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 2010

(entries in red indicate new additions)

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 7 Feb 2010	Corps et Ame Exhibition of paintings by St-Omer artist Francis Denis, featuring faces and bodies with an abstract spin. Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri from 5pm ; Sat, Sun from 11am (closed Wed).	Le Cabaret, 33 Place dce la Ghiere, St-Omer (Faubourg du Haut Pont) 62
Until 14 Mar 2010	Cicatrices de guerre(s) Exhibition of original drawings from comic-strip books by Picardy-based artists. In this peculiarly French graphic-art-form, 16 serious stories on World War I are recounted in strip-cartoon form, covering life in the trenches, behind the lines, among civilians and the disfigured ex-soldiers. They are shown alongside documents and objects from the museum’s collection to show the scars on the Picardy countryside left by the Great War.	Historial de la Grande Guerre, Péronne, 80
6, 7 Feb	Enduropale The annual scramble-fest, with motorcyclists racing among the sand dunes of Le Touquet.	Le Touquet, 62
mid Feb	Carnival 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
Sunday before Shrove Tues (14 Feb 2010)	Carnaval d’Hiver Winter carnival procession in the Flanders hilltop town of Cassel. Distinguished local giant Reuze Papa is on parade.	Cassel (59)
Sunday before Shrove Tues (14 Feb 2010)	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)
Feb	Bande de Rosendael / Rosendael carnival Carnival day in this eastern suburb of Dunkerque.	Rosendael, near Dunkerque (59)
Sunday after Shrove Tues (21 Feb 2010)	Carnaval de Malo-les-Bains Joyous carnival parade along the seafront of the seaside resort just to the east of Dunkerque.	Malo-les-Bains, near Dunkerque 59

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

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Corps et Ame Exhibition of paintings by St-Omer artist Francis Denis, featuring faces and bodies with an abstract spin. Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri from 5pm ; Sat, Sun from 11am (closed Wed).

Corps et Ame Exhibition of paintings by St-Omer artist Francis Denis, featuring faces and bodies with an abstract spin.
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri from 5pm ; Sat, Sun from 11am (closed Wed).