Page 189 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

3 DAYS

in Le Nord and Picardy

Day 1 its imaginative interwar buildings and at
Morning Arrive in Lille (p200) and head its wide, fine-sand beach, lined by huts
straight for the sublime Palais des Beaux with rainbow-coloured doors.
Arts. Highlights of the collection include Evening Wander along the sandy shore
paintings by Rubens, Manet and Picasso; for an aperitif at Le Sand (www.lesand.fr)
sculptures by Rodin and Claudel; medi- next to the serene Dunes Nature Preserve,
eval religious art; and scale models of then dine on innovative French cuisine
fortresses in France and Belgium. at the romantic Les 2 Moineaux (www.
Afternoon Have lunch on one of the restaurant-les2moineaux.com). Stroll back
pretty pedestrianized streets radiating along the beach to reach Le Westminster
from place du Général de Gaulle, then (p194); this luxury hotel’s elegant pool is
take a taxi to the Maison Natale de Charles ideal for a late-night dip.
de Gaulle, where France’s most renowned
president grew up in bour geois comfort. Day 3
Walk southwest to the Old City, which has
a distinct Flemish vibe, to check out the Morning Follow the Somme River Valley
boutiques along rue de la Grande Chausée, to Amiens. Its Gothic cathedral (p192) is
then drop by Meert (p197) for a waffle. one of Europe’s most magnifi cent. Visit
Evening Have dinner in an estaminet, a the statue of the Ange Pleureur (Crying
traditional Flemish restaurant, and try the Angel) and the treasury, where the
carbonnade flamande (beef stew made purported skull of John the Baptist is
with onions and beer). After, mosey over on display. If you don’t mind facing 307
to Château de Beaulieu (p199) and relax steps, climb the cathedral’s north tower
in one of its bright and spacious rooms. for spectacular views, before stopping
for a mouth-watering vegan burger at
La Maison à Vapeur (22 Rue Dusevel).
Day 2 Afternoon Spend the afternoon letting
Morning Fuel up on tartine (baguette and your imagination run wild at the truly
conserves), then take a roundabout route extraordinary Maison de Jules Verne,
to the seaside town of Le Touquet, past longtime home of the uncannily prescient
the poignant World War I memorial sites science fiction writer.
at Ypres and Dunkerque (p198). Evening Enjoy a gentle riverside walk,
Afternoon Pull into Le Touquet (p202) in then duck into Leu Duo (www.leuduo.fr)
the early afternoon, in time for coffee at for a plate of classic French fare in the
A L’Arome Colonial (98 rue de Metz) – its charming St-Leu Quarter, with its pictur-
varied bean menu makes it the perfect esque canals. If you’re visiting during
spot to quell caffeine cravings. Officially summer or in December, don’t miss
known as Le Touquet-Paris Plage (Paris- Chroma, a sound-and-light spectacular
by-the-Sea), this elegant beach resort projected on the façade of the cathedral.
has been popular with well-heeled Fall asleep recalling memories of your trip
tourists for over a century. Faded reflec- at the luxurious Marotte (p194), a tranquil
tions of 1920s glamour can be spotted in getaway in the heart of the city.
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