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Suggestions for Le Nord and/or Picardie

We are arriving in London, Heathrow, at noon on September 14 and departing also from London on October 3 at 5:00 pm. We would like to spend all of our time in France. As of this moment we plan to take the eurostar from London to Lille on September 14 and pick up a rental car in Lille. We would like to travel roughly down the "eastern" side of France to regions where we have never been, including Alsace, Burgundy, the Rhone valley and some of the alps and maybe the southern coast.

Most of the areas we want to explore are well covered by Rick's books but not the north or Picardie. After we pick up our car in Lille we would like to spend a couple of days in that area recovering from the jetlag. Any suggestions on wonderful places in the north to explore? We would especially like a couple days of scenic outdoor nature type activities, walking, hiking, or biking. Along the coast or the Sonne would be great. What would be a good base? Any b and b recommendations?

Other suggestions on our rough itinerary would also be appreciated. Thanks so much.

Cindy

Posted by
14980 posts

Hi,

I can't help with hotel recommendations in Lille since I have been there only on day trips...from Arras. Not surprising at all that the North is left out in the guide books, it is not on the American tourist radar. I've been to the north numerous times since 1995, stayed in Arras. That city is a better base than Lille since you intend to be in the Somme area as well as the coast. Some of the beach towns are relaxing such as Berk Plage, Stella Plage,

Picardie is the Somme area. A good idea to spend a few days recovering from any jet lag while exploring Lille. Then I would suggest going to Arras or Amiens to spend the night there. To the left of the train station in Arras (Holiday Inn and the Mercure) are a few hotels, 3 star at least, as well as a car rental agency. I like Amiens, the two cities both have a unique and different feel to them.

Posted by
16895 posts

Michelin Green Guides come in regional versions that could be helpful to you: http://travel.michelin.co.uk/france-95-c.asp.

Eurostar tickets are cheaper the sooner that you reserve them, but not refundable or changeable if you miss the scheduled train departure, so allow time for delays on your way to meet the train. Plan to be at St. Pancras station 45 minutes ahead for check-in (deadline 30 minutes ahead).

Posted by
797 posts

If you have access to a good library, look for Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Frommers, Michelin and Fodors guidebooks. Each has a different perspective.

Are you going to dip into the wine region of Champagne? I have a Michelin guide Wine regions of France from the library now.

Enjoy your trip.

Posted by
4088 posts

Fred's suggestions provide plenty of places connected to the two World Wars. Maybe you could pick up your rental car in Arras? That small city is easily reached from Lille by train, a little more than half an hour on the regional TER train and a few minutes more on the supposedly faster TGV. Arras has a nice cathedral, and plenty of war history. http://arras-france.com/
It's also the base for the major WW1 Canadian memorial in nearby Vimy. http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/overseas/first-world-war/france/vimy
The north is genuinely different than central France, looking and feeling more like its northern neighbours. Parts of the northeast have been German from time to time, depending on the fortunes of war.

Posted by
2087 posts

From Lille you can do daytrips best with the train to the Belgian cities like Gent (1:15h) and Brugge (1:45h). Ieper (Ypres) needs 1½h, best is to join a local tour to visit the WWI battlefields. To recommend just across the border is historic Tournai (not to confuse with Tournay).

There is also a Louvre museum you can visit in Lens, a bit halfway between Lille and Arras. In Roubaix Musee d’Art et d’Industrie André Diligent is housed in a former indoor swimming pool. If modern architecture is of interest Villa Cavrois is worth a visit, you can take the tram from Lille, there is a nearby tram stop. Some 80km south-east of Lille there is a Matisse museum in his birthplace Le Cateau-Cambrésis

If war sites are of interest you can visit as already said Vimy Ridge, but also nearby Notre-Dame de Lorette. About WWII west of Lille, near Saint-Omer La Coupole and Blockhaus d’Éperlecques, being impressive remains of the The Atlantic Wall. From Cap Blanc Nez a nice panoramic view over the Channel, weather permitting, more remains of The Wall too. South of Brussels in Belgium worth to consider is a visit to the historic battlefield of Waterloo.

On the way to Burgundy you can think about visiting Reims and Épernay, but also nearby Laon.

Posted by
14980 posts

I have been to Notre Dame de Lorette....very grim, poignant. There is also the war museum (can't remember its exact name) but located at the corner of the block, the German one is located in the village adjacent to Vimy.