A Flemish grand square, Opal Coast cliffs, Gothic cathedrals and the memory of the Great War: Hauts-de-France surprises. Here is the guide to visiting it.
At the gateway to Belgium and England, Hauts-de-France brings together Flanders, Picardy and coastline in a warm, little-known region. A lively grand square, wind-beaten cliffs, Gothic cathedrals and places of remembrance make a rich, endearing journey. To visit Hauts-de-France, this guide gathers the essentials, from Lille to the Somme bay.
Why visit Hauts-de-France?
Often underestimated, the region proves generous: a warm welcome — the “ch’ti” spirit — dense heritage, a wild coast and comforting food. An hour from Paris by train, it offers city weekends, nature escapes and a plunge into the history of the 20th century. It is a land of conviviality, beer, markets and carnival giants.
Lille, capital of Flanders
The regional capital, Lille, charms with its Grand-Place lined with Flemish façades and the Vieille Bourse, a 17th-century jewel. Old Lille lines up its brick-and-stone houses, shops and estaminets. Student and festive, the city hosts every year the Braderie de Lille, Europe’s largest flea market.
The Opal Coast and the Somme bay
The coastline offers striking landscapes. The Caps Blanc-Nez and Gris-Nez raise their cliffs facing England, on a wind-swept Opal Coast. Further south, the Somme bay, one of the world’s most beautiful bays, shelters seals, birds and Belle Époque resorts such as Le Touquet or Le Crotoy.
Cathedrals and belfries
The region holds exceptional Gothic heritage. Amiens Cathedral, the largest in France, is a UNESCO site, as is that of Laon, perched on its hill. The belfries of Flanders and Picardy — in Arras, Douai, Béthune or Lille — are also World Heritage, symbols of communal liberties.
Memory of the Great War
Hauts-de-France was at the heart of the First World War. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial, the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette necropolis with its Ring of Remembrance, or the Somme battlefields (1916) recall the scale of the sacrifice. These sites, walked with reverence, complement those of neighbouring Normandy: we also evoke this remembrance in our guide to Normandy.
« From the town belfry to the crosses of the necropolises, Hauts-de-France keeps the memory of people and of liberties. »
Local food and traditions
The Northern table is generous and comforting. Maroilles, a powerful cheese, Flemish carbonade, moules-frites, welsh and waffles are savoured in the estaminets, with a bière de garde. Wicker giants and carnivals — like that of Dunkirk — punctuate the year, witnesses to a living, joyful folklore.
What to do and taste
Between cities, coasts and remembrance, experiences follow one another. A few related ideas:
- Extend the remembrance in Normandy
- Wander the most beautiful villages in France
- Compare the festive spirit with Alsace
- Watch the seals of the Somme bay at low tide
Practical tips for your trip
Lille is 1 hour from Paris and Brussels by TGV, and 1 hr 20 from London by Eurostar: ideal for a weekend. The region can be visited year-round, but spring and summer enhance the coast and the Somme bay. A car is useful for the coastline and the more scattered memory sites. Bring a windbreaker on the coast (the wind reigns there), good shoes for the bay, and keep your appetite for the estaminets. For the Braderie de Lille (first weekend of September), book very early.
In short
Between Flemish cities, wild coasts and remembrance, Hauts-de-France offers a warm, surprising journey. Continue with our directory of regions, browse cities to visit and map your route on the interactive map.
