-sur-Mer 62

Late Aug

Patate Feest  Dozens of scarecrows are dotted around the picturesque village of Esquelbecq for several days during the annual “potato festival”.

Esquelbecq, near Wormhout 59

late Aug

Son et lumiere “De Pierre et d’Eau”
Annual open-air spectacle in an attractive fortified town near Dunkerque. 300 participants act out the history of this town surrounded by water.

 

La Porte aux Boules, Gravelines, near Dunkerque, 59

Late Aug

Fête du Flobart  An entertaining weekend organised around the local fishing industry and especially the quaint little open boats of this part of the coast, known as “flobarts”.

 

Wissant  62

 

JAN    FEB    MAR   APR    MAY  JUNE  JULY  AUG  SEPT  OCT  NOV  DEC
 

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