Dunkirk. It’s reputation sits alongside Agincourt, Waterloo and The Charge of the Light Brigade as one of the most defining military events in British History. All have been bought to the silver screen with big budget films and Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster ‘Dunkirk’ is the latest.

Whilst Dunkirk is a name firmly entrenched in the British psyche it’s also a popular Channel port and gateway to France. Most of us are guilty of driving off the ferry straight out of town and heading south as quickly as possible. And though Dunkirk would be a difficult place to spend a fortnights holiday, there is much to see. It is easy to justify a weekend or slightly longer break in the city and especially now that more attractions have been launched on the back of the film.

I stayed at the centrally located Hotel Borel. It was here that many of the film’s stars stayed. The receptionist told me in tones of reverence that my room was occupied by Harry Styles of One Direction who made acting debut in “Dunkirk”.

Memorial sites in Dunkirk and around

But of course, Dunkirk’s biggest attraction and indeed memorial – is its beaches. It is not a huge stretch to cast your mind back almost 80 years to when those beaches had nearly 400,000 men lifted off them to be ferried to England just 25 miles away.

It’s not until you stand on the sand you realise haw vast the beaches are and how exposed those soldiers were. The Dynamo Tour, the Dunkirk evacuation was known as Operation Dynamo, is a coach trip that takes you not just to the beaches but also the British cemetery, the Zuydcoote cemetery, the port and shipwrecks that still appear at low tide.

For a very different view, take a trip in a light aircraft as part of ‘The Operation Dynamo Flying Experience’. It will take you over the beaches so you get some idea of the scale of the evacuation.

The newly refurbished Dunkirk War Museum is set in a 19^th century fortified building. It’s full of weapons, vehicles, uniforms and artefacts from the evacuation. Thewalls are hung with evocative black and white pictures explained by well written story boards. It makes for a fascinating presentation of the evacuation.

A stark and dramatic reminder of just how awful war is may be found a few miles south in the villages of Esquelbecq and Wormhoudt. Much has been written of the heroes with their little ships, but there were heroes too who held the enemy at bay from reaching the beaches. Those soldiers knew that they themselves had no escape, they would be captured or killed.

On 28 May 1940 , 100 soldiers, mostly from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment had been given orders to delay the advancing German Troops, this they did until they ran out of ammunition when they were forced to surrender. In what has become known as The Wormhoudt Massacre, they were herded into a barn and were killed by grenades being thrown in. Those that survived were shot. Only two survived. 80 trees have been planted as a memorial to their sacrifice and whilst not a tourist attraction, it is something that everyone should visit if only to remind themselves of the horror and senselessness of war.

You can also visit the Fort des Dunes, a 19th century fort that still bears the scars of 1940. It is of information and exhibits of the Battle of Dunkirk.

Dunkirk’s gastronomy

Don’t miss dinner or lunch aboard the paddle steamer Princess Elizabeth in Dunkirk. She was built in Southampton in 1927 and took part in the evacuation as well as in the in film. Now fully refurbished this battlefield boat has opened as a restaurant and you’ll find her moored alongside the L’Estacade Quay in the centre of the city. The menu celebrating the evacuation has been designed by well-known Michelin star chef Christophe Hagnerelle of the Val d’Auge in nearby Bondues.

Dunkirk has a surprising number of good restaurants. Local specialities like crab gratinee and a bouillabaisse of local fish are to be relished in Le Bistrot de la Plage. Washed down with a glass of pastis overlooking the beaches, it’s a fabulous foodie experience.

Being this close to Belgium, beer is a very popular drink and the Thirez Brewery is good for an informative tour and to enjoy a tasting or two.

Visit the morning market (Wednesday, Tuesdays and Sunday mornings) which is full of colour and smells that you only get in French markets. Pop into charcuteries, cake and chocolate shops for special French treats to take home,

Dunkirk – make sure that if you go there you stay a day or two, don’t just dash through it, it’s well worth it.

DFDS ferries operate daily crossing between Dover and Dunkirk (as well as Dover and Calais which is approximately 20 minutes’ drive).
Dunkirk Tourism
Peter Jones is a photographer and freelance writer 

The post What to see and do in Dunkirk in northern France appeared first on The Good Life France.

