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7. Singing the Northern Note: Experience France Like Never Before

More untouched nature, more security, more authentic encounters, and above all, more time with those we love - here’s why you should take your next travel train straight to Hauts-de-France.

Discover the richness of Hauts-de-France, from Calais to Paris. Take a break from it all in this beautiful land, refresh your mind, and soothe your spirit with infinite horizons, French gardens, and eloquent stays.

Take a look below on what’s brewing best for you in Northern France:

DESTINATIONS UNDISCOVERED

1.) Montreuil-sur-Mer

Perched on a promontory, Montreuil-sur-Mer is a delight to the eyes with its citadel, ramparts, and cobbled streets lined with elegant mansions. Wealthy in exceptional culinaries and creative dishes, this picturesque town is most enjoyed with the taste buds. It’s A gastronomic destination inside out - inviting one to savour, taste and indulge by the sea.

2.) Marne Valley

Just an hour away from Paris, Marne Valley spells home to several wine-growers who come together to produce 10% of champagne. It’s a well-kept secret of the region, surprising one with its unique oenological delights while you stroll through wine villages and stock up on champagne to wow your friends back home.

3.) The Opal Coast

Nothing speaks happiness more freely than a road trip. Take one down The Opal Coast - a tranquil winding road flaunting hills, past idyllic beaches and cliffs, and through quaint fishing villages, charming seaside resorts and historic towns.

4.) Amiens

Capital of the Somme, Amiens is home to the UNESCO-listed ‘Lady of Stone’ cathedral that has watched over humankind for over 800 years. Pace along cobbled streets filled with centuries-old history, take a boat and get lost in the maze of islands of the Hortillonnages dotted with contemporary art, climb up the cathedral towers to take a break from the hustle and bustle or visit the incredibly colorful Picardy Museum. Soak in all the diversity found right in one spot.

EXUBERANT EATS

1.) L’Anecdote

In the restaurant of the Hermitage hotel, Alexandre Gauthier brings to life slightly simplified, forgotten recipes from La Grenouillère. anecdote-restaurant.com

2.) La Matelote

Indulge at Michelin-starred restaurant La Matelote surrounded by Boulogne-sur-Mer’s fortified town - filled with tempting restaurants and mouth-watering menus with vegetarian options, including the much-beloved L’Îlot Vert with its flower-decked terrace. www.la-matelote.com

3.) Le Hameau

Taste whipped cream in the very place where it was invented: at the Le Hameau restaurant. In the heart of the park of the Château de Chantilly, the setting that inspired Marie-Antoinette’s Petit Trianon in Versailles is bound to give you an experience unforgettable. domainedechantilly.com/en

4.) Le Quai

Topped at the water’s edge, dine for authentic pâté from Amiens at the Le Quai restaurant, not to miss on the foie gras appreciated by the Marquise de Sévigné. restaurant-lequai.fr

ENCHANTING ACCOMMODATIONS

1.) La Grenouillère (Relais & Châteaux)

Surrender to the power of nature with an overnight stay in one of the inn’s eight comfortable hunting huts situated right in the heart of French glory and green. lagrenouillere.fr

2.) L’Hermitage

A historic 19th century building, stay like a royale at the elegant 3-star L’Hermitage hotel decidedly speaking British luxury and comfort. Rejuvenate your tired senses at the Premium Spa righteously renamed ‘The Care Villa’. hermitage-montreuil.com

3.) Hotel Atlantic

A 4-star Art Deco delight on the seafront at Wimereux mixed with a Michelin-starred restaurant La Liègoise and a perfectly accentuated Wellness Area. It doesn’t get better than Hotel Atlantic. www.atlantic-delpierre.com

EXPERIENCES NOT TO MISS

“Nausicaa” WITH THE KIDS

The biggest aquarium in Europe and a recognised UNESCO Centre of Excellence, The National Sea Centre of France is an awe-inspiring underwater world home to some 60,000 creatures! With its 20-metre-long and 5-metre-high viewing windows, it really makes you feel you’ve entered a magical marine world as you gaze into the eyes of manta rays and shoals of fish. www.nausicaa.co.uk

WINTER WINE FEST AT THE ARSENAL DE MONTREUIL

Each December, fifteen wine-growers from various regions (including Champagne, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Rhône, and the Loire) are invited by La Cave de Montreuil, in partnership with La Destination Gastronomique to showcase their wines and share their passion at the Arsenal. The Saturday-evening tasting dinner at L’Anecdote restaurant is the highlight of this gourmet weekend where guests sample five dishes each accompanied by two paired wine vintages provided by the participating winemakers. It’s a gala of gastronomy unmatched.

BREATHTAKING LIGHT SHOW FROM THE CATHEDRAL SQUARE

At nightfall, the Chroma show turns the facade of the cathedral into a spectacle of light - highlighting the many great details of the sculptures. Waves of stained-glass flow from the rose window to the columns as strange signs move in response to the frenzy of modern-day music. A deep mystery to be savoured over the course of half an hour.

A great change of scenery is just a step away, right off to paradise! Image credits: nausicaa.co.uk, anecdote-restaurant.com, hermitage-montreuil.com, atlantic-delpierre.com