2017 pas de-calais press file
TRANSCRIPT
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06 The Opal Coast
08 A well-preserved nature destination 10 From maritime towns to seaside resorts
12 The art of fishing
14 A destination that is 100% sport
16 WW2 sites
18 Hills and Dales
20 Countryside towns
22 Historic treasures
24 Off the beaten track
26 Around Louvre-Lens
28 A successful regeneration
32 The essential sites of the destination
36 Sport and outdoor leisure activities
38 WW1 Centenary of the Battle of Arras and Vimy Ridge
04 Pas-de-Calais, a five star destination
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SUMMARY
42 Flavours of home
Seafood
Restaurants
Beer
Cheese
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The Pas-de-Calais: a five star destination The « Grand Site de France » classification of the Deux-Caps, the opening of the Louvre-Lens, the UNESCO « Man and Biosphere » label being granted to the Audomarois marsh-lands, the Versailles-Arras partnership, the classification of the belfries and of the Coal-field Area on the UNESCO World Heritage list…in recent years the Pas-de-Calais has ex-perienced a dynamic and unprecedented period of cultural and touristic development.
Open to the whole of Europe, this heavily evolving area presents three tourist destina-tions:
The Opal Coast with its infinite nuances of blue and green, the good life of gentle tran-quillity in the countryside, and the innovative personality of the young destination that is Around Louvre-Lens.
895 towns and villages
120km coastline (dunes, cliffs, sand and rocky beaches)
Most visited sites : Nausicaa sea life centre 595.000 Louvre-Lens 500.000 (900.000 in 2013, opening year) Bagatelle fun park 270.000 La Coupole 150.000 The Wellington Quarry 77.000
Listed sites : 4 UNESCO listed sites (mining area, belfries, au-domarois marshes, Arras citadelle) Grand Site de France Les 2 Caps
207 hotels (7.800 rooms) 216 campsites (24.500 pitches) 831 gites 480 B&Bs (gîtes de France & Clevacances)
40 museums (16 listed Musées de France)
WW1 & WW2 sites 600 CWGC cemeteries 19 German cemeteries 5 French cemeteries, of which the largest French necropolis : Notre-Dame-de-Lorette 6 WW2 museums
Foreign tourists 35% of hotel stays UK : 55%, Belgium 21%, Germany 6%, Nether-lands 5%
Cross-Channel traffic 10.372.000 passengers at Calais Port 10.115.000 Eurotunnel shuttle passengers 10.133.00 Eurostar passengers
KEY FIGURES
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ACCESS Ferry :
P&O Ferries : Dover – Calais : 90 min DFDS Seaways : Dover – Calais / Dunkirk : 90 / 120 min
By train
Eurostar : London – Calais : 1h00 / Paris – Calais : 1h30 TGV Nord : Paris – Calais : 1h30 / Paris – Arras : 50 min
Eurotunnel : Calais – Folkestone (UK) : 35 min
From main airports, by car
To Calais
Paris Charles de Gaulle : 2h30 Paris Orly : 2h40 Zaventem-Brussels : 2h00 Brussels Charleroi : 2h20 London Heathrow : 3h00 Paris - Beauvais Tillé : 1h00 Lille Lesquin : 1h30
To Arras Paris Charles de Gaulle : 1h40 Paris Orly : 2h00 Zaventem-Brussels : 1h40 Brussels Charleroi : 1h40 London Heathrow : 2h50 Paris - Beauvais Tillé : 1h30 Lille Lesquin : 40 min
OPAL COAST OPAL COAST
HILLS & DALES
ARTOIS & the LOUVRE-LENS
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The Opal Coast Between Calais and Berck-sur-Mer, the Opal Coast stretches out its 120km of beaches, dunes and cliffs.
The term Opal Coast was coined in 1911 by Edouard Lévêque. This painter, writer, botanist and native of Le Touquet gave this coastline its name in tribute to the light that is so singular and ever changing.
Nowadays, the coast distinguishes itself with its well-preserved landscapes, its varied architectural heritage and seaside resorts, and its savoir-faire with regards to fishing.
The Opal Coast Between Calais and Berck-sur-Mer, the Opal Coast stretches out its 120km of beaches, dunes and cliffs.
The term Opal Coast was coined in 1911 by Edouard Lévêque. This painter, writer, botanist and native of Le Touquet gave this coastline its name in tribute to the light that is so singular and ever changing.
Nowadays, the coast distinguishes itself with its well-preserved landscapes, its varied architectural heritage and seaside resorts, and its savoir-faire with regards to fishing.
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A well-preserved nature destination
From maritime towns to seaside resorts
The art of fishing
A destination that is 100% sport
The Second World War
A well-preserved nature destination
From maritime towns to seaside resorts
The art of fishing
A destination that is 100% sport
The Second World War
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Les Deux-Caps, « Grand Site de France »
The emblematic site of the Pas-de-Calais, the Deux-Caps was awarded the « Grand Site de France » label in 2011. This pro-vided national recognition for an ensemble of landscapes that stretch for nearly 23km. Cap Gris Nez and Cap Blanc-Nez, the Slack dunes, Oies point... the site distin-guishes itself with its diverse range of landscapes and habitats. More than 250 species of birds have been recorded here, as well as a great many rare varieties of plants.
Adding to the beauty of the well-preserved landscapes is the diver-sity of the area’s built heritage. Fort Vauban in Ambleteuse, the bell tower at Audinghem, the fish-erman’s house at Audresselles or the holiday villas at the seaside resort of Wimereux, every com-mune has its own character. In order to experience and under-stand this site, the best thing to do is to explore on foot along the GR 120 walking route and the count-less other walking trails.
Zoom on:
The Maison du Site des Deux-Caps
Since it was opened by the Pas-de-Calais council in 2014, the Maison du Site des Deux-Caps welcomes visitors with a programme of na-ture and discovery activities based around the Grand Site. Nordic walking, electric bike hire, depar-ture points for walks and mountain bike trains. www.lesdeuxcaps.fr
A well-preserved
nature destination
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Canche Bay and Authie Bay
In the vicinity of Etaples-sur-Mer, on the right bank of the Canche Estuary, Canche Bay boasts over 500 hectares of na-ture reserve. A meeting point between the river’s estuary and the dunes, this habitat is charac-terised by a variety of recorded plant and bird species. Numer-ous sign-posted trails criss-cross the reserve and make it an ideal destination in which to explore nature.
A few metres from the seaside resort of Berck-sur-Mer, the dunes reveal Authie Bay. With its wetlands, foreshore and dune system, this site offers unbeatable views of the Somme Bay. What has really earned Authie Bay its reputation is the colony of grey seals and harbour seals that have been making their home here for decades.