The town of Guines is a sleepy village these days that lies in the glorious countryside of Pas de Calais close to the Opal Coast, but it in its past life it has seen much action, drama and excitement. The Romans were here in 5 AD and not much more is known about it until, in 928 AD the Vikings arrived…

A fabulous outing for the family, fun any time but particularly good for rainy day trips to Calais. A viking tower that’s now the local landmark clock tower, a museum where you sail in a Viking ship and dress up like a French Queen, King or Knight and where you can shake hands with a giant!

From a Watch Tower to a Clock Tower

The Vikings settled in Guines and set about creating a large hill for a watch tower. Incredibly it is still there, the hill that is, the watch tower which would have been made of wood, has long gone. In its place on top of this more than 1000 year old man made hill is a clock tower built in 1763. This is the famous local landmark that gives its name to the museum that is attached, the Tour d’Horloge.

The Field of the Cloth of Gold

More than half a millennium later, Guines once more attracted some rather famous visitors. It is here that Henry VIII of England met with Francois I of France.

In June 1520, the two Kings partied, played sports and tried to outdo each other in ostentatious displays of wealth. The encounter became known as the Field of the Cloth of Gold thanks to the immense show of bling including gold cloth tents.

Guines Museum

This museum is a little different from many museums. It’s a place to touch, feel and get close to the past.  You will discover history, from the Viking invasions until the encounter of the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520 between Henry VIII and François 1st.

There is much for all the family to enjoy but one of the highlights includes a film about the Viking invasion and a romance between the Viking leader Sigfrid and the daughter of a local French lord. An endearing little film that no one wanted to come to an end! Even better, you watch it from inside a Viking ship which sways from side to side and up and down to the sound of oars dipping in the “water”. Very clever, very entertaining.

You’re encouraged to smell, touch and play, there are several dressing up boxes and a full on costume room that includes chain mail (Dads only – it’s so heavy!), Renaissance style ball gowns and foam helmets and swords for little ones. There are interactive displays and workshops, a medieval games room, sword cabinet and an exhibition of medieval food and wine such as Hypocras, a medieval spiced wine you can buy locally! I discovered that Francis I had a weakness for jam, and chefs in those days weren’t half bad sometimes with dishes like platter of beef ribs with oregano and blueberry and ginger sauce.

Don’t forget to visit the famous Clock Tower on its hill which you access from the museum, enjoy the views over the local landscape and allow about 1.5 -2 hours for a visit to la Tour de l’Horloge Museum.

This is a great family museum that tells the local history in a fun and entertaining way and I defy you to resist dressing up – whatever your age!

Tours are available in French and English. Schools need to book in advance.

www.tour-horloge-guines.com

How to get there: Approx 15 minutes from Calais. P&O Ferries offers a choice of 23 sailings a day in each direction between Dover and Calais with a fleet of five ships including the largest ferries ever to ply the route, the 49,000 tonne Spirit of France and Spirit of Britain, built at a cost of £150 million each. The crossing takes 90 minutes.

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In Offin, in the Seven Valleys, Pas de Calais tucked down one of the side streets of this tranquil little village is an extraordinary secret. There are no shops or bars and not many signs of life except on a Sunday, when the auberge of a local vegetable grower opens for lunch…

Offin is about an hour from  Calais port, it nestles in the valleys of a green and lush part of rural northern France whose earth is rich and nourishing.

It is, says Francois Delepierre, a local artisan producer, just about perfect soil for nurturing and feeding the heirloom vegetables he grows organically year round on his little farm. Drive down the somewhat misleadingly named Grande Rue where the farm is located and if you blink, you’ll miss the sign for Aux Legumes d’Antan. And that would be a great loss for you because this little place is a treasure trove of fabulous vegetables and fruit from days gone by (d’antan in French), sold in the ancient shed that serves as a shop.

The best day to visit is certainly a Sunday as that is the day that Francois and his mother open up their little auberge and serve a traditional, authentic French country Sunday lunch. Using produce from their farm they have become one of the most sought out little eateries in the area by both locals and visiting tourists.

Tour the few acres at the back of the restaurant and you will discover an amazing array of vegetables which reflect eight years of hard work by horticulturist Francois. At first when I saw it I thought it was a little overgrown and ever so slightly messy. But I looked closer and found that in fact everything here is in harmony, sure the weeds are high but they are beneficial to the plants and wildlife and that is precisely what Francois wants. It is 100% organic and 100% wildlife friendly.

