Northern France: What's on in June

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

WHAT'S ON IN NORTHERN FRANCE

June 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. 59=Nord 62=Pas de Calais 80=Somme

31 May-1 June	Journées Doullennaises des Jardins d’Agrément Delightful garden show, with stands laid out inside the town’s ancient citadel. Bigger every year, it attracts exhibitors from France and England alike. Special focus this year on « fossil plants », that have been around for millions of years. Daily 9.30am-7pm. 6 euros, under-15s free.	Doullens, nr Amiens, 80
31 May-2 June	Rendez-vous aux Jardins A nationwide weekend of garden-visiting, with some private ones throwing open their gates to visitors.This year’s theme is « voyages des plantes », on plants that have travelled from other civilisations such as peonies from China, carnations from India, maples from Japan, etc.	Throughout France
30 May-29 June	Le Procès des Sorcières « Street opera » performance in the open air, with singers from the Compagnie On/Off enacting the story of a trial of three witches. A satire on justice, it is full of humour at the expense of intolerance. Sun 1 June, Place du General de Gaulle, Fruges, 6pm ; Fri 13 June, Place de l’Abbaye, Samer, 9pm ; Sat 14 June, Place Leon Blum, Desvres, 9pm ; Sun 15 June, Place du Marechal Foch, Guines, 6pm ; Fri 20 June, Place Pierre Beregovoy, Outreau, 9pm ; Sat 21 June, Place du General de Gaulle, Audruicq, 9pm ; Sun 22 June, Place Louis Le Senechal, Marquise, 6pm ; Fri 27 June, Place d’Armes, Hesdin, 9pm ; Sat 28 June, Clos St Victor, Etaples, 9pm ; Sun 29 June, Place de l’Entonnoir, Berck, 6pm. 7€, children 5€.	1 June, Fruges; 13 June, Samer; 14 June, Desvres; 15 June, Guines; 20 June, Outreau; 21 June, Audruicq ; 22 June, Marquise; 27 June, Hesdin; 28 June, Etaples; 29 June, Berck. All 62 ;
Until13 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
Until 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.
Until 16 Nov	Fendre l’Ombre 2008 Strange wooden figures sculpted by Christian Lapie are scattered about the grounds of the former abbey. Mon-Fri 2-6pm; Sat, Sun 10-12 & 2-6 (28 Apr-28 Sept, daily 10-6). Admission free.	St Riquier, nr Abbeville, 80
Until 31 Dec	Dans les pas de Francis Tattegrain, Bernard Clarisse Works in the claqssical tradition of art by a contemporary painter.	Musée Opale-Sud, Berck-sur-Mer 62
Until 31 Dec	Dans les pas de Francis Tattegrain, Jacques Damville Paintings by a contemporary artist who shows landscapes, people at work, in realistic style. Damville has recently turned to ceramics, creating a series of seascapes on enamelled plaques.	Musée Opale-Sud, Berck-sur-Mer 62
6-8 June	Terres en Fête Annual farming show, with demonstrations for the general public, and a chance to see breeds of cattle, horses, pigs etc, and enjoy traditonal food and entertainment. 9am-7pm. 6€, under-12s free	Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, nr Arras, 62
7 June-16 Nov	Le camp militaire britannique d’Etaples – 1915/1919 Photographs of the vast military camp – one of the largest British bases of World War I – that was installed at Etaples. Photographs, plans and objects dug up from the sites	Musée Quentovic, Etaples, near Le Touquet 62
8 June	Brocante at Bergues Giant annual car-boot sale with stalls set up throughout this attractive walled town. 6am-6pm.	Bergues, 59
12-15 June	Golf: St-Omer Open Part of the prestigious PGA European Tour, this is France’s second-largest golf tournament attracting more than 150 players from 22 different countries.	Aa-St Omer golf club, nr Lumbres 62
15 June	Journée des Moulins Events and talks at many of the numerous windmills and watermills in the north of France. They include the magnificent brick-built Steenmeulen, at Steenvoorde.	Steenvoorde, 59
15 June-21 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)
19-22 June	31ème Festival International des Arts de la Rue/ Fête dans la Ville Festival of street theatre and circus skills, in the city centre.	Amiens, 80
21 June	Fête de la Musique A nationwide event, with music-making events in unexpected places.	Throughout France
21-34 June	Golf: Ladies European Tour Vediorbis Open de France The world’s top women golfers compete for 340,000 euros in prize money.	Golf d'Arras, Anzin St Aubin, nr Arras 62
22 June	Marché sur l’eau Annual recreation of the old floating market, by which the market-gardeners of the Hortillonnages area of the city came to sell their fruit and vegetables at the quayside. Costumed boatmen bring items for sale in their old craft.	Quai Parmentier, Amiens, 80
26 June-16 Nov	L'autre Allemagne (1914-1924) : rêver la paix Exhibition devoted to German writers and artists who denounced the inhumanity of World War I and dreamed of a more peaceful world.	Historial de la Grande Guerre, Péronne, 80
28 June	Feu de la St-Jean Enormous annual event for the feast of St John the Baptist. Historical tableaux, and a vast bonfire, with fireworks.	Bergues, 59
28 June	Fête dans la rue Festival in the streets of this nice little town, with free entertainment, art exhibition, craft market and traditional Picardy games. 4pm-midnight.	Corbie, near Amiens, 80
28 June-28 Sept	Autour d'Eanger Iving Couse Exhibition of photographs by an American artist–a member of the School of Etaples–who settled in the fishing port in 1893. They show local views, and the lives of the fishing families of the late 19th century. Aongside them are pastel drawings by Belgian artist Jos Van den Nieuwenhof, made from Couse’s photographs.	Musée de la Marine, Etaples 62
29 June	Transbaie Running race across the estuary of the Somme.	St-Valéry sur Somme 80

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