Nausicaa: 2017, International year of sustainable tourism
The General Assembly of the United Nations has proclaimed 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for De-velopment.
NAUSICAA has decided to sup-port the theme by showing how everybody can make a contribu-tion to sustainable tourism through the choices they make as consumers and the leisure pursuits they undertake. It is possible to give meaning and value to everything we do by choosing activities that encour-age the preservation of marine environments and help to im-prove our knowledge of the oceans, marine animals, climate or activities in the maritime sec-tor.
Sustainable tourism will be the main topic of a number of pres-entations, talks, special events etc.
Nausicaa provides a visit that is high on emotion and allows visi-tors to understand the role of the ocean, the impact of global warming on our everyday lives, inciting people to act in order to tackle this issue and limit its effects.
www.nausicaa.fr
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Installed in a former factory, the Centre for Lace and Fashion keeps alive this tradition by retracing the history of lace, from its production by hand up to the very latest contemporary creations.
New: exhibition at the Centre for Lace and Fashion from 15th june until 31st December 2017:
Hubert de Givenchy
The exhibition, pre-sented under the ar-tistic direction of Mr Hubert de Givenchy himself, exposes the fashion designer’s career and accents the notable encoun-ters that have punctu-ated his life and shaped his interna-tionally renowned work.
www.cite-dentelle.fr
From maritime towns to seaside resorts
Calais Thanks to its geographic location, Calais has al-ways courted controversy. Evidence of this still exists at the forts of Nieulay and Risban, the citadel and the watchtower that were con-structed to keep guard on the outskirts of the city. Calais also stands out because of its two urban hubs. On the one hand, there is the Saint-Pierre quarter, created in the XIXth Century thanks to the wealth of the lace industry. On the other hand, Calais Nord was reconstructed fol-lowing the Second World War.
In order to discover the local scenery, the belfry offers an ideal viewpoint across Calais. The bel-fry and the Hôtel de Ville form a single ensemble of buildings. Built from 1911, these two neo-gothic buildings symbolise the union between Calais Nord and the Saint-Pierre quarter. In the immediate vicinity, visitors will discover the six « Burghers of Calais », one of Auguste Rodin’s most famous works.
What has created the reputation of Calais is un-doubtedly the mechanised production of its lace, a savoir-faire that came over from England and that enjoyed a veritable golden age in the late XIXth and early XXth Centuries.
www.calais-cotedopale.com
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Boulogne-sur-Mer
From the fortified town to the port district of Capécure and passing through the Basse-Ville, Boulogne-sur-Mer condenses 2000 years of history. Links with England, economic activity connected to fishing, the reconstruction of the port following the Second World War…
The city has undergone quite a journey. What better place than the belfry to embrace the history of Boulogne-sur-Mer in a sin-gle glance? Constructed in the XIIth Century, it was initially a dungeon for the Comtal château prior to being transformed into a belfry in the XIIIth Century. The building is located in the heart of the upper town, a site defended by powerful ramparts erected in the XIIIth Century. Constructed in the same period, the Comtal château is the central element of the city’s medieval system of defences. It now houses the collections of the Mu-seum of Fine-Arts.
The most impressive building of the upper town is undoubtedly the basilica of Notre-Dame, whose dome rises to 80 metres. Built in the XIXth Century by Abbot Haffreingue on the ruins of the ancient medieval cathedral, its architecture is inspired by that of St Paul’s in London, St Paul’s in Rome and the Pantheon. Beneath the basilica stretches a vast crypt.
www.visitboulogne.com
New: the crypt of the basilica
After five years of reconstruction work, the crypt of the basilica is once again open to the public.
One of the largest in all France, the crypt is a veritable maze of galleries that stretch beneath the entire surface of the basilica of Notre-Dame.
In a space that has been completely redesigned, from the floor to the restored frescoes, a trail highlights the collections of tombstones and religious art, evidence of the medieval church and of the cult of Notre-Dame de Boulogne.
http://crypte.ville-boulogne-sur-mer.fr
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Zoom on:
the Château d’Hardelot, the Entente Cordiale Cul-tural Centre
The Château d’Hardelot is, firstly, a beautiful site, a surprising neo-gothic manor from the XIXth Cen-tury created by English-man John Whitley. Dining room, smoking room, bil-liards room, private apart-ments, cabinet of curiosi-ties, romantic gardens...
The Château d’Hardelot is also, and above all else, a
cultural centre dedicated to the relationship between France and Great Britain, managed by the Pas-de-Calais local council. Hidden behind the architecture and interiors dating from the XIXth Century, lies the story of Franco-British ties from William the Conqueror to present day. The exhibitions, concerts and festivals organised by the Entente Cordiale Cultural Centre also reveal the strength of the links that bind the two nations.
On June 24th 2016, the very day the results of the EU referendum were made official, France inaugurated its first Elizabethan theatre at the Entente Cordiale cultural centre in Hardelot, Pas-de-Calais.
www.chateau-hardelot.fr
Whilst these seaside resorts all have their own character, they also share certain historic traits. For each one, the adventure truly began in the XIXth
Century. The development of the rail-ways, the fashion for bathing in the sea and the attraction of the “gentry” to the Opal Coast led to the construc-tion of villas, large hotels and casinos.
It took only a few years for Wimereux, Neufchatel-Hardelot and Le Touquet-Paris-Plage to become holiday resorts that were sought after by the British and French aristocracy. John Whitley, owner of the Château d’Hardelot from 1897 and founder of the seaside re-sort, Louis-Marie Cordonnier, the crea-tor of twenty immense villas at the resort of Hardelot, Hyppolyte de Ville-messant, editor of Le Figaro that coined the term Le Touquet-Paris-Plage in 1900… So many personalities have contributed to the success of seaside tourism on the Opal Coast.
This was a trend that went hand in hand with the development of golf courses. Practiced for over a century along our coastline, golf is a sport that is embedded in the history of the Opal Coast. The golf courses of Le Touquet, Hardelot and Wimereux were among the very first established in France.
Wimereux, Neufchatel-Hardelot, Le Touquet-Paris-Plage:
Seaside resorts
and holidaymakers
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The art of Fishing The fishing villages and the Flobart Festival
Fishing is well and truly part of the history of the Opal Coast. Wissant, Audresselles... between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer is a succession of fishing villages, recognisable thanks to their characteristic cottages. Every year on the last weekend of August, Wissant celebrates traditional fishing and the boat that symbolises the Bou-lonnais coast: the Flobart. Over two days in August, the centre of the vil-lage comes to life to the rhythm of concerts of sea shanties, tastings sea-food and fish and stands featuring maritime artisan crafts.
