Northern France: What's on in November

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

WHAT'S ON IN NORTHERN FRANCE

November 2010

(entries in red indicate new additions)

Départements are identified with their official number:
59=Nord; 62=Pas-de-Calais; 80=Somme

	PLEASE NOTE This website is 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.

Early Nov	Salon ArTouquet Grand antiques, jewellery, contemporary art and interior design fair, held near the town’s main tourist office. Sat, Sun 10-7; Mon 10-6. Admission 7€, children free.	Palais de l’Europe, Le Touquet, 62
Until mid Nov	Grande Operation de Destockage Annual sale of bargains in glassware at the famous Arc International glass factory shop. Daily 10am-7pm.	Arc International, Arques, near St-Omer, 62
1 Nov	TOUSSAINT (All Saints’ Day) Public holiday
early Nov	Festival International du Film d’Arras The 10th edition of a film festival that screens 100 French and foreign films for adults and children, and provides cinema-goers with a chance to mingle with some famous names. This year features movies old and new featuring the Berlin Wall, and a collection of musicals from the 1970s.	Arras, 62 (tel: 03 21 59 56 30)
early Nov	Fête du Hareng Roi The annual herring festival in the fishing village of Etaples is held at a time of year when these fish arrive in local waters in large quantities. Hundreds of tasty herrings are barbecued.	Etaples, near Boulogne, 62
early Nov	40e Salon des Antiquaires Annual indoor antiques fair, with 30 professional dealers, held in the Salle des Fetes. 10am-7pm. Admission €, children free.	La Couture, near Neuve-Chapelle 62
11 Nov	ARMISTICE DAY Public holiday (many museums likely to be closed)
11 Nov	Remembrance Day ceremonies organised by the Somme branch of the Royal British Legion on sites connected with the attacks of 1 July 1916. Ulster Tower (9.45am); Thiepval Monument (10.45am); .	Thiepval area, near Albert, 80
13 Nov 2010	Opening of La Gare des Géants, a collection of the giant parade figures used in Flanders carnivals. It will show how they are made, from paper and willow, and display items associated with giants, as well as some of the giants themselves.	Cantin, near Douai, 62
Mid Nov	Noël à l’ancienne Old-style Christmas festivities around the picturesque old windmill of this Flemish village, and in the Salle des Fetes. 10am-7pm. .	Boeschèpe, near Bailleul, 59
MidNov	Salon International du Chat de l’Artois International cat show, with an emphasis this year on kittens. 10am-6.30pm. Admission 5.50€, children 3€, under 7s free.	Artois Expo, 50 Ave Roger Salengro, St-Laurent-Blangy, NE of Arras, 62
mid Nov	Foire aux Poulains Annual horse fair held on the main street of a village near St-Omer. Competitions for riding horses, ponies, donkeys and the famous local grey heavy horses of the Boulonnais breed. From 10am; grand parade 3pm. Food & craft market 10am-6pm. Admission free.	On N43, Wittes, N of Aire-sur-la-Lys, 62 (tel: 03 21 39 06 70)
Mid Nov	Les Foulées de la Rouge Flamande Called after the local, chestnut-coloured dairy cows, this day of running and jogging races brings together 1,000 participants, and takes place around the ancient walled town. Routes from 1.16km to 10.6km. Participants must show a doctor’s certificate of fitness to enter. Start and finish Place du Marché aux Bestiaux.	Bergues, 59
late Nov	Terroirs, Vins et Saveurs Large food and wine fair, featuring many small-scale producers and more than 70 wine-growers. Fri, Sat, Sun 10am-7pm. Admission 4€ (second person half-price); disabled & under-12s free.	Artois Expo, 50 Ave Roger Salengro, St-Laurent-Blangy, NE of Arras, 62
late Nov	Fête du Hareng For Boulogne’s annual herring festival, giant barbecues are set up along Quai Gambetta to grill the fish that are washed down with Beaujolais Nouveau. Folk-dancing and other cultural manifestations. Some 10,000 visitors expected during the weekend. Daily 10am-7pm.	Boulogne-sur-Mer 62
Late Nov	Salon de la Gastronomie Annual event in a village near Arras, with a theme this year of “pâtisseries”. So expect some tasty samples from the 30-odd foodie stands set up in the Salle des Fêtes. 10-7. Admission free.	Boiry-Becquerelle, 8km SE of Arras 62
Late Nov- early Dec	Marché de Noël Christmas market, with 60 wooden chalets set up in the picturesque Grand’Place. Stalls sell gifts, food, mulled wine and hot chestnuts. There are cookery demonstrations and an open-air ice rink. (6 Dec, 5.30pm, Descent of Father Christmas from the belfry.) Mon-Fri noon-8pm; Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 10am-8pm.	Arras 62
Late Nov- late Dec	Marché de Noël Amiens’ Christmas market stretches through the city’s streets and squares, with 125 stalls set up in little wooden chalets. Don’t miss the free son et lumiere of the cathedral front each evening, around 7pm. Mon 2-7.30pm; Tues-Fri 11am-7.30pm; Sat, Sun 10am-7.30pm. Closed 25 Dec.	Amiens, 80
late Nov-end Dec	Christmas Illuminations at Le Touquet Tasteful fairy-lights and more substantial illuminated figures decorate this famous seaside resort. Especially good round Place de l'Hermitage. Admission free.	Le Touquet, 62

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