Somehow, despite the often wet weather of this part of northern France (nicknamed “The French North Pole” by southern neighbours), Francois manages to grow thousands of different types of fruit and veg.  What is more he does it all with only the help of his mother Dominique who is just as passionate as he is about this little farm.

Francois explains that he spends several hours a day tending to the gardens as well as having a stall at seven local markets, making jams, soups, chutneys and other fabulous products to sell. He also helps in the restaurant kitchen and runs workshops on a variety of themes at the farm.  I ask him when he sleeps and he smiles and says “not very often, usually I go to bed about midnight but I’m up at around 4 in the morning to start again”.

Like all great artisans, for Francois it’s all about heritage and passion for the produce. As we wander round the garden he stoops to pick carrots – purple, white, yellow. He cuts vegetables straight from the stalk and offers them up to be admired, seven varieties of aubergine, beans that make your eyes spin “these are sweet, these have a strong flavour, perfect for soups”. Francois knows the history, the tastes and the uses for all of the vegetables and loves to share the knowledge.

In the herb garden I’m astonished when Francois gives me a “menthe chocolat” stem to sniff and taste. It is amazing, it absolutely is chocolate and mint, and then he offers me pear and apple mint and shows me the aromatic tunnel, 120 different herbs and I’m hooked. I look at his mother Dominique and make a mental note to eat more veg, she looks so young and also survives on four hours a night and confides “it’s the vegetables”. As we walk around Dominique and Francois fill a wheelbarrow with fresh veg which is at it most perfect point of picking, ready to take to the kitchen to prepare for the Sunday lunch. I ask them if they can squeeze me in. “Not this week” says Francois “Every chair is filled” and I make a note to book to for the next week; if you want to join the foodies who are beating a track to this place, book in advance (details are on the website below).

In the auberge is a big fireplace and a piano, it feels like you’re in the front room of the house I say to Francois.  “You are” he agrees“ you are chez nous, comme en famille; you will feel at home, like a friend”. The menu varies according to the season and you will be served an aperitif, starter, main course and desert plus Dominique’s famous home made bread, cooked in her hundred year old wood oven. You will be assured of the most truly organic and cherished food, produced locally in a most convivial atmosphere in the heart of real France.

The farm shop is open during the afternoons at weekends. Find out more on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/leslegumesdantan

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World Kite Championships, Berck-sur-Mer, France 2014

Every spring, Berck-sur-Mer on the Opal Coast of France hosts an international Kite Festival on its sandy beach. Every even numbered year – the festival hosts the World Kite Championships and teams of professional kite flyers from around the world arrive in the pretty seaside resort to pit their skills against each other.

Normally a sleepy and traditional seaside town, famous for its clear sea air, during the ten days of the annual kite festival up to 600,000 visitors arrive to be wowed by the sight of thousands of kites on the beach. There is also the contest of kite flying skill performed by the best in the world – they practice on the beach before the afternoon contest in an arena – it’s all free to watch.

The location is perfect – a windy beach, flat golden sand, plenty of little brasseries and cafés for sustenance – as well as lots of stalls selling street food . On a warm sunny day when the kites hang in an azure blue sky – it is a magical day out.

See the Berck-sur-Mer Kite Festival in pictures

Read our interview with a Kite flying Champion who says that the Berck-sur-Mer event is the “best in the world”

Video of the Berck-sur-Mer Kite Festival:

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Where I live in the Nord-Pas de Calais region, we’re totally spoiled for choice when it comes to Christmas markets. I can’t really claim to be a Christmassy person; I’ve always found it a bit commercial though I do love a Christmas Party!

Being in the north of France though has changed me. It definitely isn’t commercial like it was in London where the shops started to promote before we were barely out of September. Here Christmas starts to raise an eyebrow at the end of November and really gets going around mid December.

We have a choice of small, medium or big Marchés de Noel. We have lots of strange customs (Christmas Eve dinner which starts at 10.00 pm and goes on for hours), some weird and wonderful festivals (Licques Turkey Festival which I go to every year) and we have Lille!

I’m a big fan of Lille which is in the Nord. I love the old town with its magnificent architecture, culture (so many museums), fabulous restaurants and bars, chocolate shops, boulangeries, little cobbled streets, tango classes under the stars in an ancient courtyard and hidden squares. Also, there are shops – lots of them, in fact almost 4000.

At Christmas Lille dons its festive finery and puts on a Christmas market, lights up the Grand Place, turns on the big wheel and really goes for it.

