Northern France

[Andres]

In June, my wife and I will go on a trip through northern France. It's so nearby, yet so unknown to us.

Our schedule will roughly be like this:

- 2 days in Reims;
- 2 days in Compiègne;
- 2 days in Amiens;
- 1 day in Arras
- a couple of days at the coast, Boulogne-sur-Mer or one of the nearby, calmer, villages; probably the latter.

Any tips or advice? Which one of the champagne houses in Reims is most worthwhile to visit? Something along the road or in the vicinity of the cities we plan to visit?

[Fragony]

Paris you fool. Northen France is boring.

[Vladimir]

I hear Calais is wonderful this time of year.

(But, no, seriously, don't go there)

[edyzmedieval]

Northern France is beautiful, Picardie is really nice if you want to have quality, chill time.

[A Nerd]

I've never been, but heard some people who have that bicycling around the more quiet streets might be fun. If your into that sort of thing. Be sure to visti historical sights too!

[Louis VI the Fat]

In June, my wife and I will go on a trip through northern France. It's so nearby, yet so unknown to us.

Our schedule will roughly be like this:

- 2 days in Reims;
- 2 days in Compiègne;
- 2 days in Amiens;
- 1 day in Arras
- a couple of days at the coast, Boulogne-sur-Mer or one of the nearby, calmer, villages; probably the latter.

Any tips or advice? Which one of the champagne houses in Reims is most worthwhile to visit? Something along the road or in the vicinity of the cities we plan to visit?

Well you know exactly where to go already, from the looks of it.


A few tips then:

- When you are in Compiègne, consider driving down a bit towards one of the greatest, and most French, of French attractions, Chantilly. While the tourists all flock to Versailles, locals go north to Chantilly, where men of taste can spend a most agreeable weekend.

'Watch and weep, ye of lesser nations':

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Forests, golf courses, haute cuisine, horses, history, priceless art.

It is here, that François Vatel (peace be upon him) immortalised himself. Perhaps the greatest 17th century culinary master. He was asked to organise a lavish banquet for Louis XIV at Chantilly. However, the fish went awry. Unable to deal with the disgrace, in despair Vatel committed suicide by stabbing himself with a sword. His death an instant national tragedy, mourned throughout the realm, setting the eternal standard for gastronomic honour.


Next to the château is the lovely, walled mediaevil village of Senlis. Oversized 12th century cathedral, Frankish ruins. quaint little houses. There is a great horse museum too, inclusing shows in period costumes. It is better than it sounds like, even if you are not into horses.
And nearby is Parc Astérix!!!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Stables:








Senlis:

- My usual tip is to get a Michelin guide if you are travelling by car and want to find out where to eat.

- Épernay, more than Reims, is the heart of wine producing Champagne. But you don't need to travel all the way there, Reims is of course by far the more interesting place.

- The horses of Chantilly are the pasttime of the aristocracy. The third estate in Picardy deals with cows. If you travel through Wallonia, you get to see where your Belgian tax money is spend on. Travel further down to Picardy, and you can see where your EU money is spend on: the heart of CAP land. Cows, milk, beef. It has been like that since the middle ages. The Aztecs build temples to the sun, the Egyptian temples have pillars shaped as papyrus plants to thank the nile. Picardians worship cows, as in Laon, which is a lovely city worthy of considering a detour:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Check the gargoyles!

Other than that, I haven't the faintest clue of what's going on in the North and what's worthwhile. I know it mostly from my train window.

[Peasant Phill]

I went to Reims (and Epernay) just last year. Did the Champane tour of one of the big labels. I got the distinct feeling that this was mostly about getting as much money as possible from tourists. I think a visit to a smaller champagne producer (champagneboer) would be nicer and more authentic.

[Yoyoma1910]

I lived in Châlons-en-Champagne for a short stint, as it's where my wife is from. We made a couple of road trips into Belgium, such as for the music festival in Dour and to Brussels. It should be a nice drive for you. Lot's of gently rolling countryside.

[naut]

Any tips or advice?

Don't go. Go to the South instead. Better weather, nicer people.

[Fragony]

Don't go. Go to the South instead. Better weather, nicer people.

^- that, northern France is crap

[Scienter]

Gorgeous pics, Louis! I'm definitely picking your brain in a few months when TinCow and I plan our trip the the Loire and Paris!

[Tristuskhan]

Don't go. Go to the South instead. Better weather, nicer people.

Better weather indeed. Nicer people??? A bunch of superficial hypocrits. Party with them, they'll be your best friends ever, see them the next day, they won't even say hello. In the north people may seem colder first, but once they know you, you can count on them.

@Scienter: Loire is a very very good choice. But Paris stinks.

[Meneldil]

Don't go. Go to the South instead. Better weather, nicer people.

I'm from southern France, lived there 20 years and never met a single nice people

As for nice weather, I bet it's true if you mean "so freaking warm that breathing is enough to make you sweat". Beh. The sooner I can move up north the better.

Things are probably better on the Atlantic Coast, but the Mediterranean coast is a mix of white trash France and Algeria. In short, it sucks.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Things are probably better on the Atlantic Coast, but the Mediterranean coast is a mix of white trash France and Algeria. In short, it sucks.

Never have truer words been spoken!

I vote it's sold to Italy. Or Algeria. In fact, we should bribe some North African country to take the southeast, I'd pay 'em one hundred billion just to get rid of Marseille alone..



Leave Montpellier. Move to Toulouse, which is alright. Or, best of all, move to God's own city: Bordeaux.

[Louis VI the Fat]

But Paris stinks.

Marvel in wonder:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The annual dîner en blanc, 'white dinner'. Early June, thousands of Parisians gather in what today would be described as a 'flash mob'. It is held at a different place annually. Only at the very last moment is the place of gathering announced, so as to foil the authorities.

Everybody is dressed in white. BCBG. The men bring the tables and the finest champagne, the women bring the food. Dinner, singing and dancing, some surprises too:








Communal waving and jeering at the police, by right and tradition powerless before the will of a Parisian mob:








Heaven is to dance on the Fields of Elysium:

[Sarmatian]

I bet Herr Freud would've identified some issues from that picture...

[Louis VI the Fat]

I bet Herr Freud would've identified some issues from that picture...

How's that?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[A Nerd]

Nice obilesk...I'm envious. I see London I see France...

[Tristuskhan]

Marvel in wonder:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The annual dîner en blanc, 'white dinner'. Early June, thousands of Parisians gather in what today would be described as a 'flash mob'. It is held at a different place annually. Only at the very last moment is the place of gathering announced, so as to foil the authorities.

Everybody is dressed in white. BCBG. The men bring the tables and the finest champagne, the women bring the food. Dinner, singing and dancing, some surprises too:








Communal waving and jeering at the police, by right and tradition powerless before the will of a Parisian mob:








Heaven is to dance on the Fields of Elysium:

Oh my, what's that ridiculous pantomime? I've lived three years in Paris and never heard about... this?
Am I too old or just have such good taste that my senses and mind refuse to notice that wonder of... oh words escape me! What a ravishment, it's Broadway, it's oh, bring them torches, fancy pointy hats and they could play old southern white suprematism!, like dreaming awake.

Louis, you really like to wear such uniforms yourself?

Communal waving and jeering at the police, by right and tradition powerless before the will of a Parisian mob:

Rebels! Outlaws! Menace2Society! Debout les Damnés de la Teeeeerre, debout les Forçats de la Faim! El Pueblo, Unido, etc, etc...

Pauvre France!