ANGELA
BIRD'S
Northern France
What to do and see within 90 minutes of
WHAT'S ON IN NORTHERN FRANCE
June 2010
(entries in red indicate new additions)
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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. |
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 |
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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 ». |
Throughout
France |
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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 |
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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 |
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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). |
Various venues; see website and click on
Depeche-toi logo |
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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 |
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early June |
Brocante at
Bergues Giant annual car-boot sale, with stalls set
up throughout this attractive walled town. 8am-6pm. |
Bergues, 59 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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17-20 June 2010 |
Golf: St-Omer
Open |
Aa-St Omer golf club, nr
Lumbres 62 |
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late June |
Fête de la
Musique A nationwide event, with music-making
events in unexpected places. |
Throughout France |
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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. |
Calais, 62 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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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