CAMPING & HOLIDAY PARKS 2022


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Hauts-de-France


Rich in history and local food specialities, this expansive region is much more than a mere gateway to France


BACK in 2014, Nord-Pas de Calais and Picardy – with their departments Aisne, Nord, Oise, Pas-de-Calais and Somme – were officially merged to form the Hauts-de- France administrative region. For many visitors to France, it is the initial point of entry when travelling by ferry (from Dover) or Eurotunnel, and while some just drive on through to head south, this is a crying shame – it is a bountiful region packed with great cultural offerings, fine beaches, great shopping, super city break ideas and splendid regional food and drink specialities – from moules-frites to Chantilly cream. It is home to an impressive array of museums and


attractions, the shining star of which is the magnificent (both architecturally and for its content) Louvre-Lens – the regional outpost of Paris’s flagship museum. The region's capital, Lille, is as good as it gets for a


cross-Channel break (Eurostar is so handy for this). Home to the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, which houses works by artists such as Rubens and Goya, plus a collection of


Get your cultural fix at the magnificent Louvre-Lens museum


ceramics, it is a cradle of art and culture. Also unmissable are its main central place and towering belfry. It is also the birthplace of Charles de Gaulle – you can visit the iconic former president's childhood home. The area has no shortage of picturesque gems like the


towns of Arras (featuring another extraordinary central square), and hilltop beauty Laon in Aisne. Every last nook of the Hauts-de-France region speaks to


its history – from Amiens's impressive Gothic architecture and iconic cathedral to the numerous cemeteries and memorials paying tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the two world wars. From the Somme battlefields to the amazing Wellington Quarry in Arras, there are endless moving and informative sites to visit. Travelling en famille? There is loads to keep little ones


entertained, from Boulogne-sur-Mer's superb Nausicaá aquarium to a year-round programme of carnivals and festivals, including a wide array of 'Géant' parades featuring oversized papier-mâché local legends… ■


FURTHER INFORMATION


Hauts-de-France tourist board • www.french-weekendbreaks.co.uk


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