FrenchDuck’s databank
59 Nord

If you miss Christmas market in Lille (59 Nord) which closes on 24 December 2007 you can always try the New Year Market (Marche de l’An Neuf) which runs from 26 December to 6 January 2008. Held in the Place Rihour, the emphasis is on local crafts, but with all the decorations and the Carousel in the Grand Place still operating, the atmosphere should be really festive.
For moew info see www.marche-an-neuf.com

Lille takes Christmas seriously with the city brightly decorated and a big ferris wheel in the main square,

With Christmas fast approaching, Lille is decked out in lights and colour. Around the market, the whole town is covered in a huge crown of garlands.

In the period just before Christmas, Lille is vibrating with colours and lights. The Chalets which make up the Christmas market are installed for a month on the Place Rihour, just 50 metres from the Grand’Place. The craftsmen and stallholders extend their warm welcome and look forward to putting forward their ideas for new and original gifts. Amongst the articles to temps you, there will be local produce, samplings, Christmas decorations, jewellery, toys…

A stone’s throw from the Christmas Market, the big wheel majestically turns on the Grand’Place and offers a fascinating view over the world of the city. And when you come back down to earth a glass of mulled wine will work its magic on you.

For more info see www.lilletourism.com

London - Lille by Eurostar in 100 minutes

Most French autoroutes between major towns and cities are toll motorways, which whilst often offering fast and uncrowded dual-carriageways, can nevertheless add significantly to the cost of a trip through France - e.g over €90 (over £60) on a one-way trip from Calais to Nice (1226km of motorway driving about 760 miles).

However there are significant sections of autoroute which are toll free - most often these are around major towns and Cities (Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon etc).

In the North, the A16 is toll-free from Boulogne (J29) to the Belgian border (J36) via Calais and Dunkerque. The A25 from Dunkerque (J20) to Lille is free, so you can reach Lille from the main Channel ports without paying a toll!. Also all routes from Lille to the Belgian border.
The following autoroutes are toll free (as at September 2007)
A16 (part of the Autoroute des Estuaires (estuaries)) from Boulogne-sur-Mer (J29) to the Belgian border(J36)
A20 (L’Occitane) from Vierzon (J6 junction with A71) to Brive-la-Gaillarde (J53) via Chateauroux, Argenton and Limoges
A25 from Dunkerque (J20 with A16) to Lille
A28 from Abbeville (J1) to Rouen (J14)
A30/A31 (Autoroute de la Vallée de la Fensch) from Thionville (J1) to Toul (J12) via Metz and Nancy
A38 from Dijon (J33) to Pouilly-sur-Auxois (J24 and the junction with the A6)
A63 (Autoroute de la Cote Basque) from Bordeaux to Bellin-Bellet (J20)
A64 (la Pyreneenne) from St Martory (J20) to Muret (J25)
A68 (la Tarnaise) from Monastruc (J3 NE of Toulouse) to Albi (J11) via Gaillac
A75 (la Meridienne) from Clermont-Ferrand (J15) to Pezenas (J59) (except for the Millau Bridge) via Issoire
A77 (Autoroute de l’Arbre (trees)) from Pouilly (J26) to Nevers (J37)
A84 from Caen (J46) to Rennes (J25) via Avranches

The annual Salon des Vignerons Independants (independent winemakers) takes place in Lille Grand Palais - hundreds of producers from all over France offer tastings and sales at vineyard gate prices - sample, chat and learn and buy - just in time to stock up for Christmas PLUS Lille is a lively city with great restaurants and shopping - and a Vauban citadel!
See more about Independent Winemaker Wine Fairs.
For places to stay in Lille see Le Jardin d’Alix and more info on Lille

London - Lille by Eurostar in 100 minutes

Every first weekend in September, ever increasing numbers of people enjoy this great annual rendezvous of flea market fanaticism, bric a brac hunting, bargaining, and amateur salesmanship. The Braderie: a 48 hour festival of brocanteurs all around the city of Lille.
But be warned, this is a very popular event, so hotels are likely to be fully booked and car parking at a premium - many roads in the centre of the town will be closed.
For more info see www.mairie-lille.fr

Lille (59 Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais) is a big and vibrant northern French city which is well worth a visit – but it’s not somewhere I associate with peace and tranquility.

We go most years to the Independent Winemakers Fair held in the Lille Grand Palais every November (16–19 November in 2007) and stay in city centre hotels – all very convenient for the wine fair, shops, restaurants etc.

But there is another option, which offers a bit of respite from the buzz of the city centre, but without losing ease of access.

The Jardin d’Alix (Alix’s garden) Chambres d’Hote (B&B) is in Tourcoing, part of the greater Lille conurbation, North East of Lille city centre. The stylish accommodation is set “amid a large garden with mature trees and rose bushes – a little piece of countryside close to the city.” The other bonus is that the property lies within 20 minutes reach of Lille’s historic centre, thanks to the tramway which leaves from just outside!

An added bonus means that you will also be near to the quite stunning Roubaix Piscine – the Museum of Art and Industry (Musée d’Art et d’Industrie de Roubaix) housed in an Art Deco swimming pool – a conversion undertaken by the same architect who transformed an old railway station into the fabulous Musée d’Orsay in Paris. It is worth visiting for the building itself, but the museum exhibits and paintings are seriously good – see http://www.roubaix-lapiscine.com

For more on the B&B see http://www.lejardindalix.com

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.
For more info see www.peniche-fantasia.fr
Peniche Fantasia Au Port de Plaisance, 59118 Wambrechies 0 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.