South of Maubeuge there extends an undulating landscape of bocages, alternating prairies, ponds and orchards. The Helpe-Majeure and Helpe-Mineure Rivers wind their way through the meadows, irrigating the slate-roofed villages. The abbeys of Maroilles..

This former spinning mill has an interesting collection of functioning looms from the 19C to the present day, as well as other period machinery. Beyond a room devoted to the tragedy of 1 May 1891, when gendarmes fired upon striking workers, the great..

This imposing cathedral is one of the foremost large Gothic churches in France. Building work commenced on the choir in 1145 and ended with the construction of the façade in 1235. The interior is remarkable for the harmonious proportions of the cho..

For a long time, the Chaalis estate retained a sense of monastic contemplation tinged with romanticism thanks to its royal abbey. Up until 1912, it inspired an enthusiasm in its owners that led to their acquisition of a quite remarkable art collectio..

The buildings of the Boulart factory - which housed 80 tulle and lace looms until the beginning of the 20C - have been extended by an astonishing steel and glass structure, designed by the architects Moatti and Rivière, where you will see screen prin..

The little sister of the Authie River, the Canche is a slow-flowing river whose waters run into a marsh. In this untamed setting, the green valley broadens out into gentle slopes scattered with elongated houses with whitewashed walls. Between Touqu..

In the Paris Wing of the Palais de Chaillot, this centre for architecture and heritage brings together three departments: the Institut Français d'Architecture, created in 1981, the Centre des Hautes Etudes de Chaillot and the Museum of French Monume..

Begun in the second half of the 12C and finished around 1230, this is one of the oldest Gothic cathedrals in France. The facade is one of the most beautiful (its towers demonstrate the pride of the presumed Architect Villard de Honnecourt), while the..

Two dramatic clock towers, extremely elegant and with a lovely 13C facade, are all that remain: the church was demolished in 1805 to restore the cathedral! Happily the abbey buildings are still standing: a beautiful refectory with seven fine columns ..

The purity of its lines and the simplicity of its design make this one of the most beautiful examples of Gothic art. Inside, the cathedral is totally symmetrical, and no extraneous detail breaks the harmony of this vast vault; the south arm of the tr..

Visitors can take a boat trip around the Port-Est (east port) from the bassin du Commerce, taking in the tug base, workshops, locks, textile warehouses, sugar terminal, refinery and oil wharfs and the power station, etc. If you are on foot, visit the..

This was built in 1652-1653 by Julien Destrée at the request of the Lille businessmen who wanted a Stock Exchange to rival that of Holland. It's made out of 24 dormer windowed houses set out around a rectangular courtyard which acted as a centre for ..

The Delloye Colliery produced up to 1 000t of coal per day between 1930 and 1971. It now houses the Lewarde Mining Heritage Centre, the largest mining museum in France. Visitors are shown around by ex-miners, who take them down (helmets on) shaft no...

The museum has, since 1982, been housed in the 18C former palace of the archbishops of Cambrai, surrounded by a splendid park. The building reopened at the end of 2002, following three years of restoration work conducted by Laurent and Emmanuelle Bea..

In an atmosphere dotted with lots of small galleries, the museum provides numerous images of the court, of life in general and of the arts under the Second Empire. Princess Matilda (1820-1904), the Empress Eugenie are the major figures there. Drawing..

The museum was created in 1927 on the initiative of the Touring Club of France. The collection of old cars in includes especially limousines, touring versions and models. You must see - the Madeleine-Bastille omnibus, the shooting brake of the Duches..

The most noble Chantilly monument dates from 18 C. The stables built by Jean Aubert, have their most attractive facade seen from the lawn. During the time of the Grand Condé, 100 members of staff were required to look after 240 horses and 500 dogs.

Laid out by Le Nôtre for the Grand Condé, it dazzled Louis XIV. The Sun King, jealous as he was, wished to have the same water games for himself at Versailles! Even if very little remains of the work of Le Nôtre, strolling through, you will discover ..

Started in 1153, this cathedral was not opened until 1191. The changes made after the fire of 1504 have given the cathedral its present-day look. Admirable features are the spire which crests the building 78m up, the grand doorway, dedicated to the V..

This 50ha theme park, opened in 1989, is based on Asterix the Gaul and his merry band, the heroes of the famous comic created by Goscinny and Uderzo and translated into numerous languages. Ancient Gaul is widely represented, along with themed areas b..