Boulogne, France’s leading fishing port
Still today, Boulogne is France’s lead-ing fishing port and the European hub for processing the produce of the sea. In town there is great evidence of the importance of fishing here. At the en-trance to the port, the stalls selling fish are open all year round and, on fine days, the boat « Le Florelle » provides trips out to sea to discover the bay and the port of Boulogne. Visits to the fish auction are also worth experienc-ing. Organised at dawn, they are per-fect if you want to see behind the scenes of how the catch is sold once it is landed at port. In the former sailor’s quarter, the La Beurière museum has preserved an authentic fisherman’s home from 1900 in which the objects, clothing and furniture reveal to us the traditions of the sailors.
Etaples-sur-Mer, “the city of fish-ermen”
After Boulogne-sur-Mer, head to Etaples, nicknamed « the city of fishermen ». Formerly, there were countless boats that entered the port along the Canche Estuary. Whilst the port no longer receives boats since becoming silted over, fishing is still part of the life of the town. The fish that is sold at the stalls on the quays comes from the 36 trawlers that set sail daily from Boulogne-sur-Mer. The homes of the fishermen, the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Garde, the port and its ordeals all hark back to a mari-time past that brought so much life to the town. The Mareis Cen-tre and the Musée de la Marine keep alive this tradition by provid-ing a chance to explore the craft of the sea fisherman in an original way.
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A destination that is 100% sport
Golf on the Opal Coast Practiced for over a century along our coastline, golf is a sport that is embedded in the history of the Opal Coast. The golf courses of Le Touquet, Hardelot and Wimereux were among the very first established in France. Forged into contrasting landscapes between dunes and cliffs, forests and beaches of fine sand, the eleven 18-hole courses and the three 9-hole courses are reputed for their quality.
www.golfcotedopale.com
The Pro Am International Côte d’Opale
4 days, 4 courses, 100 professionals, 300 amateurs: from 26th to 29th April 2017, golfers can rendezvous on the Opal Coast for Europe’s largest Pro Am!
For 24 years the Pro Am International de la Côte d’Opale brings together golfers from France, Belgium, Luxemburg, the Nether-lands and England.
It is considered to be the benchmark in France for the quality and diversity of its 4 courses, the Parcours de la Mer at Le Touquet, Hardelot les Pins, Wimereux and Belle Dune.
www.proamcotedopale.com
New club house, bar, restaurant and pro shop at le Touquet golf course
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Nautical sports and new disciplines
With its long stretches of fine sand and its optimum wind condi-tions, the beaches of the Opal Coast provide the perfect play-ground for enjoying land sailing.
This is a sport that became popular in the 1910’s with Louis Blériot. Known as the aviator who undertook the first crossing of The Channel by airplane, Louis Blériot developed the “aeroplage”, the ancestor of the current land yacht. The war brought a halt to this discipline and we would have to wait until the 50’s for it to once again become popular.
Today, around fifteen clubs can be found between Calais and Berck-sur-Mer. New sports have also come to the fore in the last decade or so. In this way, kite surfing has become THE sliding sport par excellence. The stunt kite and surf board combination works perfectly, allowing participants to carry out spectacular moves and jumps rising several metres above the water. Loca-tions in Wissant, Wimereux, Hardelot and Le Touquet are fa-vourites with a great many riders, both high level sportsmen and keen amateurs.
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Following the tracks of the Second World War
During the Second World War, the Opal Coast became one of the key sections of the Atlantic Wall, a network of coastal fortifications stretching from Norway to Spain.
A variety of museums present the diverse facettes of this conflict:
The Calais Museum of Remembrance was once the « Mako », the com-mand bunker of the Ger-man Kriegsmarine in that sector. With its 21 exhibi-tion spaces, it is the refer-ence point for those who wish to understand what the Second World War meant to Calais. One of these spaces is devoted to General de Gaulle, the man of the hour on 18th June 1940… but also the husband of a local lady, Yvonne Vendroux. musee-memoire-calais.com
Musée 39-45 Ambleteuse More than 120 fully-equipped soldiers are presented in formation, as well as thousands of origi-nal objects that are on display here. www.musee3945.com The Atlantic Wall Mu-seum Audinghen This museum was estab-lished within the block-house of one of the larg-est German constructions of the Second World War: the Todt Battery, located on Cap Gris-Nez. www.batterietodt.com
Mimoyecques Fortress Landrethun-les-Nord This secret base was de-signed to house the giant V-3 underground cannon. Like all the V (Vergeltungswaffen) weapons, the V-3 was created to bomb England and, in particular, London. Joseph Kennedy, older brother of John Fitzgerald, died in action during an Allied raid on the base in 1944. There is a memorial to him in one of the tun-nels of the fortress. www.mimoyecques.com
The Eperlecques Block-haus
This gigantic bunker was built by the Germans in 1943 to launch V2 rockets. The site is still in its original state. Recorded commenta-ries tell you all you need to know about the V1 and V2 rockets. The site was awar-ded the title of Historical monument in 1985 and today carries a message of peace. www.leblockhaus.com
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La Coupole, see page 22
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Hills and Dales From the Saint-Omer region to the gentle valleys of the Ternois and the 7 Vallées, through bocage hedgerows and marshland, everything here invites you to breathe and to go back to basics...
The countryside destination of the Pas-de-Calais is the epitome of cool and of slow-tourism, synonymous with serenity and with recharging the batteries.
It is the ideal destination for visitors who want to take their time; the time to relax, to disconnect from city life, to stroll lazily through markets and sample a few local products, to enjoy a boat trip and enjoy some beautiful encounters…
www.la-belle-vie.com
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Countryside towns
Historic treasures
Off the beaten track
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Countryside towns
Saint-Omer, city of art and history Cathedral, Jesuit chapel, castle mound, great houses… Saint-Omer is a town boasting many his-torical facets. The Hôtel Sandelin, which houses the collections of the museum, is one of the finest examples of an XVIIIth Century mansion house. 24th May—30th August 2017 Exhibition “Shakespeare Romantique” In partnership with the Louvre and Musée Eugène Delacroix
www.tourisme-saintomer.com
Zoom on:
The Audomarois marshes and the UNESCO “Man and Biosphere” label.
