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

WHAT'S ON IN NORTHERN FRANCE

October 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. 62=Pas de Calais 59=Nord 80=Somme

Until 18 Oct	Festival des cathédrales de Picardie Festival of renaissance music given by internationally-known artistes in some wonderful Gothic churches and cathedrals, echoing the style of music that would have been popular here at the time.	Various religious buildings, including Amiens cathedral and Péronne church, plus other venues farther afield. 80 (tel: 03 22 22 44 94)
Until 2 Nov	Eugène CHIGOT (1860-1923) This painter, from Valenciennes, was the instigator of the famous “School of Etaples”, a group of artists from all over the world who were drawn to set up their easels around the bay of the Canche in the late 19th century. Works by Chigot as well as by other artists of the group.	Musée du Touquet, Le Touquet 62
Until 16 Nov	Le camp militaire britannique d'Etaples - 1915/1919 Photographs of the vast military camp – one of the largest British bases of World War I - that was installed at Etaples. Photographs, plans and objects dug up from the sites.	Musée Quentovic, Etaples, near Le Touquet 62
Until 16 Nov	L'autre Allemagne (1914-1924) : rêver la paix Exhibition devoted to German writers and artists who denounced the inhumanity of World War I and dreamed of a more peaceful world.	Historial de la Grande Guerre, Péronne, 80
Until 16 Nov	Fendre l’Ombre 2008 Strange wooden figures sculpted by Christian Lapie are scattered about the grounds of the former abbey. Mon-Fri 2-6pm; Sat, Sun 10-12 & 2-6 (28 Apr-28 Sept, daily 10-6). Admission free.	St Riquier, nr Abbeville, 80
Until 14 Dec	Commémorer : hier, aujourd’hui et demain (1918-2008) The 90th anniversary of the ending of World War I poses the question of how the Great War be commemorated today. “Land art” around the museum itself, and photographs of war memorials show some possibilities.	Historial de la Grande Guerre, Péronne 80
Until 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
Until 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
5 Oct	8th Salon International de l'Objet Minier This annual exhibition and sale of mining artifacts is reputed to be the best hunting-ground for collectors of miners’ lamps. 9am-5pm.	Salle Corbeille, Bully-les-Mines, nr Lens 62
mid Oct	Journées Nationales Portes Ouvertes Entreprises A chance to see factories and other places of work open to the public in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais departements. They range from glassworks to chocolate manufacturers.	Throughout the Nord/Pas-de-Calais region
29 Oct	Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis (English version “Welcome to the Sticks”) Dany Boon’s iconic 2008 film comedy on the quirks of Northern France and its inhabitants, which broke all French box-office records on its cinema release in the spring, is due out on DVD today. The story concerns a post-office manager from Provence who is transferred to – horror of horrors – the north of France (always assumed by those from elsewhere to be, wet, cold and to have awful food). Taking up his new post in the pretty town of Bergues, he of course discovers the opposite to be true...	Available in France’s bookshops and video shops, and from the French Amazon website.
Late Oct-early Nov	Salon des antiquaires et de la joaillerie Grand annual antiques and jewellery fair, held near the town’s main tourist office.	Palais de l’Europe, Le Touquet, 62

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