North Calais
It is a region proud of its traditions where fairs, fêtes and festivals are so much a part of daily life. France is famous for its wonderful gastronomy and the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region is no exception with fine examples of mouthwatering regional specialities as well as numerous locally brewed beers.
A region of contrasting landscapes: forests and woods, gentle meadows and marshlands, rolling hills dotted with windmills, a varied coastline that stretches for miles and miles, wide-open spaces of unspoilt countryside that make up the Regional Natural Parks, a network of waterways for river cruising, and much, much more…
In the Middle Ages, the region was part of a feudal province known as Flanders and many here still speak Flemish. Bordering Belgium, this region displays a Flemish culture and architecture (Arras) with its canals and windmills and did not become French until 1713. During the 19th-century, the region became a leading center for commerce with coal mines, steel mills, and textile mills which have since closed down.
The region endured more destruction than any other region of France during the World Wars with hundreds of miles of land and many villages devastated. The town of Dunkerque (Dunkirk), east of Calais, was the last to be freed in 1945. The opening of the Channel Tunnel or Chunnel in 1994 has revived the region and boosted its prosperity. Tourism, particularly in Lille, has grown considerably with travel time on the Eurostar taking only two hours beteween London and Lille with connections to Brussels.
To view some Gites in the North Calais, please visit Gites in North Calais.
All the best