Saint-Omer is, above all, a city of water. The canali-sation of the River Aa and the management of the marshlands have greatly contributed to the devel-opment of the town. The Audomarois marshes, a 3730 hectare wetland, was awarded the UNESCO « Man and Biosphere » label in 2013. This area is the result of 13 centuries of hard work in changing the course of the waters of the River Aa, clearing and transforming a swamp into a marshland that could be cultivated and inhabited. Nowadays, around forty market gardeners produce 50 varieties of vegetable there. To explore and under-stand the marsh, trips aboard Bacôves (traditional boats) are organised by the Maison du Marais, a facil-ity located in Saint-Omer town centre.
www.maison-du-marais.fr
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Montreuil-sur-Mer The link between the Opal Coast and the country-side, this small fortified town surprises visitors with its diverse built heritage.
Stroll along the ramparts and the citadel, discover the mansion houses and the narrow cobbled streets in the upper town, visit the medieval abbey church of Saint-Saulve, pass the pretty houses along the rue Clape… Montreuil-sur-Mer is blessed with incompa-rable charm.
In September 1837, Victor Hugo strolled along the ramparts of Montreuil-sur-Mer. A few years later, this town was to be the setting for the first part of his most famous novel, « Les Misérables ». Every July, the inhabitants don the costumes of the novel’s characters and put on a light and sound show in the heart of the citadel.
Zoom on: The charterhouse of Neuville
Church, large cloister, chapter house, library, monastery, refectory: the Notre-Dame des Près charterhouse is still a deeply spiritual place.
Founded in the XIVth Century, destroyed and rebuilt on many occasions, this building was transformed into a hospital following the de-parture of the monks in 1906.
Since 2008, this site has undergone a vast project of restoration thanks to the associa-tion of the chapterhouse of Neuville. Mu-seum, concerts, guided visits and shows, a creative and experimentation space, a project to provide accommodation… the dynamism of this association has breathed new life into this site.
The project maintains the founding principles of dialogue, encounters, humanity and inno-vation.
www.lachartreusedeneuville.org
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Historic treasures
La Coupole and 3D Planetarium
A gigantic underground bunker, La Coupole was designed for preparing and launching V2 missiles, the secret weapon with which Hitler hoped to destroy London.
Transformed into a historic centre of re-membrance, La Coupole and its impressive setting lets visitors understand the chal-lenges of total war and the various stages in the space race that stemmed from V2 tech-nology.
It also retraces the major stages of the Oc-cupation in Nord-Pas de Calais.
www.lacoupole-france.com
Exhibition
« Wars, science and technol-ogy, 1914-1945 » from 1st April 2016 until April 2017
Marking the centenary of the Great War, La Coupole will host a major temporary exhibition entitled « Wars, science and technology, 1914-1945 ». This event has been awarded the « Mission du Centenaire » label. It aims to showcase the scientific and technical advances made during the two World Wars. It centres on a number of differ-ent subjects and tackles the following themes: artillery, avia-tion, tanks, chemical weapons, the equipment of the trenches, communications, detection, cryptography, the war at sea and medicine.
Each section is organised around photographs and some symbolic items: a Renault FT tank, a 75 mm cannon, Marie Curie’s original glass plaques…For this occasion, a trench has been reconstructed in order to display the iconic personal weapons of the Great War.
Short texts describing the great evolutions in each of these fields are presented, focusing on the careers of great scien-tists. Touchscreens allow visi-tors to delve deeper into the historic and scientific informa-tion available. Images are at the heart of its scenography.
La Coupole celebrates its 20th Anniversary in May 2017 with a special series of events
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Belval Abbey
This is the story of an abbey, born in the XIXth Century, in the dip of a wooded valley in the Ternois. The Trappist sisters would make cheese there in order to finance their com-munity’s needs. The last religious community left in 2012 and pas-sionate enthusiasts have since taken on the challenge of providing a second life to this site by estab-lishing a stopover gîte, opening the abbey to the public, once again producing cheeses… It was a gam-ble that payed off thanks to a pro-ject combining social, cultural and economic advantages.
www.abbayedebelval.fr
Desvres Ceramic Museum
Since the XVIIIth Century, the pot-ters of Desvres have excelled in the art of ceramics. With around ten completely renovated rooms, this museum of ceramics displays around 600 pieces. With plates, tiles, animals, miniature and monu-mental objects, contemporary creations, the museum presents more than 300 years of produc-tion. An interactive trail punctu-ated with touchscreens, games and video clips relates the secrets of manufacture and the industrial adventure that took place here in the XIXth and XXth Centuries.
www.musee-ceramique-desvres.com
The Agincourt Medieval Historic Centre.
On 25th October 1415, the English army lead by King Henry V de-stroyed the French army, which was twice its size.
The site of Agincourt has set a new exhibition after the 600th anniver-sary : « 1415, De Fer et de Sang : knights and combatants” presents who the combatants of 1415 are, their origins, their beliefs, their weapons and daily life .
4 special events will be held at week-ends in 2017 : artisans, me-dieval day, weapons, geography and sailing.
www.azincourt1415.fr
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Retro escapes with « Les belles échappées »
In the heart of the Audomarois, « les belles échappées » offers es-capes with a retro feel.
Citroën 2CV, Combi Volkswagen, Vespa Calessino, electric Solex… To combine the pleasure of driv-ing with discovery, a road book is given to each visitor prior to de-parture. It’s an original and quirky way to travel along the small country roads.
www.les-belles-echappees.com
Off
the beaten
track
« À petits pas »
Taking small steps accompanied by a donkey
Trips on saddled donkeys, a chance to explore the donkey’s environ-ment, visits to artisans and local pro-ducers, ecological circuits, manual craft activities: these are some of the activities offered by the association « À petits pas ».
There are activities that can be fac-tored into a discovery trail, a walking break, a guided walk or a relaxing weekend staying at a gîte or in a te-pee.
www.apetitspas.net
The Via Francigena
In the Pas-de-Calais, one road leads to Rome. The Via Francigena traverses the region for 250 kilometres starting from Calais. In the same manner as the Way of Saint James or the route that leads to Mont-Saint-Michel, the Via Francigena is a former pilgrimage route across Europe. This route leaves Canterbury in England and leads right to the Eternal City, Rome. In France, it begins precisely in Calais and crosses the département up until Rocquigny. It is made up of roughly a dozen stages of around 20 kilometres and is an ex-cellent way to explore the landscapes and heritage of the region in a differ-ent way.
www.tourismepaysdelalysromane.fr/via-francigena.php
Off
the beaten
track
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New:
The Lumbres trail station
Trail or nature running is a sport that is on trend at the moment. Practiced in the great outdoors, along dirt tracks and walking routes, it has been a great success in Europe.
