découvrir !Discover Pas de Calais
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A glimmering opal sea, a changing sky, peaceful countryside, hills and valleys...voila! The stage is set, you are in the Pas-de-Calais.
Despite these few shots that will probably make you want to get to know our department, the best way is to come and explore it for yourselves. Here, everything is worth seeing, whether you are a sportsman, history buff, or just curious, the Pas-de-Calais will captivate you. It offers endless magnificent scenery chosen by Mother Nature, not only majestic sites such as Cap Gris Nez and Cap Blanc Nez but also more peaceful areas such as the Saint Omer marsh, whose tranquillity inspires painters and novelists.
If you are hikers then why hesitate? Footpaths and bridlepaths lead you through flower-decorated villages where stately homes, churches and windmills are the pride and joy of our cultural heritage. Down your backpacks and hiking boots and come and visit our towns and wander along the narrow shopping streets where reigns an atmosphere typical of the Nord/Pas-de-Calais. Whether you are in Arras with its famous squares, in Montreuil-sur-Mer facing the fortifications, or with your faces turned upwards discovering the façades of houses more than one hundred years old, towns of art and history, the Pas-de-Calais knows how to show-off its charm.
After this thirst to find out everything, the fun continues, because in our department, everything is a good reason for enjoying oneself, laughing and enjoying good food. From the 4-star restaurant to the wayside 'estaminets' (small cafes), you will be spoilt for choice. Discovering a department also means meeting its inhabitants. To us, hospitality is not just a word, it combines conviviality and friendship. The best way to get the most out of your holiday is to book a Gîtes de France 'chambre d'hôtes', you will be won over by the friendliness of its owners who will be able to make sure you enjoy the Pas-de-Calais.
THE CALAIS AREA: great spaces shaped by history. The Calais area and the 'Terre des 2 Caps' will take your breath away
Cap Blanc-Nez-, formed from chalk and 134 metres high and- Cap Gris-Nez-formed from sandstone, clay and limestone, 45 metres high- rise up opposite the white cliffs of Dover (England), an exceptional vantage point from which to admire the constant to-ing and fro-ing of ships in the busiest straits in the world, orchestrated by the large Cross Gris-Nez radar. Going further inland, you will find the hospitality of the Audruicq and Ardres areas, finally discovering Guînes and its 'Trois-Pays' laden with history. The Calais area is synonymous with memories, with the 'route 39-45' uncovering all the memorable places of the last world conflict.
THE ' BOULONNAIS': where earth meets sea
The 'Boulonnais' is a combination of Port activity, Town of History and Art and Seaside resorts and the scenery is different between the north and the south of Boulogne. On one side the sea , on the other old stones still bear witness to a rich past. Boulogne sur Mer is France's leading fishing port and the leading European centre for Seafood processing, but also reserves a large place for pleasure boating. Marked by a strong tradition, Boulogne offers a historic and architectural heritage which can be seen in the 'Ville Haute', in the shadow of the fortifications. Recharge your batteries on Hardelot's outstanding beach fringed to the north, by the Dunes of Ecault, and to the south, by the Dunes of Mont Saint-Frieux. Make the most of a stroll in the forest too, or in the marsh belonging to the recently renovated 'Château'. Its golf courses, its beach, its forest have long contributed to Hardelot's reputation. To the north, take the time to discover Wimereux, which has retained the elegant Anglo-Norman architecture of early 20 th century dwellings, and go for a walk along its sea wall, one of the prettiest in the area. Further inland, at the heart of the 'Parc Naturel des Caps' and 'Marais d'Opale', is the town of Desvres, nestling among hilly farmland and known for its tradition of earthenware.
THE 'CANCHE-AUTHIE': beaches, mellowness and well-being
Bordered by the sea, and crossed by rivers, this area will delight you with its varied scenery: long, sandy beaches, a paradise for those who practice board sports, wide bays conserved as natural sites, rivers flowing through forests and villages, green valleys. In short, a natural paradise. Furthermore, this has mainly retained its place on our coastline, with the beach of Camiers-Ste-Cécile stretching out over 1 613 hectares of conserved natural coastal spaces, opening out onto a 6-kilometre long sandy beach between the nature reserves of the bay of Canche and Mont St-Frieux. On the way, do not forget to stop off at Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, a Four Seasons European resort, set in greenery, a lively seaside resort, great shops and pleasant dining facilities. Then, on your way, following the Canche, from' Etaples, you will come to Montreuil, sacred place for lovers of ancient stones which attracted Victor HUGO in his day. It is also the starting point for a walk along the valley of the Course, a river which winds its way mischievously among the weeping willows, crossing villages and luxuriant meadows, leaving behind a fresh and crystalline burble as it flows. For fans of the great outdoors, push on as far as Berck-sur-Mer, known for its international Kite flying competition.
SAINT-OMER AND ITS SURROUNDING AREA:
Saint-Omer, town of art and history invites you to discover its architectural heritage and remarkable monuments, vestiges of its rich past, and you will be able to visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of Saint-Omer, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture .. The 'Audomarois' will show you its natural treasures: marshes, canals, fauna, flora which make it a unique haven of peace and tranquillity, a paradise for hikers and fishermen. A few kilometres away, Aire sur la Lys harbours wonders: the belfry classified as world heritage by UNESCO, the Bailiwick, the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter or the fortifications bear witness to the Flemish influence. The Eperlecques Bunker and the Coupole d'Helfaut in Wizernes recount the sadness of the sombre history of the 20th century. Today, the know-how of the men and women of Arc International is acknowledged throughout the world in the field of Glassware and Tableware.
THE 7 VALLEYS AND THE TERNOIS: the land of wood and cabinetmakers :
What could be more normal in an area covered by forests and through which numerous rivers flow, where it is a pleasure to fish for trout? At each bend you will discover charming little rural villages, with pretty stately homes and gardens to visit, watermills, old farm buildings, or old houses. From Hesdin to Montreuil, the region of the 7 valleys, ancient stronghold of the dukes of Burgundy you will find back roads, little roads which wind their up the hillsides and drop sharply down again alongside the rivers. On the way, you will discover the Ternois and its curiosities, particularly the Church of Verchin, with its bell tower spiralling upwards as it was made out of unseasoned wood. Here gastronomy has not been left out: along the way, at the markets or directly at their place of production, you will find numerous craftsmen or producers proud to have you taste their homemade produce: honey, chocolate, 'charcuterie', cheeses, 'perlé de groseille' (a sparkling redcurrant wine).
THE ARTOIS: Everyone knows the history of this area during the peak years of the coal industry with its slag heaps :
Today they have become places to walk or "artificial ski slopes". The mark of the 1st world war can also be seen, through the presence of numerous cemeteries and war memorials. Arras, capital of the department will surprise you with its curiosities, both below your feet with its underground passages dug out in the 10th century and around you, the cobbled Grand Place , with a panorama from the top of the belfry over the town and the Scarpe. Béthune, Buridan's town and Lens will show you their art-deco or Flemish architecture around their magnificent squares. Lens and its surrounding area will remind us of their mining past: slag heaps, mine props and mining towns, areas which are now being transformed into leisure centres. To the south, a more rural area, the wooded hills are crossed by the rivers Authie and Kilienne. Notre-Dame de Lorette and Vimy are the irrefutable vestiges of the last two wars.
