Looking for suggestions for daytrips (within 1-2 hour drive) from Lille. We will have a car and be travelling with two seven year olds in June. We prefer places off the tour bus path and enjoy chateaux, cathedrals and food :-) We have been to France many times but never in this area.
Thank you in advance!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33778 posts
Lille is just 6 miles (+/-) from the Belgian border, and not very far at all from various First World War areas of great interest on both sides of the border, as well as some very nice towns on the Belgian side
Are you willing to go into Belgium, and does any of that interest you?
Are you saying within a half hour drive, or within a one to two hour drive?
Posted by
OP
Omaha, NE, US
53 posts
Yes, we are definitely interested in visiting Belgium. And we are willing to drive up to two hours one way.
Thanks!
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
2080 posts
In France the area around Lille is not so well-known for chateaux, there are some, but not or seldom open to public. In Belgium you can look for Renaissance palaces like Ooidonk south-east of Ghent and Gaasbeek west of Brussels, medieval fortifications like Gravensteen in Ghent and Beersel south of Brussels. Chateau Beloeil east of Lille, but also in Belgium. In France close to Paris, Chantilly and Pierrefonds. In Lille, Vauban´s fortification (Louis XIV period) Le Citadelle.
Cathedrals of Amiens, Beauvais and Reims in France, in Belgium: Antwerp, Ghent and nearby Lille the one of Tournai (worth to visit city btw).
Further besides Lille:
-Brussels (Grand Place), Bruges and Ypres are within easy reach of Lille.
-Arras for it´s two lovely main squares.
-Lens for Musée du Louvre and little town Le Cateau-Cambrésis for it´s Henry Matisse
Museum.
-Many WOI and WOII sites like the former V2 bases of Saint-Omer and Éperlecques, super
guns of Mimoyeques and nearby Musée du Mur de l´Atlantique .
-Le Cap Blanc Nez for stunning view over the Channel and see the White Cliffs of Dover
wheather permitting.
-Around coming 18th June, many events about the 200 year commemoration of the Battle of Waterloo, earplugs.
-Car museum of Leuze-en-Hainaut in Belgium.
-Beaches like the one of Le Touquet (Fr.) or De Haan (B).
Posted by
San Francisco
14959 posts
Hi,
I agree with the above listed suggestions. Arras is not too far south. the centre ville is worth seeing, and since you're driving, a number of British military cemeteries are located in the surrounding areas, as well as the big German WW I cemetery. At the outskirts of Arras is also the large British WW I cemetery. The city hall serves also as tourist office from which you can get all sorts of info on WW I sites.
"...but never in this area." Contrary to what you may have heard, northern France is not the coldest area in France. I am well acquainted with this area, good food, etc, historical sites aside from the wars. Arras was fought over 3 horrific times in WW I, and in 1940 as well as in 1944 for its liberation. Plaques can be seen that attest to these events, esp 1940 and '44. Beach towns like Le Touquet and Stella Plage are good for relaxing, some of them still have pill boxes left over from the war.
Posted by
Portland, OR, USA
26 posts
One place we enjoyed on the northern coast is Boulogne sur Mer. Nausicaa is an interesting aquarium right at the beach. You can check them out online. We saw a variety of school groups so they have a number of activities for children.
The town has an interesting old city up on top of the bluff where you can walk the ramparts and St. Nicholas church down on the town square with a number of places to eat. This is not usually on the tour route but my friend loves aquariums and really wanted to visit this one. Another time when we were in the town the local high school groups were having paddle boat races outside our window. So check out what is happening locally at the time.