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Peniche Fantasia in Wambrechies (59 Nord, Nord Pas de Calais) on the outskirts of Lille (see map)

This one offers wood-panelled rooms and air conditioning, and is moored in the centre of the town for easy access by bus into the heart of Lille in about 30 minutes.

The owners.Lucie and Julien, are enthusiastic about the canals and the history and culture of this corner of northern France, and apart from offering a unique opportunity to experience a special night on board the “peniche” will also share with you their knowledge and recommendations of the area.

For more info see www.peniche-fantasia.fr
Peniche Fantasia Au Port de Plaisance, 59118 Wambrechies

T: 06 82 27 92 61

Dunkerque (59 Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais) - Gand (Belgium)

for more info click here

Salons des Vins (Wine Fairs) - Vignerons Independants (Independent Wine Makers) 2007.
Open to the public, a small charge gives you access to hundreds of wines and winemakers from all over France. Here you can taste and buy wines, often at cellar door prices - as long as you can carry them. Meet the winemaker, discover new wines - enjoy!

Rennes (35 Ile-et-Villaine, Bretagne) 13-15 April 2007
Lyon (69 Rhône, Rhône-Alpes) 25-29 October 2007
Reims (51 Marne, Champagne-Ardenne) 9-12 November 2007
Lille (59 Nord, Nord Pas-de- Calais)16-19 November 2007
Paris (Porte de Versailles) 22-26 November 2007

The number of budget airline routes to France from the UK is continuing to grow, as is the number of French destinations - no longer restricted to the major cities. This really does open up some of the less well-known parts of France.
The list below shows the extent of the coverage - and this excludes flights to Paris which are available from most local airports. Some flights are seasonal, so please check with the airline for timetables and availability.

Markets in 62 Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Some markets only take place in Summer - check beforehand with the local tourist office or town hall.

Aire-sur-la-Lys Friday
Aix-Noulette Friday
Allouagne Wednesday
Ambleteuse Wednesday
Annay-sous-Lens Wednesday
Annezin Saturday
Ardres Thursday
Arques Tuesday
Arras Wednesday, Thursday , Saturday, Sunday
Auchel Tuesday
Auchy-les-Mines Saturday
Audresselles Monday
Audruicq Wednesday
Auxi-le-Château Saturday
Avesnes-le-Comte Friday
Avion Thursday , Friday
Bailleul-s-Berthoult Friday
Bapaume Friday
Barlin Wednesday
Beaurainville Wednesday
Berck Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Béthune Monday , Thursday , Friday
Beuvry Friday
Biache-St-Vaast Thursday
Billy-Montigny Wednesday, Sunday
Blendecques Thursday
Boulogne-sur-Mer Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday
Brebières Thursday
Bresmes-les-Ardres Sunday
Bruay-Làbuissière Friday , Sunday
Bully-les-Mines Thursday , Saturday
Calais Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday,Sunday
Calonne-Ricouart Thursday
Camiers Monday , Thursday
Carvin Saturday
Chocques Thursday
Condette Sunday
Corbehem Friday
Coulogne Monday
Courcelles-lès-Lens Sunday
Courrières Wednesday
Cucq Wednesday, Sunday
Cuinchy Saturday


Desvres Tuesday
Divion Wednesday
Dourges Saturday
Douvrin Monday
Drocourt Thursday
Écourt-St-Quentin Wednesday
Estevelles Tuesday
Étaples Tuesday, Friday
Fauquembergues Thursday
Fouquières-lès-Lens Friday
Frévent Tuesday
Friuges Saturday
Grenay Tuesday
Guînes Friday
Haillicourt Thursday
Harnes Thursday
Hénin-Beaumont Tuesday, Friday
Hersin-Coupigny Saturday
Hesdin Thursday
Houdain Thursday , Saturday
Hucqueliers Wednesday
Isbergues Thursday
Le-Portel Tuesday, Friday
Le-Touquet Monday , Thursday , Saturday
Lens Tuesday, Friday , Saturday
Libercourt Thursday
Licques Monday
Liévin Wednesday, Sunday
Lillers Saturday
Loison-sous-Lens Saturday
Longuenesse Wednesday
Loos-en-Gohelle Thursday
Lumbres Friday
Marck Tuesday
Marles-les-Mines Saturday
Marquise Thursday
Mazingarbe Wednesday, Friday , Saturday
Méricourt Saturday
Montigny-en-Gohelle Monday
Montreuil-sur-Mer Saturday
Noeux-les-Mines Tuesday, Friday
Noyelles-Godault Thursday
Noyelles-sous-Lens Wednesday
Oignies Tuesday
Oisy-le-Verger Wednesday
Outreau Monday , Thursday
Oye-Plage Wednesday
Pas-en-Artois Tuesday
Pernes Thursday
Pont-à-Vendin Thursday
Rinxent Sunday
Rouvroy Monday
Sains-en-Gohelle Wednesday
St-Martin-Boulogne Thursday
St-Omer Wednesday, Saturday
St-Pol-sur-Ternoise Monday
Sallaumines Monday , Saturday
Samer Monday
Sangatte Friday
Souchez Tuesday
Thérouanne Tuesday
Vendin-le-Vieil Monday , Friday
Vermelles Monday
Vimy Saturday
Vitry-en-Artois Tuesday
Wimereux Tuesday, Friday
Wingles Wednesday
Wissant Wednesday
Wizernes Sunday

