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Pas de Calais is one of two Departments in Nord-Pas de Calais, France. The other being Nord.

[edit] Cities

Calais

Boulogne

Le Touquet

Montreuil-sur-Mer

Saint Omer

Arras

[edit] Other destinations

• Vimy - of particular interest to Canadian and World War I buffs, th column of limestone surrounded by allegorical figures. Re-dedicated after extensive renovations in 2007, the site is also home to an interpretive centre and two small cemeteries. The whole site is Canadian territory, donated by the French people in recognition of Canada's sacrifices during that war. The town itself is not a major tourist attraction, except for the slow trickle of Canadians and school groups learning about the war. Getting off train, one quickly realizes that there is not even a station or a plaform. Walking from the train stop to the monument takes about 1 hour. Locals would be happy to guide you but only speak French. Only 2 trains come by per day, so don't be late. A bus tour from Lille or Arras may be easier.

[edit] Understand

[edit] Talk

[edit] Get in

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

• La Coupole, (Near St. Omer (see website)), ☎ +33-321-12-27-27, [1]. Open 9am - 6pm year-round, extended hours in summer. This underground bunker near St. Omer, Pas-de-Calais, was once home to Nazi Germany's V2 rocket programme, and now hosts a museum dedicated to the history of the programme, including its links to the space race. Popular with school groups, the site offers audio guides in English, French, Dutch and German, has a great gift shop, and is bound to make history come alive. 9 euros adults, 6 euros children.  edit

• La chocolaterie de Beussent Lachelle, 66 route de Desvres, Beussent (See website), ☎ +33-3-21-86-17-62, [2]. You can tour the artisanal chocolate workshop at Beussent and learn the secrets of chocolate-making in an entertaining presentation, with a free sample included, before purchasing (slightly pricey but delicious!) chocolates from the on-site shop. 2.80 euros pp for a group tour.  edit

• Grottes de Naours, 5, rue de Carrières, Naours (Between Amiens and Doullens), ☎ +33-3-22-93-71-78, [3]. 1st Feb-30th April & 1st Sept-30th Nov, 10am-12pm & 2pm-5pm; 1st May-31st Aug 9.30am-6.30pm. The 'grottes' are man-made caves carved out of the chalky rock 33m below ground level. Guided tours explain the history of the caves - first created as a Roman quarry, then expanded as a place of refuge for the inhabitants of the region, fleeing the barbarian invasions, the hated 'gabelle' salt tax, and later used as an Allied hospital in World War One and by the Nazis in World War Two. The site also features a small train for the kiddies, a (fairly lame) museum to local handicrafts, and a park with windmills and animals, but the caves are definitely the only reason worth trekking out here for, the rest being essentially window-dressing. 10 euros adults, 8 euros children.  edit

• See England from Cap Gris-Nez and Cap Blanc-Nez. On a clear day you can see the White Cliffs of Dover, and view the ships on the world's busiest shipping channel, from these points.

[edit] Itineraries

[edit][add listing] Do

• Beaches The best beaches are along the 25 mile stretch of coast from Equihen-Plage in the north to Fort Mahon-Plage in the south. The wide sandy beach is broken only where the Canche and Authie rivers meet the sea. The sea goes out a long way at low tide. The main resort on this coast is Le Touquet, but there are several smaller seaside towns or villages that, depending on their size, offer shops, cafes, a seaside promenade, as well as access to the beach.

• Audomarois marshes, 3, rue du marais, Clairmarais (Near St. Omer), ☎ +33-3-21-39-15-15, [4]. Visit the marshlands near St Omer, with a guided boat tour, or row yourself! The marshes are home to unique flora and fauna and offer a different experience to the usual tourist activities. Great for bird-watchers, lovers of nature and still a relaxing & interesting experience for anyone else! Be warned, it can get quite cold on the boats. Some tours require booking in advance, see the website. Price varies according to length & type of trip.  edit
• Greeters (free local tour guides), [5]. The Pas-de-Calais tourist board has recently launched a new initiative: greeters - locals who are happy to spend a few hours showing tourists around (free of charge), and give you expert tips on what to see and do in the region. You can even choose what sites and experiences you want to concentrate on, from history to nature to gourmet food (based on matching with the interests of your volunteer greeter). For more on the 'greeters' experience, see this article from The Observer: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/jul/05/weekends-calais-eating-drinking-france  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Teoria, rue de la Gare, Lottinghen (Off the N42, middle of nowhere :)), ☎ +33-3-21-83-76-29, [6]. 10pm-5am Sat year-round, also Fri in summer. Get off the beaten track, escape the tourists (well, possibly not if they read this...) & check out this nightclub in the middle of nowhere! With its rottweiler-patrolled carpark, it may be a bit intimidating at first, but the club itself is a lot of fun, featuring multiple rooms with different musical styles & even an area where you can play games & indoor basketball. Not sure if this is still going, but when I lived there (2007), if 5 of you paid the entry fee, they'd give you a bottle of spirits & a mixer to share plus some coupons for the games. 10 euro entry fee.  edit

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[edit] Get out

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