Things to do in Nord-Pas de-Calais

There are plenty of fascinating places and attractions to visit in this part of France, handy for a day trip from the UK or perfect for days out whilst on holiday in Northern France.

Here are a few of our favourite attractions and things to do in Nord pas de Calais.

Vimy War Memorial.  This area of France has many memorials to the Great War.  Our favourite to visit is the Vimy Memorial.  It can be found about 10 kilometres north of Arras.  There is a new visitor centre on the site that opened in 2017.  You can also have guided tours of the tunnels and trenches around the 117 hectare site that is dominated by the memorial.  The memorial has the name of each of the 11,285 Canadian soldiers that lost their lives in the battle.  The memorial is open 360 days from 9am – 5pm.  So when you are searching for things to do in Nord-Pas de-Calais a visit to Vimy War Memorial is a must do.

Website : Vimy Ridge. 

Centre historique minier – Musee de la Mine, Coal Miners Museum. This huge museum is south of Douai at a small town called Leward.  It is the site of a former Coal mine and has many interactive attractions that will inform the whole family about the industry.  We really enjoyed the guided tour that was led by a former miner.  Another well created surprise for Things to do in Nord-Pas de-Calais

Website: Coal Mine museum. 

Mareis, Sea Fishing Discovery Centre – Le Touquet.  Located near the classic resort of Le Touquet at Etaples.  This may sound dull but the french really know how to do Aquariums.  The great thing about this one is the educational part, how the fish get from the sea to the plate.  The tanks are enormous and the great multilingual tour guides are their to ensure you have a great experience.

Website: Sea Fishing Discovery Centre.

Les Phoques de la Baie d’Authie – The Seals of Authie Bay.  We always love a great free day out to save the euros for ice cream and crepes and this is one of those.  The bay is situated south of Le Touquet at Berck.  Visit the Office de Tourime and pick up a local map first and then go search for the wild seals and Sea Lions that can be found along the coastal path.  Great day out for all nature lovers.  Not strictly a Thing to do in Nord-Pas de-Calais as it sits within Picardy.

Website: The Seals of Authie Bay.

Cite de la dentelle et de la mode de Calais – Lace and Fashion Museum.  Not many English tourists find themselves staying in Calais as it is to close to home.  If you do this is an excellent 2 hours.Established in Calais, inside an authentic nineteenth century lace factory, the Museum of Lace and Fashion is a specialist museum for the famous lace woven on looms. A museum of both fashion and industry, its vast galleries present the techniques, the lingerie and haute couture associated with this prestigious textile, as well as its most contemporary aspects. The high point of a visit to this important museum is to discover the lace weaving looms in operation, those monumental cast iron machines that produce this exceptional fabric.  I was not expecting to enjoy the exhibition but was completely enthralled. I trust that you have found some things to do in Nord-Pas de-Calais                                                                                            

Website: Lace and Fashion Museum.