I went to the Lille Christmas market with my friends Annette and Kay for a day trip. We hopped on a train from our local “big” town and got off in the middle of the city with just a few minutes’ walk to the Grand Place (Eurostar Gare de Lille and the local Lille Flandres train station are next to each other).

I should have picked up a map from the tourist office in Place Rihour but we decided to wander instead. Good and bad. Bad in that I got us lost constantly, good in that we discovered loads of little shops, streets and sights that we might not have seen had we kept to our agenda. Yes, we did have an agenda – Galleries Lafayette, Printemps, Meert the chocolate shop, oysters and smoked salmon at  l’Huitrière in rue des Chat Bossus (which translates as the road of the hunchback cats!), mussels and chips, the Christmas market… a whole long list! You don’t have to spend a fortune to have fun here though – we all love to window shop and there is a great choice of restaurants and bars for all budgets.

The Big Wheel was… big! All of us chickened out of going on it but I did love seeing it, so colourful and with an enormous funky glitter ball – with it’s backdrop of ancient buildings it looked glorious. I was disappointed not to be able to see the view over the town from the top but… too high for me!

We wandered around all day stopping off for hot chocolate or a glass of wine or something to eat. Into the old stock exchange building on the Grand Place where there is a beautiful second hand book market, into the swanky department stores to drool over the designer gear (not literally you understand!), looking in shop windows in the little streets around and dreaming of wearing some of the fabulous clothes on display. We ended with a visit to the Christmas market with its lovely smells of spiced cookies and mulled wine, it isn’t a huge Christmas market but it is pretty and has everything you need from Santons to Bretzels. The last stop was at Meert, one of the oldest chocolate shops in France (established 1761).

We left it to last because we wanted to take home some cakes and chocolate and had been worried about them getting mushed up if we carried them around all day.

The shop is in two parts – one side is dedicated to sweets and chocolate and looks like it should be in a dream film set, and the cake shop which is just beautiful. There’s also a restaurant which is very pretty but was full when we went – I’ll be back…

I bought some delicate little macarons – pistachio, lemon and coconut flavours; a gorgeous lemon meringue tart and a chocolate and millefeuille creation that looked like it had been made by Harry Potter – it was so special.

The woman in the shop boxed and wrapped them beautifully, tied them with a purple ribbon and gave them to me in a bag to keep the rain off.

We walked back to the station to get the train home. We were sitting there chatting away on a packed train when Annette said “have you got that box up the right way?”

I looked down and saw that I’d somehow managed to upturn the beautiful silver box with its immaculately tied bow. I turned it up the right way, opened it up and… all the cakes were squashed together. By now everyone on the train had turned to look, some people attempted to look sad for me but in the end we had to laugh – my oh la la day in Lille had a ho ho la la ending…

And yes, if you’re wondering… we did still manage to eat and enjoy the cakes – they were divine!

Details: Lille Tourist Office

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The 101^st Tour de France will commence in Britain 5th July 2014 where the first three stages will take place before the riders and their caravans move to France.

What more fitting place to start this iconic race after its auspicious British first stages than the lovely seaside resort of Le Touquet Paris-Plage on the Opal Coast of northern France – a town that celebrates its British heritage.

The Tour de France will arrive on the evening of July 7^th in Le Touquet, a smart seaside town which was created by British entrepreneurs and granted township just one year before the very first Tour de France took place in 1903.

British and international celebrities and royalty played, partied and partook in sports here in the early 20th Century, after it became an international centre for the introduction of superb sports, hotel and holiday facilities. It remains much loved by British visitors for its chic and genteel ambience, its shops, bars, restaurants and of course – the excellent sports facilities.

Le Touquet- Paris -Plage “Paradise for Sports”

Le Touquet has been attracting sportsmen and women for a century, drawn to its exceptional natural beauty, dunes, golden sandy beaches and surrounded by glorious countryside and the largest pine forest north of Paris. Sand-yachting was created here by resident Louis Bleriot, the first man to cross the English Channel by plane and Queen Elizabeth II came here as a teenager to learn how to sand-yacht! The tennis courts in the town are fabulous, the 4th largest complex in France and home to two major tournaments each year. Le Touquet is also the location for the race known as “Enduropale” – one of the biggest motorbike events in the world and the biggest sporting event open to the public in France – after the Tour de France.

