ANGELA
BIRD'S
Northern France
What to do and see within 90 minutes of
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=
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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. |
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. |
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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 |
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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 |
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1 Nov |
TOUSSAINT (All Saints’ Day) |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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11 Nov |
ARMISTICE DAY |
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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. |
Thiepval area, near Albert, 80 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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, |
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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) |
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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 |
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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, |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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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