Why you should Visit Northern France This Autumn
One of the benefits of living here in this wonderful corner of the country is our close proximity to France and the opportunity to get away from it all with a simple and short trip across the Channel via train or boat.
Top Image Ilnur Kalimullin on Unsplash
While the allure of Paris draws many to go further inland, Northern France has so much to offer with history, architecture and stunning scenery to admire. It also has a host of events coming up as the summer ends and autumn dawns, allowing you to immerse yourself in French culture.
Northern France has many picturesque locations to explore, one being the port city Rouen, the capital of Normandy, where you can immerse yourself in culture with its gothic structures and historical sites, this city is home to the second largest number of listed buildings in France so you will be spoilt for choice! Places of note to visit include Notre-Dame Cathedral, the focus of many of Monet’s paintings, Eglise Sainte Jeanne d’Arc, a modern church situated where Joan of Arc was burnt, the Fine Arts Museum and the Musee de la Ceramique, which explores the city’s history. Plus make sure to take a trip to see one of the most photographed landmarks in Rouen – located on its main shopping street is the large clock tower Gros-Horloge.
Famous for its chalk cliffs and rock formations, Etretat is a beautiful coastal town in Normandy. For golf enthusiasts there is even the chance to play 18 holes on one of the cliffs, while taking in the amazing views. And a trip to Jardins d’Etretat is definitely a must where landscape art is blended with art sculptures.
Lille, renowned for its friendliness, is a lovely city to explore. For those looking for a vibrant day out head to Vieux-Lille with its shops, bars, galleries and restaurants. For the creative types there is Palais des Beaux-Arts, a museum dedicated to fine arts, modern art and antiquities. While animal lovers should head to Lille Zoo with its variety of exotic animals. And don’t forget to take a trip to Grande Place, the main square where Vielle Bourse is housed.
The city of Caen played a central role in the second world war and as such there are memorials and museums to explore here, such as the multimedia The Mémorial de Caen museum is which is devoted to this period, including the 1944 Battle of Normandy and the Cold War. Caen is also worth visiting to see its historical buildings which were built during the reign of William the Conqueror – once his home and where he was eventually buried.
A major port city in Normandy, Le Havre has a picturesque marina and beach for you to relax and enjoy the surroundings of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Points of interest include the Perret show flat, showcasing the lifestyle and designers of the 1950s, and the Museum of Modern Art André Malraux, which houses one of France’s most extensive collections of impressionist paintings.
Events this summer and autumn in Northern France
This year sees the 30th anniversary of the Transat Jacques Vabre yacht race. Taking place for 10 days from 29th October it sees more than 60 boats leave Le Havre sailing to Fort-de-France Bay, in the West Indies retracing the historic coffee route. While the yachts race, a race village is set up along Bassin Paul Vatine where visitors can take part in sport activities, an eco-awareness programme, and local clubs will be offering hundreds of free sailing trips. Plus in the evening there will be concerts and firework displays to enjoy.
This year France is hosting the Rugby World Cup for the second time, between 8th September and 28th October. The 10 host cities are Lille, Saint-Etienne, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes, Paris and Saint-Denis. The event offers 52 days of celebration and is set to include all, not just rugby fans.
If you head to Nantes before 3rd September you will have the opportunity to see The Voyage à Nantes art festival which is currently taking place. Wander the streets on Nantes following a green line on the ground and you will be taken on a wonderful tour of more than 100 works of art spread across the events 20km route. The cultural programme will take you to hidden works of art, heritage landmarks, and contemporary artwork amongst others and artists, gardeners and cooks all have the opportunity to express themselves.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: A Special Trip To Seoul
The World Festival of Puppet Theaters takes place in the Ardennes from 16th to 24th September. Dozens of renowned and talented artists have been announced for the event which also has stalls to peruse, restaurants open to dine at and a Puppet Bar where you can meet experts and learn about the history of the festival.
On 16th and 17th September European Heritage Days are being held throughout France with the theme of sustainable heritage. Buildings that are usually closed to the public will be opened for you to explore, guided tours offered and activities will take place. This event is also taking the opportunity to bring living and sporting heritage together as France marks less than a year until the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris by opening the doors of sports facilities.
Head to Breton Village before 1st October and you will see how the town has been transformed into a huge open air gallery for La Gacilly Photo Festival, in Brittany. Contemporary photography will be on display in both colour and black and white with more than 1,000 images for you to take in, some as big as 70m2!
These are just some of the many reasons to visit Northern France, so go on get exploring!
• For more inspiration on things to do in Northern France, visit https://www.france.fr/en/northern-france
#VisitNorthernFrance #ThingsToDoInNorthernFrance #TravelInspiration #IndexDigital
