Northern France: What's on in February

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

WHAT'S ON IN NORTHERN FRANCE

February 2012

(entries in red indicate new additions)

Départements are identified with their official number:
59=Nord; 62=Pas-de-Calais; 80=Somme

Jacqueline, Colas and family in Arras town hall	LES GÉANTS As the season of “giants” is getting into its (giant) stride, here is a link to the Fédération des Géants du Nord de la France - one of the sites that tells you the dates of the different parades. There is an interactive “Agenda des Géants” with dates for outings. Here is the site for La Ronde des Géants, which tells you about the history of giants in Belgium, France and other countries; click on “Agenda” to see a list of outings – though check the year shown, as itis not always up to date. (Tip: look for the French flag if you want an outing in France; not all are in the North, by the way).		Henri le Douanier in Godewaersvelde’s Musée Frontalière.
	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. 59=Nord 62=Pas de Calais 80=Somme

Until 29 Jan 2012		La sculpture baroque flamande dans les collections publiques françaises Last chance to see more than 60 works from great Flemish sculptors of the 17^th and 18^th centuries.		Musée Départemental de Flandre, Grand’Place, Cassel 59
Until 5 Feb 2012		Les petits bateaux Artist Frédéric Le Junter creates little boats from polystyrene, driftwood, shells etc found on beaches and seashores. Though The materials are unusual, he pays strict attention to building the boats in the most authentic way.		Musée Portuaire, Dunkerque, 59
Until 6 Feb 2012		Louis-Léopold Boilly (1761-1845) Born in nearby La Bassée, this artist had a most unusual style. This is the first retrospective devoted to him since 1930. It features his portraits, his caricatures, his trompe-l’oeil work and his depictions of the life under the Ancien Régime. Mon 2-6; Wed-Sun 10-6; 19-21 Jan; 26, 28 Jan; 2-4 Feb also open 6-8pm; 27 Jan, open 6-9pm. Admission 7.50 euros; acoustiguides (English and French) 1 euro.		Palais des Beaux-Arts, LILLE (tel: 03 20 06 78 00) 59
Until 4 Mar 2012		Buraglio, La Guerre Intime Exhibition of works evoking war by Pierre Buraglio (b France 1939). The first part is inspired by Buraglio’s own childhood, living through World War II; the second part results from his residency at the Historial and visits to the surrounding World War I battlefields throughout 2011.		Historial de la Grande Guerre, Péronne 80
Until 11 Mar 2012		Le Petit Dickens illustré Exhibition on the work of Charles Dickens, with particular emphasis on the illustrations that accompanied his text. These evoke Miss Haversham, Fagin, Mr Pickwick, Mr Micawber and other much-loved characters. Admission free. 10-12 & 2-6pm.		Château d’Hardelot, Condette, Hardelot, 62

Until 9 April 2012		Les années 68 The gallery displays items from the 1960s and 70s from its collections, the time of the 45rpm pop records, magazines, comics and psychedelia, with special emphasis on May 1968, the time of the student riots in Paris. Tues-Sun 10am-12.15pm & 2-5.30pm.		LAAC centre for modern art, Jardin de sculptures, Dunkerque, 59 (tél. : 03 28 29 56 00)
Until 15 Apr 2012		Rester Debout ! Exhibition about the resistance mounted by prisoners in the Nazi death camps of World War II. Different nationalities had their own ways of adapting to circumstances and of retaining their essential humanity. Mon, & Wed-Fri 2-4.30pm’ 1^st & 3^rd Sun of month 2.30-6pm. Admission 5 euros, children under 12 free.		Musée de la Resistance, Bondues, near Lille (tel: 02 20 25 94
4, 5 Feb 2012		Enduropale Et Quaduro Du Touquet Annual motorcycle and quad scramble among the dunes of Le Touquet.		Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, 62 Tél. 03 21 06 82 12
10-13 Feb 2012		Salon des Antiquaires et Art Contemporain Major art and antiques fair featuring furniture, weapons, jewellery, paintings. Fri 2-9pm; Sat, Sun 10am-7pm; Sun 10am-6pm. Admission 5 euros, accompanied children free.		Magazité, Avenue de l'Hippodrome, Amiens, 80 (Tél : 03 22 66 09 09)
17-21 Feb 2012		Carnaval de Bailleul Carnival parades for all the family through the streets of this little Flemish town, and a funfair in full swing outside the town hall.		Bailleul, 59
18 Feb 2012		Carnaval d’hiver First carnival of the year in the picturesque hilltop town of Cassel, where the Giant Reuze Papa parades along (he is joined by Reuze Maman only for the “summer” carnival, on Easter Monday)		Cassel, 59
18-20 Feb 2012		Bande de Dunkerque / Dunkerque carnival The most lively carnival of all sees the people of Dunkerque dressed in gaudy costumes (with men in drag), and waving gaily-decorated umbrellas.		Dunkerque (59)
18 Feb-20 May 2012		Picasso à l'oeuvre. Dans l'objectif de David Douglas Duncan Exhibition devoted to two creators of genius: Pablo Picasso and American David Douglas Duncan. Taken between 1956 and 1973, Duncan’s images show Picasso in the privacy of his life as an artist. Tues-Thurs 11-6, Fri 11-8, Sat, Sun 1-6. Closed 25 Dec & 1 Jan, 7 euros, chldren 4.50 euros.		Musée la Piscine, 23, rue de l’Espérance, Roubaix 59 (tél : 03 20 69 23 60), nr Lille
21 Feb 2012		MARDI GRAS (Shrove Tuesday)
21 Feb 2012		Bande de Rosendael / Rosendael carnival Carnival day in this eastern suburb of Dunkerque.		Rosendael, near Dunkerque (59)
25 Feb 2012		Bande de Malo-les-Bains Joyous carnival parade along the seafront of the seaside resort just to the east of Dunkerque. From 3pm.		Malo-les-Bains, near Dunkerque 59

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