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


WHAT'S ON IN NORTHERN FRANCE 

May 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

 

 

 

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

1 May

 

FETE DU TRAVAIL (public holiday)

 

 

1 May

Grande Brocante  Large junk fair. Admission free.

 

Arnèke, near Cassel 59

1 May

Brocante  150 stalls.

Verchocq, nr Fauquembergues 62

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

early 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 9 May there is a major hill-climb stage among the Monts de Flandres, or Flanders hills.

Start & finish : Dunkerque 59

 

8 May

 

ARMISTICE World War II :
public holiday

 

 

early May

Fête Bavaroise   Bavarian-style beer festival held in a marquee just outside Bergues’ 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

 

13  May 2010

 

ASCENSION DAY (public holiday)

 

15 May 2010

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

 Mid 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

Mid 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 2010

 

LUNDI DE PENTECOTE
Whit Monday : public holiday

 

 

 

 

 

29 May 2010

Commemorations of Dunkirk Evacuation   Respect is paid to the heroism and achievements of those who fought their way to the sea, and to those who brought them back to England.

 

Dunkerque

29, 30 May 2010

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

 

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NORTHERN FRANCE

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