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

WHAT'S ON IN NORTHERN FRANCE

June 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. 59=Nord 62=Pas de Calais 80=Somme
5, 6 June 2010	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 « the gardener’s tools ». You can search for gardens by département or by region on this government website or on this site devoted to parcs and gardens.	Throughout France
Until late June	Le Jardin des Boves The annual three-month summer period when the tunnels beneath the tourist office of Arras take on a new air, being filled with growing plants and strange music. Visitors expecting the usual history-filled tour may be disappointed... Guided visit 4.70€, children 2.70€.	Office de Tourisme, Hôtel de Ville, Place des Héros, Arras 62
6 June 2010	Transbaie Running race of 20km across the broad estuary of the river Somme, with more than 6,000 participants. Start 11am.	St-Valéry sur Somme 80
6 June 2010	Depeche-toi An annual day of free fishing demonstrations, nationwide, with experts on hand to help you try out casting etc. It’s held on the river Somme (in Amiens, Quartier St-Leu and Parc St-Pierre; and in the village of Authie). In the Pas de Calais, locations include Dennebroeucq (under 16s), Lumbres and Aire-sur-la-Lys. Visit the website to see exact locations in other nearby counties. 10am-6pm. Free	Various venues; see website and click on Depeche-toi logo
11-13 June 2010	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
early June	Brocante at Bergues Giant annual car-boot sale, with stalls set up throughout this attractive walled town. 8am-6pm.	Bergues, 59
Mid June	Journée des Moulins Events, displays and talks at many of the numerous windmills and watermills in the north of France. (Hopefully the website of the “mills day” will be updated soon – at present it is listing only the events for 2008.)	Windmills throughout France
Mid June	Journée du Petit Patrimoine This is also a day of heritage on a small scale. Expect to see rural skills and building crafts demonstrated.	Throughout France
Mid June-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)
17-20 June 2010	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
late June	Fête de la Musique A nationwide event, with music-making events in unexpected places.	Throughout France
Next one in 2011	Calais Round Britain Yacht Race The skippers of IMOCA 60 monohulls, freshly returned from the latest “Vendée-Globe” circumnavigation, will be setting out again to race 1,850 miles around the British Isles and back in this biennial event. Present record-holder is French yachtsman Roland Jourdain who, back in 2005, accomplished the race in 6 days 16 hours 43 minutes and 21 seconds.	Calais, 62
late 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
late June-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
late 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
late 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

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NORTHERN FRANCE

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