Holiday Home to Rent in Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Region Information

• Major city: Lille
• Located near Belgium and easy access to the Channel tunnel to England
• Diverse landscape includes coastline, cliffs and gentle rolling hills
• Flemish influence
• Excellent museums
• Regional cuisine often includes locally-brewed beer

Just over the border from Belgium and a hop or a tunnel across the Channel from England lies the Nord/Pas-de-Calais region. This picturesque land consists of contrasting forests, gentle meadows, and rolling hills dotted with windmills. Sandy beaches and imposing cliffs make up the 150-mile stretch of coastline. Visitors can cruise the network of canals and rivers and explore the expansive countryside and nature reserve parks. Many battlefields including Flanders Fields are in the region.

In Nord/Pas-de-Calais history and traditions are a significant part of daily life. There is almost always a fair, fete or festival going on; some dating back to the Middle Ages. The people of this region, eager to share their traditions, are warm and hospitable. The Flemish influence in this region is evident in its architecture, cuisine and the names of its towns.

Golf is the most popular sport followed by horseback riding, mountain biking and water sports.

Places of Interest

Azincourt	Scene of famous battle in 1415 between England's Henry V and France's Charles VI
Arras	Birthplace of Robespierre, town hall, grand square of narrow houses with underground passages
Bavay	Archeological excavations and museum of Roman city
Boulogne-sur-Mer	Castle museum, the old town, Notre-Dame Basilica
Calais	Fine Arts and Lace Museum, war museum
Le Cateau-Cambrésis	Birthplace of Matisse and museum
Cambrai	Porte de Paris-ruins of medieval fortifications, Notre-Dame Cathedral
Desvres	Showcase of Desvres pottery
Douai	Chartreuse museum, belfry tower
Dunkerque	Museums of contemporary arts, fine arts and harbor life
Lens	Host the 1998 Soccer World Cup
Lewarde	Historical coal mining museum
Lille	Birthplace of Charles de Gaulle, fine arts museum, 17th century stock exchange, gothic church
Ohlain	15th century moated castle
Saint-Omer	Notre Dame Cathedral, Sendalin and Henri Dupuis museums
Le Touquet	Edouard Champion Museum and doll museum
Valenciennes	Fine arts museum known for its collection of Flemish and French schools
Villeneuve d'Ascq	Modern Art Museum
Vimy	WWI Canadian Memorial

Tourism and Sports

Region specializes in textiles manufacturing, linen, cotton, lace

Hiking, boating, cycling, wind surfing and speed sailing.

Cuisine

Nord-Pas-de-Calais is known for its beer which is served in Flemish inns called "estaminets". The regional specialties include flamiche aux poireaux - an oven-baked pie with a filling of fresh leeks and coq à la bière - chicken cooked slowly in a beer sauce. Desserts are biscuits, cakes called "bêtises de Cambrai", and gaufres, a kind of waffle.