Northern France: What's on in September

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

WHAT'S ON IN NORTHERN FRANCE

September 2012
(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 3 Sept 2012	Paris-Plage et les Etaplois au Siecle Dernier Exhibition celebrating 100 years of the existence of the resort of Le Touquet, examining its relationship with the nearby fishing port of Etaples.	Maison des Phares (lighthouse), Avenue des Phares, Le Touquet 62
Until 9 Sept 2012	Jaume Plensa, 2000-2011 Exhibition of works on paper by a Spanish-born artist who has been working for a decade on the subject of language, the human body and collective memory.	Musée du dessin et de l’estampe originale, Gravelines, 59
Until 15 Sept 2012	« Amiens, la cathédrale en couleurs » The summer light show, at nightfall, bringing to colourful life the wonderfully-carved medieval sculptures on the West Front of the cathedral. Not to be missed! Daily: June 10.45pm; July 10.30pm; Aug 10pm; Sept 9.45pm. Free; no booking required.	Cathedral, Amiens, 80 (tel: 03 22 71 60 50)
Until 15 Sept 2012	Histoires et Rêves d’Artois Magnificent son-et-lumière show, with hundreds of local participants re-enacting parts of their turbulent history. Early booking essential. Dress warmly, and arrive early to ensure easy parking. Near Arras golf club. Fri & Sat, 31 Aug, 1 Sept; 7, 8 Sept; 14, 15 Sept. 9pm. 15 euros, children under 13, 5 euros; family (2+3) 40 euros	Anzin-St-Aubin, nr Arras 62 (tel: 03 21 51 29 61).
Until 15 Sept 2012	Centre Pompidou Mobile Paris’s famous museum of modern art takes some of its works on tour to the provinces. Presented here in a temporary building on the old ferry port is an exhibition entitled « La couleur “, which includes works by great modern masters such as Léger, Braque, Matisse, Picasso ou Calder. Tues-Fri noon 7pm (from 4 Sept, 4.30-7pm) ; Sat, Sun 9am-7pm. Admission free.	Gare Maritime, Boulogne-sur-Mer, 62
Until 16 Sept 2012	Dessiner-Tracer Museums throughout the region are running exhibitions linked to the theme of drawing. Dessin Phénomenal, at Dunkerque’s excellent modern art museum, shows work by three modern artists who are influenced by accidents of light and time. Tues-Sun 10am-12.15pm & 2-6pm (3^rd Thurs of month, until 8.30pm). 4.50€, 18-25 year-olds 3€, children free. Ticket valid for 7 days and admits to the town’s Musée des Beaux Arts too.	LAAC, Dunkerque, 59 (car parking on Rue des Chantiers de France). Tel : 03 28 29 56 00.
Until 17 Sept 2012	14-18 : Les Femmes Sur Un Autre Front Exhibition about the role of women in Etaples during the Great War. Photographs and archaeological material show the large extent to which women worked, in the many British military hospitals sited here and the redoubtable training camp that existed here for Allied soldiers on the way to the Front.	Musee Quentovic, Etaples 62
Until 30 Sept 2012	La marine étaploise, vues d'artistes (1880-1914) Exhibition of paintings by some of the artists that have fallen under the spell of this fishing village since the 19^th century. The railways made Etaples accessible to an international set of painters from Paris, who congregated here in a group known as the Ecole d’Etaples. Works from the museum’s collection include paintings by Balande; Maillart, Koopmann; Hallez; and the group’s most famous member, Tattegrain.	Musee de la Marine, Etaples 62
Until 7 Dec 2012	Albert Siffait de Moncourt et l'éloge du Patrimoine Moncourt, born in 1858, was a specialist in historical painting, especially subjects featuring the heritage of the nearby region of Ponthieu. Wed-Sat 10-12 & 2-6. Closed Tues. Admission 4 euros.	Musee Roger Rodiere, Pl St Walloy, Montreuil, 62
Until 7 Jan 2013	Babel Exhibition demonstrating the artistic richness based on the theme of the Tower of Babel – the most celebrated architectural allegory in art. Painting and photography, film and comic strips illustrate multiple facets of the Babylonian myth.	Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lille, 59
Until 10 Nov 2013	Roulez Carosses! Exhibition of royal carriages and other grand conveyances from the magnificent collection of the Chateau de Versailles. They include paintings, sculptures, sleighs, sedan chairs, harness. Wed-Mon 11-6; closed bank holidays such as 14 July. Admission 7 euros	Musee des Beaux-Arts, Abbaye St-Vaast, Arras, 62
Early Sept	Antiques fair Three-day annual antiques fair.	Cassel.59
Until late Sept	« Amiens, la cathédrale en couleurs » The summer illuminated show, at nightfall, bringing to life the wonderfully-carved medieval sculptures on the West Front of the cathedral. Not to be missed! Daily: June 10.45pm; July 10.30pm; Aug 10pm; Sept 9.45pm. Free; no booking required.	Cathedral, Amiens, 80 (tel: 03 22 71 60 50)

