10 Best Things to Do in Hauts-de-France
The Hauts-de-France will amaze you with its wealth of colours!
The Hauts-de-France is a welcoming region steeped in history, with a beautiful coastal area opening onto the North Sea and the English Channel. Located between Paris, Brussels and London, it’s a cultural destination par excellence. It offers some beautiful historic centres, including the beautifully restored old Lille (Vieux-Lille), as well as many listed monuments, such as the majestic cathedrals of Beauvais and Amiens, and renowned museums, such as the Louvre-Lens museum.
It is also a family destination with its expansive beaches. Here’s a selection of cultural and recreational activities in the Hauts-de-France. Discover the 10 best things to do in Hauts-de-France.
1. La Cathédrale Saint-Pierre in Beauvais
Awe-inspiring gothic splendour
Categorías: Historia, Fotos, Asequible
<p>The Cathedral of Saint Peter (La Cathédrale Saint-Pierre) is a Gothic-style religious building of dizzying height. It is located in the town centre of Beauvais, next to the MUDO, the Oise Museum (Musée de l’Oise). Built in hewn chalkstone, it has a flamboyant sculpted decoration, particularly remarkable on its south portal. The light penetrates through old and some more modern stained glass windows.</p><p>It is famous for housing two time-keeping masterpieces: a medieval carillon clock and an imposing astronomical clock. To learn more about this monument and its history, informative plaques are available, or you can rent an audio-guide. In summer and at New Year, a light show brings the façade to life in the evening.</p>
Dirección: Rue Saint-Pierre, 60000 Beauvais, France
Horario: Daily from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm (continuously until 6 pm from April to the end of October)
Teléfono: +33 (0)3 44 48 11 60
La Cathédrale Saint-Pierre in Beauvais
2. Chantilly, its estate and its chateau
Historic gardens and your choice of museums
Categorías: Parejas, Familias, Historia, Fotos
<p>The Chantilly estate (Le domaine de Chantilly) includes a chateau, now occupied by the Condé Museum (Musée Condé), as well as a large landscaped park. This listed site in the Oise region has many facets. It features a substantial collection of art, particularly paintings. It’s also a wonderful place for a stroll with its formal, French-style gardens and their reflective pools, its completely rural English garden or Anglo-Chinese garden and its country hamlet.</p><p>You can rent carts, carriages or bicycles to enjoy the entire park. Chantilly is also known for its Grand Stables (Grandes écuries) and Horse Museum (Musée Vivant du Cheval) where you can learn about equestrian traditions from all over the world.<p>
Dirección: 7 rue Connétable Château, 60500 Chantilly, France
Horario: Monday, and Wednesday–Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Teléfono: +33 (0)3 44 27 31 80
Chantilly, its estate and its chateau
3. Louvre-Lens Museum
A range of culturally enriching activities
Categorías: Parejas, Familias, Historia
<p>The Louvre-Lens Museum (Le Musée du Louvre-Lens) is an annex of the prestigious Louvre Museum in Paris. Located near the Bollaert de Lens stadium, it takes the form of a glass and aluminium frame standing in the midst of a park in the heart of the former mining area in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. In the Gallery of Time, you’ll discover works from different eras and artistic movements that trace the history of art.</p><p>Temporary exhibitions are also organised in partnership with other museums, ensuring a regular renewal of these high-quality displays. The museum’s mission is to offer a fun visit with mini guided tours and creative workshops for children. The site also includes an auditorium and hosts piano recitals.</p>
Dirección: 99 Rue Paul Bert, 62300 Lens, France
Horario: Monday, and Wednesday–Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Teléfono: +33 (0)3 21 18 62 62
Louvre-Lens Museum
4. Boulogne-sur-Mer
A city of art and history facing the sea
Categorías: Parejas, Familias, Historia
<p>Boulogne-sur-Mer is the meeting point of a historical heritage and the marine environment. Located on the Channel coast, near Calais, the upper part of the city has an old town hidden behind 13th-century ramparts. It houses a medieval belfry and fortified castle, as well as an imperial palace where Napoleon stayed. On its lower part, you’ll find its fishing harbour and marina, and the seaside resort.</p><p>There’s plenty of space for sunbathing and building sand castles on the wide, golden beach. This side of town is the hub of the fishing industry, so you can arrive early to pick up the catch of the day, or visit a traditional cottage to learn about early 20th century life in the trade.</p>
Dirección: Boulevard Sainte-Beuve, 62200 Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
Boulogne-sur-Mer
5. The Opal Coast, its beaches and capes
Sand that stretches as far as the eye can see
Categorías: Parejas, Familias, Fotos, Asequible