The trail station of the Pays de Lum-bres is the first of its kind north of Paris dedicated to this sporting disci-pline. Set in an undulating and well-preserved landscape, the station of-fers trails, services and equipment for both debutants that are keen to learn and take part, as well as for real en-thusiasts who are in search of a venue in which to host races or weekend breaks.
www.stationdetrail.com
Great idea:
Discover the Pas-de-Calais in the company of a greeter!
The concept was born in New-York City with « Big Apple Greeter ». The idea is simple: offer tourists the chance to meet a local who will help them explore their neighbourhood or their town. The walk is entirely free. The greeter punctuates the tour with anecdotes, shows the sites that they love, offers tips for places to visit and other great ideas… The watchwords for these encounters are sharing, experiences and conviviality. The visitor can return home having been enriched by the time they have spent with their « friend ».
Since 2009, Pas-de-Calais Tourism has established a network of greeters « Made in Pas-de-Calais ». This volunteer network now has sixty members. It allows tourists to see the départe-ment in a different way, in the company of a local who knows and loves the area.
The tour can be enjoyed with the family, with friends or on your own.
www.greeters62.com
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Around Louvre-Lens The opening of the Louvre-Lens, the classification of the Coalfield Area on the UNESCO World Heritage list, the conversion of mining sites into artistic centres, remembrance tourism...
Since 2012, the touristic and cultural wealth of the destination Around Louvre-Lens has profoundly changed the image of this area. Relying on the values and the history of the Coalfield Area, the desti-nation Around Louvre-Lens is at the forefront of a new dynamism that is synonymous with creativity, innovation and sharing.
www.aroundlouvrelens.com
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A successful regeneration
The essential sites of the destination
Sport and outdoor leisure activities
WW1 Centenary of the Battle of Arras and Vimy Ridge
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A successful
regeneration
The Louvre-Lens The gateway to this destination is without question the Louvre-Lens, a resolutely contemporary building of glass and aluminium designed by Japa-nese architectural firm SANAA. Situ-ated in a former mining quarry, the Louvre-Lens provides a new perspec-tive on this area. Among its treasures, this museum houses «the time gallery ». With more than 200 works taken from the Louvre in Paris, « the time gallery » offers a trip through 5000 years of the history of art, from the birth of the written word up until the mid-XIXth Century. It provides an unex-pected connection between works drawn from different schools of art, techniques and civilisations.
A partial renovation of the time gallery is carried out every year, around the date of the museum’s anniversary.
In this way, since 4th December 2016, visitors can discover 54 new master-pieces from the Parisian Louvre, among which Rembrandt’s Philoso-pher in Meditation, and a special focus on the arts of the Islamic world.
Since the museum opened in 2012 access to the time gallery has been free. This free access has been ex-tended until the end of 2017.
www.louvrelens.fr
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Exhibitions 2017 :
Mirrors Until 18th September 2017 in the glass pa-villon
Here a group of works from the 16th century through to the present day invites visitors to hone their eye and speculate on what they are seeing, or what they think they are see-ing.
With its blend of mystery, truth and illusion, the mirror is a complex object. An emblem-atic adjunct in paintings imitating reality or seeking to provide different points of view, it is also the indispensable accessory for the painter engaged in a self-portrait.
The brothers Le Nain 22d March—26th June 217
The art of the brothers Le Nain is one of the great mysteries of 17th-century French painting. Antoine, Louis, and Mathieu were from Laon, in Picardy, and in Paris in the course of the 1640s they produced a group of highly original masterpieces. In their most celebrated works simple peasants are portrayed with unprecedented nobility and dig-nity.
Music in the antique era 13th September 2017—15th January 2018 The exhibition presents the various faces of music in the great antique Mediterranean civilisations, including Rome, Mesopotamia, Greece and Egypt.
Louis Le Nain, Intérieur paysan
Cyprien Boulet, portrait de Madame Jean Trentesaux, 1923
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Pit 11/19, in Loos-en-Gohelle Situated in the vicinity of the Louvre-Lens, the site of the 11/19 mining base was in operation from 1894 to 1986.
The bulk of the installations have been preserved and it offers an almost complete view of what a mining site looked like, with its quarries, shale heaps and mineworkers’ town. The numbers 11 and 19 refer to the old mines, 11 for the metallic headframe from the 1920’s and 19 for the concrete concen-trating tower from 1960.
With the 9-9 Bis pit, the Delloye pit at Lewarde and the mining quarry of Wallers-Arenberg, the 11/19 mining base brings to life one of the four main remembrance sites linked to coal mining.
Today, Pit 11/19 has undergone a cultural regeneration thanks to the Scène Nationale Culture Com-mune, as well as a project of sustainable development by La Chaîne des Terrils (Permanent Centre for Environmental Initiatives), the Eco-Entreprises development centre, the Sustainable Development Ressource Centre and the Delbard garden centre.
www.tourism-lenslievin.co.uk
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Lewarde Historic Mining Centre Thirty years ago, the Delloye pit was selected to become the Lewarde Historic Mining Centre.
Within this mining museum, the largest in France, three centuries of mining history are retold through major themed exhibitions. The authenticity of the site and the chance to explore the buildings allows them to share the adventure of coal mining with future generations.
There is also the chance to meet old mineworkers.
www.chm-lewarde.com
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The essential sites of the destination
Lens-Liévin
During the First World War, the city of Lens was almost completely de-stroyed. Its reconstruction during the 1920’s drew inspiration from a variety of architectural styles. The town centre is therefore dotted with neo-Classical, Art deco and Regionalist façades. The railways station is one of the unmissable sites of Lens. Built in 1926, its silhouette calls to mind a steam locomotive. It is the very first manifestation of the Art deco style within the Coalfield Area. In its interior, beautiful cubist in-spired mosaics depict scenes of industrial life.
Mining heritage is based on urbanism. The current Jean Perrin Faculty of Science is housed in the former head office of the Lens Mining Com-pany. The imposing size and Flemish neo-renaissance style of the monument make it a veritable château of the industrial world. Another site that evokes the mining adventure is the Maison Syndicale, which was established following the Courrières disaster of 1906. Construction was financed by subscriptions from the miners and it was the head-quarters for all the mining unions of the Nord-Pas de Calais.
Every day at 14h30, the guided visit “from museum to city centre” lets the public discover the history of the site upon which the museum stands, its architecture and the life of a mining town, before taking the shuttle bus back to the city centre of Lens and viewing its Art deco fa-çades.
The Art Deco railway station
After WW1, Lens's public buildings were rebuilt in two styles.
Some were rebuilt in their pre-war style and the architect Louis-Marie Cordonnier gave Lens Uni-versity an appearance which reflected regional traditions.
