Northern France:What's on in May

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

WHAT'S ON IN NORTHERN FRANCE

May 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
Until 20 May 2008	Histoire, Histoire… A new exhibition space in the Fine-Arts museum shows the history of the town through paintings, drawings, gold- and silver-work, and a model of Dunkerque’s town hall.	Musée des Beaux-Arts, Dunkerque (59)
Until 25 May	Dunkerque, les défis de la sidérurgie sur l’eau Exhibition about the setting up of steel-making factories in Dunkerque from the early 20th century, near the port where the raw materials arrived in France. Films, photographs, models and (French) commentaries from the people of neighbouring Grande-Synthe who work in this industry today. Wed-Mon 10-12.45 & 1.30-6. 3€, children 2.50€, family 7.50€.	Musée Portuaire, Dunkerque 59 Tél. : 03 28 63 33 39
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	D'Après Nature Exhibition of paintings inspired by nature, starting with a display of natural history items from the museum's original collections, and continuing with animals in mythology and in still-lifes. Wed-Mon 10-12.15 & 1.45-6.	Musée des Beaux-Arts, Dunkerque, 59 (tel: 03 28 29 56 00)
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, along with (until 18 May) some of his paintings inside the abbey’s museum. Mon-Fri 2-6pm; Sat, Sun 10-12 & 2-6 (28 Apr-28 Sept, daily 10-6). Admission free.	St Riquier, nr Abbeville, 80
3 May-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
1 May	ASCENSION DAY and FETE DU TRAVAIL public holiday
1 May	Rederie de Maricourt Village car-boot sale.	Maricourt, nr Albert 80
1 May	MAPID (Marché aux Puces International de Dunkerque) Huge flea market, with more than 1,000 exhibitors. 6am-6pm. Admission free.	Dunkerque, 59
1 May	Brocante au Lac d’Ardres Brocante fair near the lakes on the outskirts of the town. 8am-8pm.	Ardres, near Calais, 62
1 May	Brocante de Crochte Brocante fair with 500 exhibitors. 8am-6pm.	Crochte, nr Dunkerque, 59
4 May	Rederie de Pont-Noyelles Village car-boot sale.	Pont-Noyelles, nr Amiens 80
6-11 May	Les 4 Jours de Dunkerque Major cycle race along the roads of Northern France. Check the daily itinerary on the website if you are thinking of touring, or you might get delayed while the race passes ! On Sat 10 May there is a major hill-climb stage at Cap Blanc Nez from 12.15-5.15pm.	6 Ma : Dunkerque to Douai area ; 7 May Henin-Beaumont to Le Cateau ; 8 May Le Cateau to St Quentin ; 9 May Wasquehal to Calais (via D940 coast road); 10 May, Cap Blanc Nez area; 11 May, within Dunkerque
8 May	ARMISTICE World War II : public holiday	1 May
10, 11 May	Fête Bavaroise Bavarian-style beer festival held in a marquee just outside Porte de Cassel. Sat 7.30pm-3am, Beerfest with bands ; admission 5€ including one drink. Sun noon-5pm, Bavarian meal, with music and entertainment ; 25€, children 10€ (advance booking only). 5-10pm, Bavarian evening ; 5€, including 1 drink.	Bergues, 59
12 May	LUNDI DE PENTECOTE Whit Monday : public holiday
12 May	Grande cavalcade Carnival procession, with Jehan, the Estaires giant, and his « guests » - other giants invited for the occasion. At the end of the musical parade comes Aliboron III, the town’s donkey. Starts 2.30pm.	Place Louis Blanquart, Estaires 59
17 May	La Nuit des Musées Special late-evening openings and events in museums throughout France. Click on website to find out what is happening in your chosen area.	Throughout France
18 May	Mei-feest Traditional farming is evoked with shows of horses and cattle in the streets of this Flemish village. Also a brocante fair and a flower market.	Steenwoorde, nr Cassel 59
24 May-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
30 May	La Manche : Lien dans l’histoire du Kent et du Pas-de-Calais / The English Channel : the link in the History of Kent and Pas-de-Calais A Franco-British exhibition, displayed in both languages on 10 panels that describe the many links between England and this part of France. It covers the 100 Years War, the trade links between the two countries in the Middle Ages and during the 18th century, the artists who travelled to France to paint, and the original, pre-1914 plans for a Channel Tunnel. 9am-6pm. Admission free.	La Trésorerie, Wimille, near Boulogne ; near exit 33 of the A16, 62
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. Fri 30 Ma,y Place Jules Leriche, Lumbres, 9pm ; Sat 31 May, Place de l’Abbe Delannoy, Fauquembergues, 9pm. 7€, children 5€.	Fri 30 May : Lumbres, 62 ; Sat 31 May Fauquembergues, 62
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.	Throughout France

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

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Grande cavalcade Carnival procession, with Jehan, the Estaires giant, and his « guests » - other giants invited for the occasion. At the end of the musical parade comes Aliboron III, the town’s donkey. Starts 2.30pm.

La Nuit des Musées Special late-evening openings and events in museums throughout France. Click on website to find out what is happening in your chosen area.

Mei-feest Traditional farming is evoked with shows of horses and cattle in the streets of this Flemish village. Also a brocante fair and a flower market.