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NORTH EAST FRANCE
Just 22 miles from the English mainland, the sandy beaches and rolling plains of the Pas-de-Calais are a popular choice with holiday-makers seeking both long and short-stay destinations.
Its Côte D'Opale stretches from the mouth of the Somme to Calais, taking in chic Le Touquet and Boulogne, with its attractive walled quarter. Once a lace-making centre, the busy port of Calais has a turbulent history. Today it is besieged by armies of shoppers. Neighbouring Dunkerque is famous for the wartime evacuation of troops. Inland, around lively Lille, there's a distinct Flemish feel, reflected in the local patois, cuisine and architecture. On its hilltop above the Plain of Flanders, pretty Cassel saw action during both World Wars. The plain stretches away southwards towards historic Arras and the beautiful Somme Valley, a scene of much bloodshed during the First War, with poignant memorials at Beaumont-Hamel and Vimy Ridge. The great Gothic cathedral at Amiens, survived both conflicts as did the splendid Cathédrale St Pierre in Beauvais, two of many fine examples in the region which include those at Senlis, Noyon, Laon and in the neighbouring Marne and Aube departments Reims and Troyes. Where the River Aisne joins the Oise at Compiègne, the royal château hints at the proximity of Paris. On the far side of the Forêt de Compiègne stands a second grand château, Pierrefonds, while the sport of kings is celebrated at Chantilly, home of French horse-racing. The winner's toast is produced in nearby Champagne, centred on Reims and Épernay. Within striking distance are the cultural and gastronomic delights of the French capital, Paris, and the surrounding Île de France and Disneyland resort.
main pic Picardy, Amiens
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