However Art Deco became the most influential style of the new Lens. The railway station, de-signed by Urbain Cassan in 1926, was given the shape of a 1920s steam locomotive with a clock tower for its funnel and exaggerated arches for its wheels. Inside the building, cubist-inspired mosaics by August Labouret depict themes related to min-ing and industry.
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Béthune-Bruay
Almost entirely destroyed during the First World War, Béthune began its reconstruction from the 1920’s.
The city then witnessed the flourishing of a mul-titude of façades in the Art deco style, tinged with Regionalism.
The façades that flank the Grand‘Place are the finest example of this. Floral motifs, geometric forms, ironwork, ceramics… every gable sports a different decor. Among the façades, the Hôtel de Ville is recognisable thanks to its monumental gable.
The medieval belfry that climbs to a height of 30 metres miraculously escaped the bombardments of the Great War. A visit to the belfry allows visi-tors to access the sentry walk whilst enjoying anecdotes relating to the history of the site.
www.visitbethune.com
Zoom on:
The Roger Salengro Stadium-Park and swim-ming pool
Art deco in style and opened in 1936 by the Bruay Mining Company, the Stadium-Park and the swimming pool of Béthune-Bruay formed part of the socialist ideals of the Front Populaire. Designed as a functional and hygienic facility, the pool is a genuine Art deco masterpiece. With the presence of a reservoir of water that resembles the funnel of a transatlantic liner and the open-ings that resemble portholes, the general allure of the site is that of a genuine “ocean cruise liner”. The artist of light, Yann Kersalé, estab-lished an entertaining trail that can be discov-ered at dusk.
New:
Reopening of Labanque, centre for the production and distribution of visual arts
Situated in a former Bank of France site, the Labanque arts centre aims to raise public awareness about con-temporary production. It provides the opportunity for graphic artists to fill the space and to produce creations there that are based on photography, video, sculpture, painting and the design of objects. A building that has been reconfigured in accordance with the spirit of the venues that are linked to its past as a bank, a larger space given over to exhibitions, a welcome area, a boutique and an educational space are all on hand to wel-come visitors. www.lab-labanque.fr
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Arras A visit to Arras begins with discovering the Grand’Place and the Place des Héros. Famous for their façades in the Flemish Baroque style, the squares of Arras form an ensemble of buildings that is unique in Europe. Since the Middle Ages, the history of the squares is mixed with that of the markets.
The Place des Héros is crowned by the Hôtel de Ville and the belfry. Erected in the XVth Century, these two gothic buildings were destroyed during the First World War. After the conflict, they be-came two rare examples of buildings in the region that were faithfully reconstructed. The Hôtel de Ville offers access to both the belfry and the Boves, a network of underground tunnels built in the XIIth Century beneath the city streets.
Just a few metres away is the Abbey Quarter. The abbey of Saint-Vaast and the cathedral form the largest ensemble of religious buildings from the XVIIIth century in France. The abbey nowadays is home to the museum of Fine-Arts of Arras.
www.explorearras.com
New : “Relive the epic life and times of Napoleon and the birth of his legend” exhibition 20 October 2017 to 18 November 2018 Musée des Beaux-Arts
Following the success of the exhi-bitions “Roulez carrosses!” and “100 masterpieces from le château de Versailles »,
The partnership between Versail-les and Arras will retrace the life and career of Napoleon Bonaparte, from general to fallen Emperor. The exhibition will also démonstratif how Napoleon deter-mined from an early stage to write his own legend and to consign it for posterity by commissioning numerous paintings commemora-ting the great episodes of his life (decisions, battles etc.).
Some one hundred iconic works from the Napoleonic collections held by the Château de Versailles, most of them commissioned by Napoleon himself, will be brought together and presented to the public for the first time.
www.versaillesarras.com
Bonaparte crossing the Grand-Saint-Bernard pass by Jacques-Louis David
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Douai It has been a commercial, religious and judicial town in its past, and Douai boasts some beautiful architectural evidence of all this history, starting with the belfry. From 45 metres up, it pro-vides an unbeatable view across the old town of Douai and the mining heritage in the surrounding area. Visitors can sometimes tackle the 196 step climb with the sound of its 62 carillon bells ringing in their ears. Another remarkable building is the Parlia-ment of Flanders. Currently the Courts of Justice and regional Court of Appeal, the Parliament of Flanders is recognisable thanks to its great gothic arcades that look out over the River
Scarpe. Inside, the paintings in the Grand’Chambre retrace the judicial history of Douai. The excursion boats that are moored alongside the Courts of Justice are a great way of exploring the town. During a boat trip along the Scarpe, the successive fa-çades, bridges, and locks all point to the development of Douai over 2000 years of history. A visit to Douai would not be com-plete without stopping off at the Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai. Housed in the former Chartreux Convent, paintings by Rubens, Veronese, Renoir and Rodin provide a beautiful pano-rama of the artistic movements from the XVth Century to pre-sent day.
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Sport and outdoor leisure activities
The shale heaps loop Built out of the waste product resulting from coal mining, shale heaps are essential made up of sandstone and shale. Nowadays, there are nearly 200 shale heaps still intact, which nature has reclaimed for herself. Some of them have been turned into leisure areas that offer pleasant spaces for walks or for exploring the flora and fauna that thrives there, such as the shale heaps of Pinchonvalles, Haillicourt, Oignies and Loos-en-Gohelle.
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Ski cable wake boarding at the Loisinord water sports stadium The Loisinord water sports stadium is a facility that is unique north of Paris and boasts wake boarding modules for lovers of sliding sports and big thrills. Wake boarding can be described as a type of snowboarding, but on water. Pulled along by a cable at a speed of 30 km/h, wake boarders travel over the water along a loop of around 850m. The water sports stadium also lets visitors enjoy water skiing and kneeboarding. Open from April to September.
www.artoiscomm.fr/loisinord
Something fun at Parc d’Olhain 450 hectares of woodlands and a number of sports and leisure facilities: tennis, swimming pool, golf, mini-golf, ad-venture trails in the trees, orienteering courses… The Olhain departmental park is the essential place to visit for lov-ers of outdoor sports. The park continues to extend its offer as a family leisure destination, providing innovative new activities. A luge that can be used year round: this luge on rails is 650 metres long with a 76 metre change in altitude and will be up and running during 2016. Big thrills are guaranteed, in perfect safety.
With a play area of over 3300m², this is the largest Parcabout® in the world. Its giant hanging nets allow visitors to soar high above the ground with perfect freedom and in total security. Nine interlinked modules allow you to enjoy trampolining, to play football, go tobogganing or just to relax. A 650m long sedge track is available all year round. www.parcdolhain.fr
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2017 Centenary of the Battle of Arras and Vimy Ridge : sites not to be missed
The First World War broke out in August 1914. From the month of October, the front line of bat-tle settled in and around the Pays d’Artois region. Today, numerous monuments, cemeteries, memo-rials, commemorative plaques and landscapes bear witness to the battles that took place over four years of fighting.
