FrenchDuck’s databank
62 Pas-de-Calais

Calais is celebrating the opening of a new space for the arts at the old Abattoir, now known as “le Channel”. This is an interesting complex of buildings which lends itself to a wide range of artistic events - performance (theatre, music, dance) and art exhibitions in a number of different sized and venues. From 27-31 December 2007 the mini-festival of Feu d’Hiver (Winter lights) is held with a wide array of events and displays.
For more info see www.lechannel.org
Also see the Calais Cote d’Opale Tourist Office

For the Christmas Market in Arras (62 Pas-de-Calais) which runs from 30 November - 24 December 2007 there is a touch of the Alps with a Swiss Festival being the highlight on Saturday 1 December - Swiss music, art, cheese will endow the Grand Place with a real alpine feel.
For the rest of the month there will be plenty of seasonal cheer and stalls to explore - Christmas decorations, wooden roses, stained glass, Laguiole knives, teddy bears, arts and crafts - gastronomic delights will include honey, foie gras, chutneys, regional specialties from the Auvergne and SW France, mulled apple juice, mulled cider, mulled wine, oysters and roast chestnuts - all within the setting of the impressive Grand Place in the centre of town. And less than an hour from Calais it could add a real touch of France to your (long) day trip or weekend - or a brief detour off the main route to Paris!
For more info see www.ot-arras.fr

The town of Licques (62 Pas de Calais) about 16 miles south of Calais holds its annual Turkey Festival (Fête de la Dinde) in the run up to Christmas (15-17 December 2007). This involves herding the doomed birds through the town with a competition for the best bird. These Turkeys are prized for their moistness and flavour.
There is also a food market (Marche de Terroir) running throughout the weekend which will feature the local liqueur, the Licquoise.

For more info see www.licques-volailles.fr

Etaples (62 Pas de Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais) celebrates its 15th Herring Fesitval (Fete du Hareng Roi) on the weekend of 10-11 November 2007.
Etaples is an important centre for commercial (and amateur) fishing on the English Channel (or French Manche) at the mouth of the River Canche, close to classy Le Touquet. This version offers grilled, smoked and marinated herrings plus stories of the sea! (see www.etaples-tourisme.com)

Alternatively, the following weekend (17-18 November 2007) Boulogne-sur-Mer holds its Herring Festival with the addition of sea-shanties and the arrival of the Beaujolais Nouveau, which happens to be quite a good food and wine combination! (see www.tourisme-boulognesurmer.com)

Boulogne-sur-Mer (62 Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais) celebrates Christmas well with a particular focus on Christmas foods.
On Saturday 1 December 2007 the St Niicholas parade through the town announces the arrival of the Christmas culminating with a firework display down at the port.
The following weekend (Sat 8th and Sun 9th December) the Christmas Market is held in the Old Town. The Old Town is well-worth visiting and is quite a surprise after the rather soulless modern town (well, 50s/60s) - and seeing as Boulogne’s weekly market is one of the better ones, then at Christmas it should be great. Music and fireworks complete the festive atmosphere.

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

With the 2007 Rugby World Cup kicking off in early September, it is worth knowing when and where the matches are to be held - if only so that you can avoid the additional heavy traffic for several hours around the match time. Particularly susceptible to congestion will be the Paris Peripherique and the A1 autoroute entry to the city - the Parc des Princes and Stade de France are both close to the autoroute and peripherique, and if match time is anywhere near the evening rush hour the traffic will be even more chaotic.
For more details on the Rugby World Cup CLICK HERE
For map click (more…)

Georgia v Namibia in Lens

South Africa v Tonga in Lens

England vs USA in Lens

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