ANGELA BIRD'S

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

WHAT'S ON IN NORTHERN FRANCE

July 2010
(entries in red indicate new additions)

	PLEASE NOTE This website is 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. Official county identifications: 59=Nord 62=Pas de Calais 80=Somme
Until late July	Les Soldes / Sales! This is the official period for which French shops are authorised to hold sales. Make the most of it!	Throughout France
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)

1 July	Commemoration of the Battle of the Somme A moving ceremony is held each year at Lochnagar Crater, starting at 7.30am – the time of the British attack. Later in the day there are ceremonies at Thiepval (10.30am, with British military band), at the nearby Ulster Tower, and at the Newfoundland Memorial at Beaumont-Hamel.	La Boisselle, near Albert, 80; also Thiepval & Beaumont-Hamel. 80
1-4 July 2010	Son et lumière on the Somme Since 2006 the village of Pozières has mounted a night-time sound and light show on a WWI theme. Many thousands–particularly Australians–died in the area between 1916 and 1918. The theme for the 2010 show is cabaret and showbusiness.	Pozieres, near Albert, 80.
Early July	Fêtes Guillaume Two days of festivities throughout this medieval town to celebrate the memory of William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, who set off from this port to conquer England in October 1066.	St-Valéry-sur-Somme 80
Early July	Rederie de Longpré Brocante/car-boot fair in an attractive village on the south side of the rivedr Somme.	Longpré-les- Corps Saints, nr Amiens 80
July (2nd Sun)	Brocante de Godewaresvelde Junk fair in this attractive Flanders village, near the Belgian border.	Godewaersvelde, near Steenvoorde 59
13-16 July	Skippers d’Islande A yacht race (27 June to 18 July) open to multihulls or to Open 40s or 60s. It is contested over three legs: Paimpol (Brittany) to Reykjavik (Iceland); Reykjavik to Gravelines (near Dunkerque); Gravelines to Paimpol. The port of Gravelines – whose fishermen went regularly to Iceland over the last couple of centuries – figures for the first time.	Gravelines, near Dunkerque, 59
mid July	Folklores du Monde World music and colourful performances by dancers and musicians from many lands.	Bray-Dunes, near Dunkerque. 59
14 July	FETE NATIONALE (Bastille Day, national holiday)	Throughout France
14 July	Vide-grenier Enormous annual Bastille-Day car-boot sale throughout the streets of Montreuil.	Montreuil, 62
14 July	Brocante Annual junk fair in this pretty little town near Desvres.	Samer, near Desvres 62
19 July 2010	94th anniversary of the Battle for Fromelles The official opening of the newly-created Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Cemetery where the bodies of 250 British and Australian soldiers discovered in a mass grave near the village have recently been interred. They died in July 1916.	Fromelles 59
Late July	Fête Médiévale Medieval festivities and activities on the site of the Battle of Agincourt. 10am-6pm.	Azincourt, near Fruges, 62
Late July-early Aug	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

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