Nord: Heritage, Routes and Regional Cuisine

The Nord department stretches for about 200 kilometres from the North Sea to the valleys of Avesnois. On this journey through varied landscapes, nature, culture and a rich historical heritage come together. The Scarpe-Escaut area brings together meadows, farmland, woodland, plateaus, valleys and plains. Which of these facets you choose to focus on can shape the character of your stay.

Exploring routes and landscapes

The department maintains 7,000 kilometres of routes for walking, cycling and horse riding. There are also 21 cycle-tourism loops. If you would rather plan your own cycling trip, the numbered Point-nœuds network offers 830 kilometres of cycle routes. These options give you different ways to plan: take a loop along a designated route or put together a route of your own.

You can also plan your trip around specific destinations. The Scarpe greenway connects Douai with Mortagne-du-Nord; the Plaine de Scarpe greenway runs from Orchies to Denain. The two routes have clearly named endpoints but follow different courses. At Mortagne-du-Nord, the Escaut and Scarpe rivers meet: you can watch barges there and walk along the towpath.

Along walking, horse-riding, cycling and mountain-biking routes, Nord has 84 Cafés Rando. They offer a chance to take a break and enjoy local cuisine. This makes it easy to plan a meal stop as part of a day out, without committing to any particular type of tour.

Forests and habitats

The PDIPR areas are considered rich in wildlife and plant life, and serve as ecological corridors for many species. Beech avenues define the character of the Flines-les-Mortagne Forest, which provides habitats for black woodpeckers, European honey buzzards and the protected royal fern. Mormal Forest is one of the largest forest areas in northern France. Those who make nature and landscapes a focus will find different aspects to explore, including forest trails, tree-lined avenues and habitats for distinctive species.

Heritage from the Forum to mining history

The Nord section of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Mining Basin is part of a living cultural landscape that extends for around 120 kilometres across the Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments. Ten cultural institutions run by the department are spread across the area. Its historical heritage, then, is not limited to a single theme.

One notable example is the Forum antique de Bavay, which is closely connected with the archaeological forum and provides additional interpretation of its remains. A new visitor route is accessible to people with reduced mobility. Interpretive stations and scenographic displays trace the site's development from the ancient forum to the fortress. The visit thus combines the archaeological remains with their historical context.

Regional cuisine and trip planning

Estaminets are traditional restaurants known for local dishes and a distinctive atmosphere. Regional specialities include carbonade flamande, endives au gratin, tarte au Maroilles and beer from the north. Another way to include regional produce in your trip plans is the 64-kilometre Flanders Cheese Route. It takes in 14 farms, markets and sales outlets between Armentières and Esquelbecq.

If you are interested in culture and history, you can make the Forum antique de Bavay or the mining cultural landscape the focus of your trip. For an active getaway, the routes, loops and cycling trails offer other ways to explore; forests and regional cuisine add to the choice. First, consider which places and experiences you would like to include. Then you can look for hotels in Nord that suit your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Bousignies-Sur-Roc, Gravelines, Bambecque, Avesnes-Sur-Helpe, Villeneuve-D'ascq, Téteghem, Auberchicourt, Feignies, Bourbourg, Faches-Thumesnil, Lambersart, Mons-En-Pévèle, Saint-Pierre-Brouck, Louvroil, Pecquencourt, Sars-Poteries, Lompret, Avesnelles, Caudry, Cousolre, Wambrechies, Prémesques, Steene, Jolimetz, Boeschepe, Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer, Saint-Amand-Les-Eaux, Roubaix, Roncq, Proville, Orchies, Neuville-En-Ferrain, Merville, Maubeuge, Marcq-En-Baroeul, Loon-Plage, Lezennes, Lesquin, Le Cateau-Cambrésis, La Madeleine, Hem, Hazebrouck, Halluin, Grande-Synthe, Ennevelin, Englos, Dunkerque, Douai, Cuincy, Cassel, Cappelle-La-Grande, Cambrai, Bondues, Bollezeele, Armentières, Armbouts-Cappel, La Creche, Naves, Ramousies, Sebourg, West-Cappel, Mouvaux, Genech, Louvignies-Quesnoy, Maresches, Bierne, Gruson, Ronchin, Petite-Forêt, Bousies, Lannoy, Landrecies, Solre-le-Château, Taisnières-en-Thiérache, Villers-Guislain, Larouillies, Grand-Fort-Philippe, Fontaine-Notre-Dame, Ferrière-la-Grande, Condé-sur-l'Escaut, Villers-au-Tertre, Éclaibes, Gondecourt, Salomé, Bas-Lieu, Haut-Lieu, Ramillies, Aulnoye-Aymeries, Looberghe, La Gorgue, Deûlémont, Steenbecque, Mortagne-du-Nord, Haulchin, Hem-Lenglet, Saméon, Annœullin, Leffrinckoucke, Sainghin-En-Mélantois, Solesmes, Oisy, Aubers, Bray-Dunes, Drincham, Crèvecœur-Sur-L'escaut, Socx, Bouvines, Coudekerque-Branche, Bergues, Potelle, Saint-Hilaire-Sur-Helpe, Artres, Le Doulieu, Liessies, Wormhout, Haverskerque, Marly, Bachy, Raismes, Vicq, Ghyvelde, Croix, Déchy, Staple, Fourmies, Ribécourt-La-Tour, Mons-En-Baroeul, Somain, Honnecourt-Sur-Escaut, Douchy-Les-Mines, Bailleul, Saint-Saulve, Coutiches, Valenciennes, Tourcoing, Seclin, Saint-Martin-Sur-Écaillon, Hordain, Crespin, Sin-Le-Noble, Marchiennes, Wignehies, Le Favril, Steenvoorde, Banteux, Méteren, Lecelles, Gommegnies, Beauvois-En-Cambrésis, Templeuve, Godewaersvelde, Pont-Sur-Sambre, Hondschoote, Watten, Wattignies, Clairfayts, Dourlers, Houplines, Prouvy, Hestrud, Saint-André-Lez-Lille, Haubourdin, Walincourt-Selvigny, Denain, Masnières, Romeries, Esquelbecq, Steenwerck, Bousbecque, Lécluse, Merris, Baives, Sains-Du-Nord, Quaëdypre, Prisches, Estreux, Wasquehal, Tilloy-Lez-Marchiennes, Sémeries, Saint-Sylvestre-Cappel, Anstaing, Amfroipret, Arleux, Renescure, Féron, Aubry, Ohain, Trelon, Eppe-Sauvage, Lille, Dimont, Erquinghem-Lys, Ferrière-La-Petite.

To the main travel overview: Nord Pas De Calais.