Le Touquet has water sports, horse riding, sailing, yachting, tennis, aviation, golf courses that are among the best in Europe and 20 km of bike lanes and landscaped paths. The sporting prowess of this chic seaside town earned it the nickname “Paradise for sports” from none other than Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the International Olympic Committee, a onetime director of sports in Le Touquet (1903-1905).

How to get to Le Touquet

If you want to see the Tour de France 2014 start in France at Le Touquet it’s easy to get to from the UK:

P&O Ferries crossings throughout the day and night – 1 hour 30 minute journey time.

DFDS crossings Dover/Calais (one hour 30 minutes) and DFDS Dover/Dunkirk (2 hours crossing time and 20 mins drive to Calais). And, a great Club Lounge for a journey in style

By car to Le Touquet from Calais is approximately 40 minutes’ drive; train from Calais station to Etaples and taxi to Le Touquet.
Eurotunnel to Calais 35 minutes and approximately 30 minutes by motorway to Le Touquet.
By Air from Lydd Airport to Le Touquet Airport.
By Eurostar London to Calais Frethun and take a train from Calais station to Etaples and from there a taxi to Le Touquet.

Accommodation in Le Touquet

Le Touquet tourist office website offers lots of accommodation ideas and can help you book hotels, chambres d’hotes and search for somewhere to stay close by. There is an excellent mobile home/caravan park in the town but no camping accommodation in Le Touquet. Our tip is to not leave it too late to book if you want to be close to the action.

Accommodation can also be booked in towns close by eg Berck-sur-Mer, Hardelot, Etaples, Attin, Montreuil-sur-Mer and many other lovely little towns.

Read more about Le Touquet:

The Royal Picardy Hotel, Le Touquet – the world’s biggest and most luxurious hotel

Weekend in Le Touquet

Shopping in Le Touquet

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Culture vultures who visit the Opal Coast area of France will be delighted to find that this area offers a wealth of art and culture to keep even the most serious of art lovers happy.

Opal Coast Girls week from 26 October to 3 November sees the local tourist agencies promoting the area to ladies, their partners, friends and kids with great exhibitions amongst much else.

This is an area which through the centuries has attracted artists to try to capture the beautiful quality of light that gives the area the name Opal Coast – a translucent bluish tinge which makes the coast and surrounding areas look particularly clear and fresh.  JMW Turner loved to paint the local scenery and people and there was even an international art colony at Etaples made up of some 200 artists.

Top Opal Coast museums and cultural visits

A must-see is the Calais Lace Museum, the Cité Internationale de la Dentelle et de la Mode de Calais. This amazing museum is housed in a 19^th Century lace factory but inside is state of the art chic – redesigned by the same architects who created Jean-Paul Gaultier’s headquarters. This fabulous centre is dedicated to lace making with a huge collection of garments spread over 2,500 m² covering the history of lacemaking, techniques and fashion design with works by well-known designers such as Givenchy and Chanel to demonstrate the use of lace in high fashion. There is a library for research, lectures and workshops and a 3D booth that takes your measurements and allows you to create your own personal avatar. The appeal of this museum is for everyone – not just the ladies. Clients of Calais lace include Valentino, Jean Paul Gaultier, Lacroix and Calvin Klein. Take home a souvenir from the shop or pop into the town to find two excellent lace shops: Noyon Boutique Dentelle and Royal Dentelle.

The Chateau at Hardelot is not your average French chateau – it was built by an Englishman over a century ago on the site of a medieval castle and is now home to exhibitions dedicated to entente cordial, a unique institution in France which promotes and celebrates the close ties between France and the UK. The lovely tea room with its piano recitals is well worth a stop-off.

In nearby Le Touquet, British Week coincides with Opal Coast Girls Week, it too celebrates its links with the UK in a series of daily festivities – a concert by Jane Birkin, a picnic on the race course, polo matches on the beach and pony riding for the kids and much more.

The Château Musee de Boulogne-Sur-Mer – Boulogne Castle museum is home to an eclectic set of art and objects from a disparate group of cultures from around the world. The collections are housed in a medieval castle that was built on the remains of Roman walls. Find your way to the museum through the Old Town of Boulogne and enjoy the views from the ramparts and the amazing historic buildings. Be sure to visit the Basilica de Notre Dame, this ancient church is simply stunning and full of unusual artefacts including a bronze hand which is said to have worked miracles.

