France > France travel > Calais, Lorraine, Picardy
Northern France travel guide
This part of the France travel guide covers three 'regions' of France: Lorraine, Picardy and Calais. These regions all fall on the north-eastern border of France and are often passed on the way to sunnier, more glamorous parts of France.
Despite this neglect the regions do contain some interesting sights and towns, especially for those interested in the history of the battlefields of France in the 20th century.
Lorraine travel guide
Lorraine is a 'frontier department' in north-east France that shares borders with three European countries - Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. The department has the unenviable distinction of being the main invasion route for France, and many a hostile invasion has crossed the region in the last 1200 years.
Places to visit in Lorraine
It is true to say that Lorraine is not at the top of the list of French tourist destinations.
- Verdun, in the north of the region, was the scene of one of the most terrible battles in the history of war, from 1916-1918 and perhaps 750,000 dead. Even now, 90 years later, many people like to visit this solemn place
- Nancy, on the banks of the Meurthe, is a pleasant, attractive 18th century town.
Most beautiful villages not covered in this guide:
RODEMACK - 15 km NE of Thionville
SAINT-QUIRIN - 50 km W of Strasbourg
Picardy travel guide
Picardy is a large flat area of open fields, with a fame arising from the WWI Battle of the Somme in the north of the region. (See also Calais)
The south of Picardy is a scenic region of hills and forests.
- The cathedrals at Amiens and Laon are perhaps two of the best to be found in France.
- The bird sanctuary at Marquenterre, on the coast south of Le Touquet
- the coastal 'grand randonnee' (GR) path is a good way to see the wild beaches and coastline of the region
General
Most beautiful villages not covered in this guide:
PARFONDEVAL - 20 km SE of Vervins
GERBEROY - 20 km NW of Beauvais
Calais Travel guide
Places to visit in Calais and northern France
Few people stop in this northern part of France, preferring to hurtle south from the channel ports at Calais and Boulogne until they find better weather and better scenery.
There is one large attraction however - the battlefields and cemeteries of the WWI battles. Between Amiens and Lille, the Somme battlefields are still a major pilgrimage destination, and some of the Somme trenches are kept intact to help the visitor better understand the battles and conditions that were faced. (See also Picardy)
- Likewise, Dunkerque is at the northern edge of the region - the site of the largest ever sea evacuation, of the Allied armies in May-June 1940.
- Some of the beaches of the region, especially those south of Boulogne are attractive.
- Arras is one of the most attractive towns in the region
- The great battles of Agincourt and Crecy took place near the pretty town of Hesdin. (See Hundred Years War)
- the first tank battle took place at Cambrai
General northern France information
Some of the UNESCO listed belfries of France are found in Picardy and northern France
Guest article: Christmas shopping in northern France: Christmas shopping in northern France markets
|
Map northern France |
