Hello. From our base in Lens, we have one day to fill on a Tuesday or Wednesday in mid April 2017 and are considering a day trip to explore either Amiens or Reims, and smaller towns in the area around either of those. Seeking advice as to the better option. We'll have a car, and will have been in the Vimy/Arras area already at that point for 3 days.
Open to other suggestions too, though. Perhaps a few smaller towns along the France/Belgium border?
Thanks, Peter
Depends a lot about your interests what can be worth to drive to. Ieper (Ypres) and Doornik (Tournai) are just across the border and a bit further you can visit Ghent and Bruges / Damme.
On the way to Reims the little hill town of Laon with it’s cathedral is nice to walk around. I enjoyed my visit to Moët & Chandon one of the champagne houses in Épernay south of Reims.
Amiens ofcourse also for it’s cathedral and nearby some nice places along the Somme river. To my opinion it is worth driving further to Beauvais and charming village Gerberoy and even Lyons-la-Fôret.
Closer to Paris Chantilly with nearby Senlis and more east Pierrefonds, even the castle is a rebuild it is impressive, but a bit empty inside.
If you do decide on Reims, be sure to check out online ahead of time a champagne house or two to see which require prior reservation. You don't want to turn up with the idea you're going to go somewhere only to realize that you've missed the chance when you didn't reserve ahead (when you're obviously planning ahead!).
Reims also has the cathedral and the WWII surrender museum, both of which are very nice to visit.
Hi,
I've been to Lens, spent a couple of hours there...interesting in itself. As a day trip from Lens, I would definitely suggest Amiens, and if you ve more time, go Beauvais (between Amiens and Paris). I like Beauvais, interesting, plus no tourists at all go there. These are the towns/villages all connected with and WW2 and WW1... .Lens, Vimy, Amiens, Albert, Beauvais, (the cathedral and the military cemetery is there), Bethune, St Pol. That's a lot of driving from Amiens on the Somme to the Belgian border
More "smaller towns along/close to the Fr/Bel border:" Sedan, Cambrai, Valenciennes (sp ?), Douai, Doullens. If you are curious to explore villages/small towns in northern France plus what "they" call "Germinal country," these are certainly some of the places. I've spent days doing this as part of different trips...not only interesting, but captivating, haunting.
I would choose Reims, for its royal significance, and champagne of course. Could you make a short stop in Amiens on your way to Lens?
Thanks to all who replied. The depth and quality of information provided by contributors to this forum continues to impress.
I didn't included it in the information above, but prior to Lens/Vimy we will have been in Belgium for 10 days (Brussels, Ghent, Brugge/Damme, Ypres, Antwerp, DePanne/Knokke Heist). But thanks for suggesting some of those.
On Fred's previous suggestion we are going to stop at Albert, Peronne and Compiegne Forest on the way to CDG from our base in Lens on April 13, so we'll catch those then. We could possibly add either Chantilly or Senlis, as suggested by Wil, if there`s time (Easyjet flight leaves at 18:45).
That leaves us with deciding on 1) the Fr/Bel border towns, 2) the Amiens/Beauvais/Gerberoy route or 3) Laon/Reims/Epernay.
Choices, choices, choices!!
Thanks again.
If you do make the drive down A-26 to Reims, you will stop to see the cathedral at Laon. It dominates the skyline as you pass the city and compels your attention. You'll enjoy it, both for its beauty and for its quiet, uncrowded atmosphere. Weve occasionally found parking just across the square within a few feet of the front door. Have a great trip.
Bruce
@ Peter....good, it's a pity you don't have, say, a week going from Amiens to the Belgian border. If you see Chantilly (it's impressive), and do get to the Franco- Belgian border, see the town of Rocroi, where owner of Chantilly, le Grand Conde, inflicted a telling defeat on the Spanish in 1643, the painting of that event is in the Battle Gallerie at the Chateau Versailles. I have been there but would assume some memorial or reminder of Rocroi.
The area around Arras, Vimy, and Neuville St Vlaast is a loaded with sites on WW1....British war cemetery in the city of Arras itself, next to the former French Army caserne "La Citadelle" which is now open to the public, French and German WW1 cemeteries at Neuville St Vlaast...just grim, poignant. Going to Albert and Peronne will most likely take the entire afternoon depending how much time you devote to the museums, and if you don't get side-tracked on another war related site as I do at times.
If WW2 is of interest certainly worth to visit are the former V2 bases La Coupole and Blockhaus d’Éperlecques near Saint-Omer along the A26 west of Lens. Closer to the coast more remains of the Atlantik Wall like Mimoyecques and Musée du Mur l’Atlantique near Audinghen. With clear weather Le Cap Blanc Nez for nice views over the Channel and the White Cliffs of Dover.
Boulogne-sur-Mer has a lovely historical walled city centre, maybe a good place for dinner.
So, by playing with the schedule a bit, I've been able to free up a couple days to take advantage of some of your suggestions. On the first of those 2 days we've planned for Amiens/Beauvais/Gerberoy and on the second we've planned for Laon/Reims/Epernay (hello Moet & Chandon!!).
We'll keep the Fr/Bel border towns in our back pocket if we get "Cathedral'd" out.
The V2 and Atlantik Wall sights up in La Coupole/Blockhaus d’Éperlecques/Mimoyecques look really cool and I would love to see them, but the Missus not so much, as we will have just come through several days of WW1 experiences in Vimy and Ypres.
Thanks again for your help.