In this key sector between the battlefields and the River Somme, the Artois was defended by the French until February 1916, and then by the Com-monwealth nations (British, Canadians, New-foundlanders, South Africans, Indians, Australians and New Zealanders).
The Battle of Arras was launched on April 9th 1917 and was one of the principal offensives under-taken by the British Army on the Western Front.
The town of Arras, situated in the British zone, was picked to be the theatre of a diversionary offensive. This operation, combined with a large-scale attack in the French sector, was to draw in German reserve troops several days before the start of the French assault and thus facilitate the much hoped for breakthrough at Chemin des Dames Ridge in Champagne.
The Ring of remembrance & Notre-Dame-de-Lorette
Rendered tragically famous by WWI, Notre-Dame-de-Lorette is the largest French military cemetery. Visit the Roman-Byzantine Chapel and the Lantern Tower in the middle of the cemetery as well as the Ring of Remem-brance, the International Memorial inaugurated on 11 November 2014. This ellipse-shaped monument is one of the largest memorials in the world, as it brings together 580,000 names presented in alphabetical order without distinction by nationality, thereby uniting friend and foe of yesteryear.
Lens 14-18 Great War history Centre
Situated at the foot of the hill of Notre-Dame de Lorette, it gives the public everything they need to understand the key events of the Great War in French Flanders and in the Ar-tois. A war of movement, a war of the trenches, a destruc-tive war of attrition, the North under German occupation, the return of the war of movement, death at the front, « The Hell of the North » and the reconstruction... Through archive photographs, film footage from the pe-riod, scale models and objects this exhibition retraces the main stages of the conflict in this region. www.lens14-18.com
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Canadian National Vimy Memorial
Overhanging the Artois plain, the land was granted for all time by the French nation to the people of Canada and is maintained by the Canadian Veterans Affairs. The site includes the Vimy Monument, preserved front-line trenches, the Grange tunnel, two cemeteries and a visitor centre. Ac-cess to the site and its activities are free of charge, open all year round (limited mid-Dec. to mid-Jan.).
A new Visitor Education Centre will be inaugurated around the 9th April 2017 for the Centenary of the Battle of Arras and Vimy Ridge.
The Wellington Quarry, Memorial of the Battle of Arras
20 meters deep under the streets of the town, discover the preparations for the Battle of Arras (April 1917).
From November 1916, the British Army prepares the Spring offensive of 1917. They had the brainwave of having the town limestone medieval quarries linked together by the New Zealand tunnelling companies, to create a real underground quartering network, which could host up to 24,000 soldiers.
www.explorearras.com
Bullecourt 1917 museum
The collection of Jean and Denise Letaille brings together traces, marks and objects testifying to the Australian presen-ce in the battles of Bullecourt on 11 April and 3/15 May 1917.
On ANZAC Day, 25th April, major commemorations are held at the Digger Memorial.
For a complete list of WW1 sites of interest, tours and resources in the Pas-de-Calais, visit
wartimehistory.pas-de-calais.com
And www.remembrancetrails-northernfrance.com
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2017 Centenary of the Battle of Arras and Vimy Ridge : the main events
Arras events available on this website: www.arras1418.com
Dawn ceremony 9 April at 6.30am - The Wellington Tunnels, Memorial to the Battle of Arras A Memorial ceremony paying tribute to the British and the Commonwealth soldiers who fought in the Battle of Arras.
« The Earth Remembers » sculpture will be inaugurated on this occasion.
An imposing sculpture in bronze designed by Ma-rian Fountain of New Zea-land. In memory of the work carried out by the men of the New Zealand Tunnelling Company in the underground quarries of Arras during the First W o r l d W a r . The sculpture is set in the garden of the Wellington Quarry in front of the Memorial Wall dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers who took part in the Battle of Arras
Faces of the Battle of Arras 18 March to 16 May - in town A photographic exhibition set around the town featur-ing portraits of soldiers serving during the Battle of Ar-ras is an opportunity for visitors to come face to face with those men who came from all over the world, and be drawn into their life stories. Witnesses 18 March to 11 June - Museum of Fine Arts An exhibition on loan from the Canadian War Museum, showing works by soldiers of the conflict serving in Ar-tois in 1917.
(Re)trenches 18 March to 11 June - Main courtyard of the Museum of Fine Arts, Arras A trench reconstruction. An excellent way to prepare for a visit to the Canadian exhibition « witnesses » 1917: Saint-Vaast Abbey 18 March to 11 June - Gates of Saint-Vaast Abbey, Arras An Open-air exhibition of photographs and eye-witness ac-counts, to discover or remember the story of the Abbey (Palace and Cathedral) during the Great War and the Battle of Arras.
Poppy of peace - Victory Medal 2 to 12 April - Place des Héros, Arras A participative work around the creation by sculptor Helen Pollock, honouring the New Zealand forebears who fought in the First World War.
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100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge : 9th April 1917
The Government of Canada will lead a delegation to France to participate in commemorative events planned during the week of April 5 - 12, 2017. Events include the signature event at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial on April 9, 2017, and the opening of the new Visitor Education Centre. This dynamic project is being realized with the support of the Government of and the Vimy Foun-dation for a total of $10 million.
Mandatory Registration Due to heightened security in France, anyone
planning to attend the 100th anniversary cere-mony at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial site in France April 9th must register online by February 28, 2017. http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/first-world-war/vimy-ridge/100-anniversary/registration
Vimy events : www.lensvillehote.fr/vimycommemoration2017
“Vimy 2017, the underground war” Exhibition 8th April – 31st October 2017 – Souchez, Lens 14-18 Museum.
