The flagship seaside resort of France’s Opal Coast, Boulogne-sur-Mer has cultural attractions, sandy beaches, and a traditional fishing port. The second most-visited destination in Nord Pas-de-Calais after Lille, this charming coastal city is also the gateway to the hiking and biking trails of Caps et Marais d’Opale Regional Natural Park.
This underground town of chalk quarry tunnels became the Allies’ Battle of Arras barracks in World War I and bomb shelters in World War II. Left largely untouched, the tunnels were rediscovered in 1990 and turned into a WWI museum. Visitors can enter for a glimpse at the underground life of the British and Commonwealth soldiers stationed here.
A formidable artillery battery constructed by the Germans during World War II, the Todt Battery (Batterie Todt) is strategically situated on the north coast of France near Cap Gris-Nez—within firing distance of the English coast. Part of the Atlantic Wall, a series of seafront defenses erected by the Nazis, the battery is a well-preserved wartime relic that’s also home to a military museum.
Lille’s main public square, the Grand Place—which also goes by the Place du Général de Gaulle—is a top gathering point in this northerly city. Grand Palace is ringed by many of the city’s historic buildings and attractions, including the Vieille Bourse, and located in Lille’s atmospheric Old Town (Vieux-Lille).
Don’t let the name fool you (piscine means “swimming pool” in French). This ornate Art Deco-era building is actually an art museum. The sprawling collection—a mix of temporary and permanent exhibits—is housed in a former municipal pool in the small city of Roubaix, located just outside Lille. The museum is particularly famous for its textile works, ranging from Coptic Egyptian to contemporary fabrics.
The town of Calais, located on the northern coast of France, is more of a throughway than a destination. That’s because each year, tens of millions of people pass by en route to Dover, but very few stop. Still, seasoned travelers say this major ferry port, the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, has a few hidden gems worth checking out.
Sandy beaches, seafood restaurants, and sea views welcome sunseekers to Le Touquet, a chic seaside resort along France’s Opal Coast. Officially named Le Touquet-Paris-Plage (a nod to its popularity with Parisians) the northern beach town is equally adored by British vacationers who hop across the Channel to nearby Calais.
During the Second World War, 68 members of the French Resistance were executed by Nazi firing squad at the Fort of Bondues. Today, the ruins of this defensive fort are home to the Museum of the Resistance. The permanent exhibition explores the makeup and background of the Resistance of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region from 1940-1944, and honors the Resistance fighters.
The modernist masterpiece of Parisian architect Robert Mallet-Stevens, Villa Cavrois is a National Historic Monument in the Lille suburb of Croix. Built in 1932 for its namesake, the industrialist Paul Cavrois, the architectural landmark has been painstakingly restored and stands as the foremost example of Mallet-Stevens’ work.
One of France’s oldest museums, Lille's Natural History Museum (Musée d'Histoire Naturelle de Lille) has been open since 1822. Not only has it weathered two world wars, but this small zoological and geological museum now boasts more than 200,000 specimens. Highlights include taxidermied models of now-extinct species such as the Passenger Pigeon and the Tasmanian Tiger.
Home to one of France’s most significant modern and contemporary art collections, Lille Métropole Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art was established in 1983. Wander the museum’s expansive gallery spaces and collection and view highlights that include works by Picasso, Modigliani, Miró, and other modernist luminaries.
Dedicated to the textile industry, this innovative museum goes beyond explaining how wool is turned into fabric (although it does that, too.) It also spotlights oral histories from various textile workers, from weavers and spinners to designers and factory foremen. The museum contains seven short videos that explain the history of the industry through personal testimonies.
Dedicated to all things science, this cutting-edge center and exhibition space invites you to discover and participate in the world of scientific observation and research. The Forum is focused on making learning fun—regular interactive temporary exhibits are designed to appeal to kids as young as two, while the Forum also holds special events and workshops, called atéliers.
Located in the suburbs of Lille, Le Fresnoy is an educational center and an exhibition space. It trains French and international artists working on various audiovisual and multimedia projects in a state-of-the-art residency center. Le Fresnoy is also open to the public for contemporary art exhibits, films, theater performances, lectures, and concerts.
One of Lille’s oldest museums, the Museum of the Gunners of Lille (Musée des Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille) is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in military history. Housed in a historic former convent in the center of the city, this intimate museum is dedicated to one of the oldest artillery corps in Europe: The gunners have defended Lille since 1483.
Founded as a monastery in the 13th century, the Maison Folie Hospice d’Havré—located in Tourcoing, just outside Lille—is a unique architectural landmark, and the oldest still-complete convent in the region. But that’s not the only reason it’s notable. Recently transformed into a venue for art exhibitions, performances, and other events, it’s now a cultural highlight too.
