Just a short hop across the Channel, the northern France region is blessed with a rich cultural and architectural heritage that makes it a superb destination for a stimulating weekend getaway.

History Everywhere You Look 

Many sites here are UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the 104-metre-tall beffroi or bell-tower on Lille’s 1920s town hall, which was inspired by triangular-gabled Flemish houses. The bell-towers of Douai and Arras are also UNESCO listed.

The region has nine cathedrals to discover, too. Among them is Amiens’ UNESCO-listed Gothic Basilique Cathédrale Notre-Dame – France’s largest cathedral, and one endowed with a remarkable stylistic unity. Others are at Lille, Cambrai, Arras, Saint-Omer, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Laon, Beauvais and Soissons.

A new addition to the cultural attractions of the region is the Villa Cavrois in Croix, just outside Lille. An incredible refurbishment project undertaken by the French government to restore a modernist mansion by French architect Robert Mallet-Stevens.

An unmissable site for those visiting the region is Chantilly with its spectacular château housing both lavish royal apartments and a vast collection of antique paintings (within the Musée de Condé). There are also stunning parklands to explore and the fascinating Musée du Cheval in the former Grand Stables, with displays on the history of horses.

Art Deco, which took seed in Western Europe after beginning in France, has a strong presence in the region too. You can see it in everything from seaside villas in Le Touquet Paris-Plage, Dunkirk and elsewhere, to swimming pools (one – at Roubaix – still functional, others turned into cultural venues), train stations and post offices. Saint-Quentin is a good place to see a concentration of Art Deco buildings and features.