In Montreuil-sur-Mer wander in the footsteps of Victor Hugo who fell under the spell of its picturesque ramparts and old citadel, its steep cobble stoned streets and its fabulous old buildings. It’s hardly changed since the great writer was there – pop into the tourist office to pick up an audio-guide from the tourist office and out for yourself what a wealth of history this town has to share.

A large part of the Musée des Beaux-Arts Calais is dedicated to Auguste Rodin who created the iconic Six Burghers of Calais statue which you can see in front of the town’s Art Deco Town Hall next to the UNESCO label Belfry. The great artist’s sketches, moulds and models are to be found in a unique collection.

This year sees Dunkirk take the title of regional capital of culture and the town is certainly pulling out all the stops to live up to this prestigious award. With a dozen or so museums to its name you certainly won’t lack for things to see and do. We like the Musée des Beaux-Arts which has a rich collection of old masters from the 18th century and over 4000 objects from continents worldwide. Modern art lovers will enjoy Dunkirk’s FRAC Contemporary Art Collection. The town’s Port Museum is dedicated to the maritime history of the area and floating outside, a number of boats of various ages which can be explored. Close by is the “Liar’s Tower” an ancient faux lighthouse which was said to lure boats to their doom on the dangerous Dunkirk sand banks – to the gain of the local people!

Gravelines near Dunkirk is home to France’s only dedicated Print Museum, located in the historic and off the beaten track coastal town of Gravelines where kids will love the Lifeboat museum where they can climb aboard and look out to sea!

Musée Municipal, Berck – Housed in the town’s picturesque old Gendarmerie built at the end of the 19th century you’ll find several well-known artists whose work is displayed including the wonderful Francis Tattegrain.

This is just a small taste of the fabulous culture of the Opal Coast but remember, not far by car or by train is the Louvre in Lens, the fabulous new wing of the Paris Louvre and in Lille several important museums and galleries as well as the Matisse Museum in Cambrai, the town where the artist was born and which he chose himself to house his collection.

Find out more about art and culture in the region of Nord-Pas de Calais:

Opal Coast Girls Facebook page with lots of details for Opal Coast Girls Week and download the voucher to take advantage of some great special offers and discounts

Pas-de-Calais Tourist Office Website

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The Opal Coast of Northern France is one of those special off the beaten tracks parts of France that people who experience it don’t want anyone else to know about – it’s literally just across the English Channel on the doorstep of the UK. We’re always being asked “where to eat near Calais” well, the Opal Coast offers a huge range of places to eat out – gourmet fine dining, traditional brasseries, fabulous fish restaurants – it’s all here.

You’ll discover cobblestoned roads in medieval villages, ancient towns, wonderful seaside resorts with miles of golden sand, glorious rolling countryside and lush green forests, fabulous patisseries, charcuteries, boulangeries. There is a street market every day of the week and lovely restaurants serving a warm welcome along with authentic French cuisine.

From October 26 to November 3, 2013 the local tourist offices and their partners are laying on special events to tempt you to come and find the Opal Coast for yourself in their annual Opal Coast Girls week. Great offers, discounts, deals and events like British Week in Le Touquet are being laid on all around the Opal Coast area aimed at ladies, their partners, friends and kids (it is half term after all!).

Take the D940 Coastal road from Calais and discover wide beaches, dramatic cliffs, forests and stunning dunes. Peppering the route are wonderfully authentic little fishing villages, quaint towns which seem hardly changed by modern day life, where artisans ply their wares from locally caught fish to locally made cheese, bread and even chocolate. The bigger towns like Boulogne-sur-Mer, Calais and Dunkirk are vibrant and dynamic, full of art and culture, great shops selling locally made artisan products and fabulous restaurants – with a nod to history that adds charm and character.

The French are passionate about good food and you will be spoiled for choice in this delicious little area of France where the food scene is an integral way of life:

Le Touquet – This smart seaside town beloved by Parisians is great for foodies. Choose from the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Pavillon at The Westminster Hotel, in the running for an award for Best Restaurant in a Hotel in Europe, to dozens of great restaurants, bars and brasseries.  If the weather is nice try the restaurant at the Yacht Marina with its stunning views over the estuary and its sleepy seals resting peacefully when the tide goes out.

Etaples – is a traditional fishing town and home to the marvellous Aux Pêcheurs d’Etaples, a fabulous fish restaurant run by a consortium of local fishermen, wonderfully atmospheric, the freshest and most delicious fish possible and afterwards you can pick up some fish to take home from the fish market below.

