Come to Northern France feeling inquisitive ‒ and expect the unexpected. Whether it’s a ‘braderie’ fleamarket, a shipwreck, a Somme cruise from bay to battlefield, a floating city-garden or a beach sculpture ‒ our hidden gems will refresh you, enlighten you, inspire you and forever change you. In Hauts de France… you’ll be on a high.
Northern France: self-drive destination
Shared history
And now we come to think of it, it’s the pinnacle of France in more ways than one. Scrutinise the map and you’ll find a region charged with seismic shared histories like Agincourt, WW1 or Dunkirk, and fascinating chapters tangible in some of France’s most awe-inspiring views: a café-lined square in Arras, a UNESCO-listed cathedral in Amiens, medieval ramparts in Laon, an iconic villa in Le Touquet, a fairytale chateau in Chantilly, a trench at Vimy… we could go on! Read more about battlefield tours in France
State-of-the art cultural attractions
But scratch the surface and you’ll discover a region that amounts to more than the sum of its histories. There’s a celebrated spirit of modernism too, right across the region, with new cultural chapters opening all the time. Did you know that there’s a state-of-the-art outpost of Paris’ Louvre in Lens, a leading international music festival in Arras’ citadel, a cutting-edge aquarium in Boulogne-sur-Mer and an unrivalled contemporary arts scene in culture-centric Lille ‒ all destinations accessible by sustainable ground travel.
Great outdoors
Hauts-de-France is a region of contrasts too ‒ and with so many breathtaking wide-open landscapes and seascapes in sight, it’s certainly somewhere you can notice more, consume less. Whichever way you choose to consume the great outdoors ‒ e-biking your cobwebs away on the Deux-Caps cliffs, birdwatching and sealwatching in the Somme bay, swinging by one of the region’s prestigious golf clubs or simply breathing in the roses at Valloires abbey ‒ you’ll find yourself both physically invigorated and mentally renewed in our region.
French food & Wine
And since we’re in the country where even the food is UNESCO-listed, you’d better come prepared to fill your boots (and fill your boot)! From the humble baguette and ubiquitous croissant to local Northern France favourites (waffles, Maroilles cheese, moules-frites, craft beer, champagne…), there’s a unique gastronomic tradition at every turn, whether you’re at an off-the-beaten-track market meeting the cordial locals or a renowned Michelin-starred restaurant. From small-town-big-reputation Montreuil-sur-Mer in the west, right across to culinary-capital Lille in the east, Northern France is the gastro-gift that keeps on giving. Read more about French food
Prettiest villages & gardens
Wherever your Northern France adventure takes you, from its enchanting French gardens and characterful villages-de-charme (Cassel, Gerberoy, St-Valery-sur-Somme…) to big, spirited cities like Amiens, be sure to make extra memories by staying somewhere special: the region’s stunning array includes everything from treehouses to boutique B&Bs, manor houses and exclusive chateaux. Read more about the prettiest villages in France
Northern France for Families
And with all that history, fresh air and fun combined, Hauts-de-France is a natural and cultural playground perfect for spending precious time with the kids. Whizz along family-friendly cycle routes, thrill to theme-park rides, ride horses by the sea and be wowed by the wealth of marine life on display in Europe’s largest aquarium, Nausicaà. Explore everything from cheese farms to movie-location castles including the spellbinding Château de Pierrefonds, and from the wide-open Somme Bay with its seal colonies to the comic-strip-inspired Parc Astérix with its rides and rollercoasters. Read more about family activity holidays in France