Mid Sept	Fête du Miel Honey festival at Bouin’s little honey museum and shop.	Bouin Plumoison, near Hesdin 62
11 Sept 2011	Marathon du Pays du Coquelicot / “Poppy Country”, or Somme Marathon Courses for marathon, half-marathon, 10km and 5km laid out around the battlefields of the Somme. Fun to join in or to watch – but less good if you are thinking of visiting Thiepval, Beaumont-Hamel, Lochnagar crater and the Ulster Towe on that day, of course.	Albert and area, 80 (tel: 03 22 75 16 42)
Mid Sept	Salon de l’Antiquité 26th annual antiques fair, held in the town’s Salle des Sports. Fri 4-10pm; Sat, Sun 10am-7pm. 5€, under12s free.	Cassel 59
8, 9 Sept 2012	Fête au bord de l’eau Annual event that turns the clock back to medieval times in the picturesque, waterside St-Leu district of the city. Lots of entertainment on offer, from Boulevard du Cange to Boulevard Baraban, with local foods, living history and old crafts.	St-Leu district, Amiens, 80 (tel: 03 22 44 22 79).
late Sept	Brocante Open-air antiques fair in the main square and side streets, with more than 200 stands. 6am-6pm. Admission free.	Herzeele, near Wormhout 59
15, 16 Sept 2012	Journées du Patrimoine Nationwide Heritage Weekend, on which some unusual places are open to the public. Here is a link to events in the Nord and Pas de Calais and here is one to events in the Somme département	Throughout France
late Sept	La Fête à Raoul A jolly weekend of parades and music around one of the local „giants“.	Audinghen, near Boulogne, 62
mid Sept 2011	Fête de la Beurière The 16th annual event around the former fishing area of La Beuriere, in the centre of Boulogne (near Nausicaa). See such crafts as rope-making and net-mending, as well as the highly-skilled ladies who iron the fantastical traditional “sunburst“ bonnets of Boulogne.	Rue du Machicoulis, Boulogne 62

late Sept	Fête des Moissons Old-time harvest day, with demonstrations of farming techniques, plus brocante, junk, car-boot sale and crafts fair, with up to 600 stalls. 9am-7pm. Admission free.	Laventie, ner Estaires , 62
late Sept	Braderie Brocante Open-air junk and car-boot fair, with 60 stands. 7am-7pm. Admission free.	Samer, near Boulogne 62
late Sept	Brocante et Ducasse A junk fair for funfair week in the village centre, with 100 exhibitors. 7am-7pm. Admission free.	Serques, near St Omer 62
Late Sept 2011	La Nuit du Miroir aux alouettes, Anno 1585 Annual promenade performances around the old streets and ramparts of Bergues, with costumed characters in wait... Booking opened in October 2008, so chances of a last-minute ticket are low, but who knows...	Tourist office, Bergues 59 (tel: 03.28.68.71.06)
late Sept	Brocante et Ducasse A junk fair for funfair week in the attractive village centre, with 100 exhibitors. 1--7pm. Admission free.	Eecke, near Hazebrouck 59
late Sept	International Beer Festival Traditional fair held in the hop-growing area around the Monts de Flanders.	Sainte-Marie Cappel, near Cassel, 59
late Sept	Fête du Cheval Parade of horses in the morning, carriage rides in the afternoon.	Lillers, near Béthune, 62
late Sept	Marché à la brocante Open-air antiques fair throughout the centre of this little town. 350 exhibitors. 7am-6pm. Admission free.	Wormhout 59
late Sept	Procession à Naviaux A procession of the curiously dressed „Charitables“, an association in Bethune and surrounding area whose members wear black bicorne hats and accompanies funeral processions. From Béthune to Naviaux.	Béthune to Naviaux 62

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