Boulogne-sur-Mer – France’s largest fishing port and naturally full of superb seafood restaurants like the Michelin starred La Matelote opposite the Nausicaa National Sea Centre of France which is where you’ll also find a great restaurant run by the same chef!  Wander the ramparts of the old town of Boulogne and the lovely rue de Lille, lined with restaurants and one of the oldest bars we know, Charles Dickens called this town his “favourite watering hole in all of France”. Visit Philippe Olivier’s famous cheese shop and try a chunk of Vieux Boulogne – officially the smelliest cheese in the world according to the boffins at Oxford University! If that doesn’t take your fancy – don’t worry, you’ll find about 300 cheeses on offer!

Berck-sur-Mer is a traditional bucket and spade type French resort with fabulous wide beaches which are perfect for flying a kite and building up an appetite.

Hardelot – a wonderful and charming seaside resort with its own English built chateau where entente cordiale is celebrated in style, we like the friendly service and atmosphere and very French menu at La Terasse in the town square.

Montreuil-sur-Mer – the town which inspired Victor Hugo to write Les Misérables has two Michelin-starred restaurants, a soup bar in a converted peasant cottage, fine dining, authentic cuisine and a huge choice of terrific places to eat and enjoy the ambience in this medieval hill top town. Afterwards walk off the meal with a wander around the ramparts which overlooks the surrounding countryside of the gorgeous Seven Valleys.  On the last Sunday each October take part in the authentic Soup and Bread Festival!

Wimereux – the charming harbour in this lovely town of Belle Epoque style villas and Victorian beach huts is full of simple Gallic charm and a wonderful place to take in the fresh sea air and the magnificent views. Enjoy a delicious lunch at La Liégeoise restaurant in the Atlantic Hotel with sea views and a menu that is guaranteed to wow you.

Wissant – fresh fish straight from the sea make this is a seafood paradise, restaurants like La Chaloupe serve traditional moules et frites (mussels and chips), oysters and lobsters all dished up with aplomb and friendliness, making you feel at home and relaxed.

Calais – with its museums and gourmet specialist shops also offers a great array of restaurants. Check out Restaurant-Le Channel which has a seasonal menu and offers a fine dining experience of a three course meal for less than £20 – its unbeatable value and exquisite food.

Dunkerque – this old northern French town has a lovely harbour area, museums and a range of excellent restaurants. We recommend you wander along the sea front at Malo les Bains for a huge choice of restaurants and bars.

The Opal Coast – intoxicating and authentic – come and see for yourself!

Opal Coast Girls Facebook page – download the voucher for some great deals and special offers on the Opal Coast

Pas-de-Calais Tourist Website

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The Opal Coast in Nord-Pas de Calais is a hidden gem, one of those places that not that many people know about and yet, just a quick Channel crossing brings you right to one of the great shopping centres in northern France.

Shopping Calais

Minutes from Calais port and right next door to Eurotunnel you’ll discover Cité Europe – a huge shopping mall stuffed full of French shops selling everything from the latest fashions, wines, beers, household goods and gifts, a huge hypermarket and lots more.

If that’s not enough, Channel Outlet Store next door is the place to go for top quality French and International goods at discount prices.

Shopping Opal Coast

However if something a bit different and unique is your bag then try some of the independent and smaller outlets that you’ll find peppering every town on the Opal Coast.

We love Montreuil-sur-Mer for its proliferation of artisan shops full of wonderful, unique arts and crafts items, boutiques selling unique clothes and quirky accessories, artisan designed jewellery and lovely chocolate shops.

Boulogne-sur-Mer has some fabulous places to shop, amazing art shops where you can buy such delights as lilac scented ink – who could resist that?!

Le Touquet is full of top brand shops with goods from Yves Saint Laurent, Donna Karan, Chanel and many more.  There are also lots of specialist shops where you can pick up something very French – china, chocolate and cheese for instance.

We all know that France is THE place to go to buy wine, beer and spirits at great value prices for parties and weddings but did you know that you could also pick up a wedding dress here on the Opal Coast, a Paris wedding dress no less, for a fraction of the price you’ll pay back in the UK? There are wedding dress shops in the main towns Dunkirk, Boulogne, Montreuil-sur-Mer and Calais and they all offer an excellent choice, friendly service and great value.

You’ll find that there are wonderful lingerie shops throughout the area which sell the most amazing lacy underwear at a far lower price than you’d pay in the UK – and if you’re with your partner a little nudge might be just the thing!