This exhibition sheds light on a little-known aspect of the First World War: the underground war fought by Canadian soldiers, hidden in the bowels of the earth. They left graffiti and sculptures etched on to the chalk walls of underground cavities in Artois and Picardy, where they stayed prior to going over the top or during rest periods behind the front. Conversely, the productions of other warring nationalities are also brought to light: American (Froidmont quarry in Braye-en-Laonnois), Australian (Naours caves), New Zealander (Wellington quarry in Arras), and of course, French and German (Chemin des Dames quar-ries). www.lens14-18.com
Exhibition Beyond fighting : Life of Canadian soldiers behind the Artois front, 1916 -1918 From 25 March - 28 May 2017 - Châ-teau de Ranchicourt near Béthune
As part of the Centenary of the Battle of Vimy, the exhibition focuses on the Canadians soldier’s life in the Artois rear front in 1916-1918 in the château de Ranchicourt (Rebreuve-Ranchicourt), which was requisitioned as General Horne’s First British Army headquarters during preparations for the battle.
www.visitbethune.com
“So far from home” The story of six Australians on the Western Front - Exhibition in Bullecourt 1st – 16th April 2017 The exhibition “So Far from Home, the story of six Australians on the Western Front” explain the experiences of five men and a woman all of whom had different reasons for volunteering. So-me had enlisted through a sense of duty to the “Mother Country”, others through ethnic or family loyalty or sim-ply to explore the world while on leave. Free of charge, Bullecourt community centre, in partnership with Historial de la Grande Guerre in Péronne.
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Flavours of home
Saint-Omer cauliflower, herring from Boulogne-sur-Mer, gin from Houlle, Licques poultry, Andouillette sausage from Arras… The area’s diversity can be found in its many products of the terroir. A land of agriculture and livestock, the Pas-de-Calais has known how to preserve and showcase the quality produce that contributes to the identity of this destination.
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Seafood
Restaurants
Beer
Cheese
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Seafood Mr. Goodfish
Good for the sea, good for you. Fish stocks are not inexhaustible and many of them are being over-fished. To care-fully select the produce of the sea con-tributes towards preserving our marine resources. Thanks to the advice of Mr. Goodfish, anyone can buy fish in a sus-tainable and responsible manner. Mr. Goodfish offers a list of produce that takes account of seasonality, of the amounts of any particular species being consumed and of fish stocks that are not in danger. Mr. Goodfish also pro-vides recipes by the chefs of gastro-nomic and Michelin star restaurants, recipes that are simple and clever. www.mrgoodfish.fr
Alexandre Gauthier
Alexandre Gauthier is the rising star of French gastronomy! Crowned “Chef of the Year” 2016 by Gault & Millau, the young chef at La Grenouillère in La Made-laine-sous-Montreuil serves creative and singular cuisine that is contemporary and visual. It is a cuisine of contrasts that is also complex.
www.lagrenouillere.fr
As well as La Grenouillère, Alexandre Gauthier has also opened Froggy’s Tav-ern, a convivial, gourmet and generous spot, and L’Anecdote in Montreuil-sur-Mer. At this new restaurant, Alexandre Gauthier revisits the menu served by his father Roland Gauthier by blending inno-vation and tradition.
www.anecdote-restaurant.com
A new chef for Le Robert II at La Char-treuse in Val Saint Esprit
Breton by origin, Dominique Quay has commanded the kitchens at some great establishments, such as the Auberge des Templiers in Montargis, Le Château in Fère-en-Tardenois and the restaurant l’Armançon at the Château de Chailly. His love of cuisine stems from encountering the great Breton chefs, Guillot and Le Saoult, as well as others like Joël Ro-buchon from whom he takes his « rigour and respect for good produce ». At the Domaine de la Chartreuse, he will cast his eye over the brigades at three restau-rants: La Distillerie, Le Vasco and Le Robert II. Dominique Quay defines cuisine as the correct assembly of quality ingredients, worked with simplicity.
www.ledomainedelachartreuse.com
Marc Meurin ** in Busnes, Alexan-dre Gauthier in La Madelaine-sous-Montreuil, Eric Delerue in Laventie, Tony Lestienne in Boulogne, Chris-tian Germain in Montreuil-sur-Mer…
The Michelin star chefs of the Pas-de-Calais have brought a real gas-tronomic identity to the Départe-ment.
Restaurants
www.lechateaudebeaulieu.fr
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Beer
The region has inherited a strong brewing tradition. The cultivation of hops and bar-ley and a mastery of brewing techniques have endowed the region with a veritable savoir-faire when it comes to beer. Nowadays, there are still around thirty breweries that produce beers full of char-acter.
Page 24 artisan brewery
Housed in Aix-Noulette, in the heart of the Artois, this brewery was established in 2003 by three beer enthu-siasts that wanted to cre-ate their own recipes. Since the very beginning the philosophy of this brewery has been to use regional ingredients in order to keep alive the brewing and agricultural traditions of the region. In this way, the signature beers of the Page 24 range are exclusively brewed using locally grown hops.
www.page24.fr
The 2 Caps brewery
The 2 Caps, the Blanche de Wis-sant, the Noire de Slack, the Belle Dalle “millésimée”... Since 2003, Christophe and Alexia Noyon have produced their beers at the 2 Caps brewery, situated in Tardinghen on the Opal Coast. Their aim is simple: to create new recipes for high-quality and original artisan beers. Their beers are mostly sold along the Opal Coast in specialist shops (wine cellars, fine delicates-sens, cheesemongers), at cafés-hotels-restaurants, as well as in certain small and medium-sized supermarkets.
www.2caps.fr
Pas-de-Calais cheeses The Coeur d’Arras, the Vieux Bou-logne, the Sablé de Wissant, the Belval, the Fort de Lens… Pas-de-Calais serves up a well-stocked cheese board.
The Bernard brothers and the Saint-Godeleine cheese dairy.
Housed behind the Ferme du Vert in Wierre-Effroy, the Bernard brothers are artisan cheese makers that trans-form milk from the herds that are reared in the vicinity of their cheese dairy in the heart of the Boulonnais hills, a livestock region par excellence. Antoine and Joachim therefore pro-duce cheeses whose flavour and qual-ity are naturally in tune with the con-cept of artisan production that all lovers of authentic cheeses nowadays yearn for.
www.fermeduvert.com
The art of maturing
Coming from a long line of cheese collectors, maturers and cheese-mongers since 1907, Philippe Olivier has not stopped developing and per-fecting the techniques and the secrets of maturing cheese. He uncovers for-gotten cheeses that he brings back to life. Thanks to him, the farmers also continue to showcase French cheese making heritage. Nowadays, his son Romain has taken over writing the history of Philippe Olivier’s company. Romain Olivier offers a selection of 300 cheeses that are sourced from all four corners of France and Europe…which are matured in his caves at Boulogne-sur-Mer. www.philippeolivier.fr
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Benoît Diéval Marketing / PR Pas-de-Calais Tourism 26/28 Route de la Trésorerie 62126 Wimille FRANCE Tel : 00333 21 10 34 60 [email protected]
www.visit-pas-de-calais.com
WW1, WW2, Agincourt... : www.history-pas-de-calais.com
Hills & Dales : www.la-belle-vie.com
Artois & the Louvre-Lens : www.aroundlouvrelens.com