Dunkirk: maritime culture, art and views
Accommodation in Dunkirk
Dunkirk can be explored through a range of themes: maritime history, contemporary art, views of the harbour and city, and the Carnival. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, consider which of these themes will shape your travel plans. The following places offer some useful ideas.
Maritime collections and art
At the Musée maritime et portuaire, almost 40,000 objects illustrate Dunkirk’s maritime heritage and the development of shipping, local boats and related professions. The museum also invites you on a journey through almost four centuries of maritime history. Its geographical horizon extends from Iceland to Cape Horn and along the coasts of Africa and Asia.
The LAAC offers a different focus: it preserves more than 2,500 works of art from 1945 to 1980, which are brought into dialogue with contemporary art. Every year, the museum presents exhibitions and events designed to encourage interaction between the public and art. It also has a sculpture garden that is open to everyone. Here, artworks, a recurring programme of events and the garden offer different facets of the art scene.
A former port warehouse as a centre for a sustainable city
The Halle aux Sucres is housed in a former port warehouse and serves as a centre of expertise and resources on the sustainable city. Exhibitions, workshops and conferences are held there throughout the year. During school holidays, guided group tours on various topics take place daily, including Operation Dynamo in Dunkirk. This allows you to choose between the year-round programme and a themed group tour during the holidays. If you are planning such a tour, check the dates for your chosen visit.
Viewpoints offering different perspectives
The Beffroi de Saint Eloi offers a 360-degree view over Dunkirk, the harbour and the beach. The belfry also has a carillon with 50 bells. The Phare du Risban offers views of Dunkirk’s harbour and city, as well as the Flemish plain. The perspectives therefore differ in the landscapes they take in: the beach is part of the panorama from the Beffroi, while the Phare takes in the Flemish plain.
The Phare du Risban is a cylindrical tower standing 63 metres tall. Its lantern can be reached via 276 steps, so the climb is a practical consideration when planning your visit. The ground floor houses exhibition rooms on maritime signalling in the former lighthouse keepers’ quarters. Here, the view from above is combined with an exhibition on a seafaring theme.
Carnival and getting to the Halle aux Sucres
The Dunkirk Carnival lasts three months, culminating in Mardi Gras week. If you would like to plan your stay around the Carnival, check the dates for your intended travel year before finalising your plans.
Free shuttle buses connect Dunkirk city centre and railway station with the Halle aux Sucres at MĂ´le 1. They depart every ten minutes. For your journey, it is worth checking the current timetable.
Discover more destinations: Solre-le-Château, Renescure, Hestrud, Banteux, Deûlémont, Potelle, Gravelines, Maresches.
For the regional travel overview: Nord.