<p>The Opal Coast offers a succession of wide, magnificent beaches that extend along the Nord-Pas-de-Calais coastline. From Malo-les-Bains beach in the north to Berck beach in the south, via popular Calais, Wissant la belle, authentic Wimereux or chic Parisian Le Touquet, you’ll find a coastline that’s conducive to relaxation, with a family and friendly atmosphere.</p><p>It’s great to walk on the sand, fly a kite or wade in the fresh waters of the Channel. On the wilder site of the two capes, the chalk cliffs of Cap Blanc-Nez match the sandstone and clay cliffs of Cap Gris-Nez, offering a magnificent panorama over the sea.</p>
Dirección: Hauts-de-France, France
The Opal Coast, its beaches and capes
6. The old town of Lille
Charming historic district
Categorías: Parejas, Familias, Historia, Asequible
<p>The old town of Lille (la vielle ville de Lille) is located in the lively district known as “Vieux-Lille”, north of the capital of the Hauts-de-France region. Between the tall red brick houses you will discover beautiful squares. On the most prestigious square, the Grand Place, is the Old Stock Exchange (la Vieille Bourse) with its distinctive Flemish Renaissance architecture.</p><p>A few steps away, you will find the belfry of the Chamber of Commerce. It’s a good reference point, if you don’t know which direction to take when leaving one of the many restaurants or bars. Don’t miss the surprising Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille Cathedral, whose neo-Gothic architecture is complemented by a modern façade that lets the soft dappled light enter in.</p>
Dirección: Old Lille, Lille, France
The old town of Lille
7. Cathédrale Notre-Dame d’Amiens
Marvel at the grandeur of sacred Gothic art
Categorías: Historia, Fotos
<p>Notre-Dame d’Amiens Cathedral is an exceptional religious building, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Adjacent to the Bishopric Park (le parc de l’Évêché) and not far from the belfry, it is situated between the Law Courts and the Somme river. Dating back to the Middle Ages, it stands out because of its size and richly decorated Gothic style facades.</p><p>From the outside, it stands out with its two asymmetrical towers. Inside, it’s the colourful stained-glass windows and the countless statues that are most prominent. Book a slot to climb the towers and admire the view over the rooftops, canals and floating gardens known as hortillonnages.</p>
Dirección: 30 Place Notre Dame, 80000 Amiens, France
Horario: Daily from 8.30 am to 5.15 pm
Teléfono: +33 (0)3 22 80 03 41
Cathédrale Notre-Dame d’Amiens
8. The Palais de Compiègne
The jewel of the “imperial city”
Categorías: Parejas, Familias, Historia
<p>The Palais de Compiègne is a former royal and imperial residence, where the splendour of its apartments will make your head spin. It is located between the Compiègne racecourse and the Oise river, opposite the Imperial Theatre and the church of Saint Jacques. The Second Empire Museum and the Empress Museum, as well as the National Car Museum are also housed in this vast neo-classical residence.</p><p>Here you can admire not only furniture and works of art dating mainly from the Second Empire, but also carriages from various periods, from horse-drawn carriages to electric cars. The chateau also features a beautiful park with a pretty Rose Garden which is home to a charming tea room.</p>
Dirección: Place du Général de Gaulle, 60200 Compiègne, France
Horario: Monday, and Wednesday–Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Teléfono: +33 (0)3 44 38 47 00
The Palais de Compiègne
9. The ramparts of Le Quesnoy
A fascinating historic defensive site
Categorías: Parejas, Familias, Historia, Asequible, Aventuras
<p>The ramparts of Le Quesnoy are a place for family walks, combining fortifications and nature. The town of Le Quesnoy is located between Valenciennes and Maubeuge, in the Avesnois Regional Nature Park. The former military compound is located opposite the pond of the Pont Rouge and is an easy circular walk of about 1 hour. Discover the medieval bastions inspected and revised by Vauban in the 17th century.</p><p>Today, they form a verdant, wooded setting and the two former defensive pools give it a rustic charm. For those prone to vertigo, it’s best to follow the path below the Green Bastion. If you wish to visit the tunnels and underground passages, it’s a good idea to bring a torch.</p>
Dirección: 59530 Le Quesnoy, France
The ramparts of Le Quesnoy
10. Château de Pierrefonds
A fairy-tale castle full of history
Categorías: Historia, Fotos
Standing on the grand parapets of Château de Pierrefonds and gazing upon its lush, forested grounds is sure to make you feel like you stepped into a fairy tale. This medieval castle, rebuilt by Napoleon III and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century, is simply majestic, so take your time admiring the architecture and sculptures dotted within the courtyard.
Join a guided tour and learn about the castle’s storied history, its restoration work, and the artefacts and furnishings within its walls. There are plenty of events, too, from temporary art exhibitions to piano concerts and outdoor film screenings, so be sure to check the online calendar before you go.
Dirección: Rue Viollet le Duc, 60350 Pierrefonds, France
Horario: Hours vary by season
Teléfono: +33 3 44 42 72 72
Château de Pierrefonds
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