9 April 2006 is the date for this year’s classic one-day Paris-Roubaix cycle race. Although it is a slight misnomer as it actually starts in Compiegne (60 Oise, Picardie), some 50 miles north of Paris - it does finish in Roubaix (59 Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais) which is part of the Lille conurbation, close to the Belgian border.
Somehow you can forgive the 50 mile cheat in starting in Compiegne, as the race is 260km or so in length and includes several notorious “secteurs paves”, cobblestone sections north of St Quentin (02 Aisne, Picardie), The problem is that this is essentially a fast road race, so the bikes they use are lightweight racing bikes, not the tough mountain bikes you would usually choose for such unforgivingly bumpy surfaces.

Compiegne is perhaps best known as the location of the Wagon-Lits carriage where both Germany and France humiliated each other at the end of the First World War and 20 odd years later when Hitler accepted the French capitulation. A replica of the famous railway carriage can be seen in a museum (Musee de l’Armistice) in the middle of a clearing in the impressive Foret de Compiegne near Rethondes, about 6km east of the town. For fans of art deco there are two important landmarks to visit near the route - In Lille there is a famous (and expensive but exquisite) Fish restaurant (L’Huitrière), and in nearby Roubaix there is an art deco swimming pool which has been converted into a Museum of Arts and Industry

For cheap cross-channel ferry crossings see Cheap4Ferries.com

Keywords: France, Cycle,Compiegne,Paris,Roubaix,Lille,St Quentin,Nord, Picardie

On 26 March the town of Bailleul (59 Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais) celebrates the “International” Potjevleesch festival, although you do somehow doubt if there will many entries from the UK. This is a local Flemish dish (often found in the country around Dunkerque and Lille) which literally means “meat casserole” BUT the peculiarities are that it usually contains 3 types of meat, traditionally chicken, rabbit and veal shin slowly cooked - AND it is served cold in its own jelly. So when I first asked what it was in the restaurant to be told it was a meat casserole, I expected something hearty and warming! It was certainly tasty, and is clearly popular with the locals.

For more info on the festival and the dish see http://www.montsdeflandre.fr/

As there is no locally grown wine in the region, you can accompany the dish with some of the local and Belgian beers which are widely available - France and Belgium do seem to merge in this region - it was really only the different roadsigns which draw your attention to having crossed an international frontier - that and the use of the pretty impenetrable Flemish language!

DUNKERQUE FESTIVAL (59 Nord, Nord Pas-de-Calais) - 26 February 2006 - the Sunday before Ash Wednesday - a parade in the centre of the town traditionally to celebrate the imminent departure of the town’s fishermen who would soon be setting off to fish in Icelandic waters. Unfortunately the closest most of us get to Dunkerque is from the grim industrial port (Nofolk Line ferries) several miles to the west or the autoroute from Calais to Belgium or the Auchan Hypermarket at Grande Synthe. Although much of the town was badly damaged in the second World War, the town has a long and ancient tradition including a World Heritage Belfry - and can be worth a little detour.One of our favourite restaurants is nearby (Bois de Chene or Fleur du Sel at Capelle-la-Grande)

Keywords: France,Dunkerque,Nord,Bois de Chene,Carnival

Norflok Line Ferries have now introduced the first of their 3 new ships on the Dover-Dunkerque route - the Maersk Dunkerque. Norfolkline traditionally handled freight only but a few years ago started taking non-freight vehicles at very keen rates. The cheap prices have continued, but with the new fleet of boats the on-board accommodation gets a major upgrade. The original fleet were very much functional ships with basic but comfortable seating and facilities. The restaurant left you in little doubt that the main clientele was the British lorry driver, so the food was wholesome rather than fancy, the menu very English!

So the new ships are welcome and will add capacity to the route - I hope it will not mean the end of cheap fares on this route.

For more on French Wine, Food & Travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk
Also see our calendar of events in France
Keywords: France,Travel,Ferry,Dunkerque,Norfolk Line