Beauty products too are something to stock up on when you’re in France, cheaper than in the UK and with a great choice from beauty stores, pharmacies, herbal stores and specialist shops staffed with experts who can give you advice.

What if you’d like something old to take home – a piece of unique vintage or pre-loved fabulous French bric-a-brac? Well the Opal Coast is a great place to rummage for a bargain – from second hand shops, auction houses, antique shops, Emmaus charity shops (they always have an amazing range of traditional French furniture in store at Boulogne, Calais and Dunkirk) and of course the famous brocantes, the flea markets where you’re bound to find something to re-love and treasure.

One of the great things about shopping at the Opal Coast is the fact that you can combine a trip to the shops with a visit to a street market – every day of the week! Traditional, colourful, authentic, bustling and lively markets. Buy some artisan cheese, dairy products, wonderful organic ham, honey, jams, sweets, cakes, biscuits and seasonal and locally grown vegetables. If the weather is nice pick up a spit roasted chicken and a baguette and enjoy an impromptu picnic along the Opal Coast road or on one of the beaches – there’s 80 miles of coastline so you will be spoiled for choice.

Pas-de-Calais Tourist Office website 
Details for street markets in Pas de Calais

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The Opal Coast of Pas de Calais, northern France is the perfect place to take the family. A coastline that takes in golden sandy beaches with lots of activities, cliff top views across the Channel, Jurassic looking rock pools, castles, museums, farms and more – you’ll discover a secret part of France that will have the whole family enthralled…

If you’ve been wondering what to do for a day, a few days or the whole week why not take a look at nipping across the Channel and having an authentic and fun French break with the family!

There’s plenty for the grown-ups to do here and loads to keep the kids happy and busy plus its a great opportunity for everyone to practice their French language skills.

Of course with 80 miles of beaches, it’s the perfect place to build a sandcastle or fly a kite, investigate rock pools and discover the history of the area. The Opal Coast is where Julius Caesar launched his invasion of Britain; Napoleon later contemplated the exact same thing and for those with a head for heights, you can climb the  Column of the Grande Armée and stand next to the French Emperor’s statue and take in amazing views over the from 50m up in the air. There are lots of museums and memorials to the First and Second World Wars, chateaux, forts and historic buildings galore for kids to explore and discover history first hand.

Beach activities are plentiful – sand-yachting at Le Touquet where the sport began (Queen Elizabeth II took lessons here as a teenager), boat rides (Boulogne, Wimereux, Dunkirk) fishing expeditions (look out for the seals basking along the coast!), how about horse and pony riding along the sand or through the dunes or seaside forests (Le Touquet and Hardelot).

There are goat farms, ostrich farms and petting farms to visit, nature reserves and beautiful bays where you can see seals dozing and watch the sea birds swooping around noisily.

If the weather is cool or wet, one of the top attractions in the area is Nausicaa at Boulogne-sur-Mer, the national sea centre of France and the biggest aquarium in Europe. There’s a covered and seated sea lion show, meet the penguins in their Cousteau-designed enclosure and take a back stage tour with the keepers. You’ll see thousands of fish including turtles, a giant octupus and jellyfish, sharks, giant tortoises, caimans and a great touch pool where the kids can stroke a ray – it is the perfect way to spend a morning or an afternoon.

The Calais Lace Museum is great for the whole family and tells the history of the area’s lace industry with lots of working looms and fabric and clothes collections – in fact there are a dozen or more museums in the area like Dunkirk’s Port Museum (where you can climb aboard an old boat), Etaples Fishing museum,  Fine Arts museums in Calais and Dunkirk and several more among the Opal Coast towns.

A visit to a chateau in the area is a must – you’ll find them dotted about all over the place in this part of France. Along the Opal Coast you’ll find Hardelot Chateau – a centre of entente cordial that celebrates its British neighbours with lots of exhibitions – it’s got a lovely team room too! Visit the impressive and dark 17^th Century fort at Ambleteuse near Wissant which was used by Napoleon. The ancient castle at Montreuil-sur-Mer is great for kids to run about and explore the tunnels and ramparts. Boulogne-sur-Mer’s castle, built on Roman ruins, is now a museum and the views from the ramparts will impress the whole family.

More on the Opal Coast and Nord-Pas de Calais

Pas-de-Calais Tourist office website.

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