Cultural and Culinary Delights of Northern France – NEW TOUR

Travel to France

Take the ferry from Dover across to Calais or Dunkirk and continue to your hotel near Lille for the next 3 nights.  Dinner will be at the hotel this evening.

Explore Lille – Art Treasures and Beer

Make the short journey to nearby Roubaix for a guided tour of an Art Deco gem which was once the most beautiful swimming pool in France and is now a museum called ‘La Piscine’.   The highlight is the yellow and orange ‘sunrise’ stained glass window overlooking the sculpture garden set alongside the pool’s water.

After the tour head back to Lille and a visit to the magnificent Palais des Beaux Arts for a guided tour.  This is a treasure trove of art masterpieces  including Rubens ‘Descent from the Cross’ together with Goya’s ‘Old Women’ amongst many others.  There are works by French and Flemish schools as well as the museum’s Dutch and Italian 20th century galleries and the Medieval and Renaissance collections.

After some lunch, embark on a 2 hour beer themed guided walk in the Old Town and visit many landmarks where the guide will provide many anecdotes about the history of how beer has been brewed over the years.  A visit to a micro-brewery is included as well as 5-tasting stops in bars known to offer a wide variety of craft beer.  Sweet and savoury food will also be served towards the end of the tour.

Return to the hotel for dinner and an evening at leisure.

Arras ‘Giants and Rats’ – Art Treasures, Cheese and Beer 

On the way to Arras a guided tour will be made of the Louvre Lens, a branch of the world famous museum in Paris which was opened in 2012 in the middle of a former coal mine site, now part of the UNESCO listed Mining Basin.  In the main Galerie du Temps you can see works of art from all over the world.  After the tour, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before heading to Arras.

Meet up with a local guide for a tour of the magnificent Art-Deco Town Hall overlooking the Place de Heros.  Be greeted by the spectacular ‘Giants of Arras’ in the entrance hall and look out for the famous Arras ‘Rats’ that are dotted about the Town Hall and the town itself.  Maybe treat yourself to a chocolate version before leaving!  The tour includes the Council Chamber, Reception Hall and many more rooms and galleries. For those who wish, there is also the opportunity to climb to the top of the UNESCO listed belfry for a panoramic view (optional at additional cost – access by both lift and stairs).  

Following the tour,  enjoy a local cheese and beer tasting in the Boves, the limestone quarries of Arras that are over 1000 years old.  There may be time to explore Arras further before heading back to the hotel.

(Info: Arras Market days are Wednesdays and Saturdays)

Return to the UK

Drive to Calais or Dunkirk for the ferry across to Dover, and home.

French Flanders – Gardens and Lunch

Cassel is a picturesque Flemish town near the Belgian border, perched on a hill offering breathtaking views of the countryside.  A visit will be made to the Jardin des Récollets, a garden set around a 17th century Flemish farm and is considered one of the most beautiful in Northern France.  After some free time enjoy lunch at a typical ‘Estaminet’ a local Flemish restaurant serving hearty dishes such as Flemish Beef Stew.   If time allows and there is enough interest, we can return to Cassel to visit the Musée de Flandre one of the most beautiful Flemish buildings in the region.  Unique in Europe, the museum aims to show the diversity and richness of Flemish art from the fifteenth century to the present day.