Places to explore in northern France

Whether you’re looking for culture-filled cities, beautiful coastline or Champagne-producing vineyards, you’ll find all this region has to offer when you travel by car

(Alamy)

With big cities brimming with culture, tiny towns studding vineyards and pristine coasts, Northern France is a region seemingly designed for weekend escapes from the UK – and there is something for every taste and desire, all within driving distance of Calais.

Sightseeing by region

Explore the pretty streets of Rouen (Alamy)

Regions including Picardie, Champagne, and Normandy offer a mix of big sites and offbeat adventures. Major towns such as Rouen and Amiens provide all of the easy sightseeing that first-time tourists need. Ample museums, historical walking tours, and pedestrian shopping districts are just the beginning. Major sites such as Mont-Saint-Michel and the Champagne cellars of Epernay are best reached by car, making it simple to plan a driving route through any of these vast regions, packed with stops along the way.

Changing landscapes and cultural escapades

Beyond the city walls, natural parks offer sweeping vistas and stately forests for hiking and escaping city life. The scenery changes drastically from one region to the next, linked by convenient and modern infrastructure. Driving through France is as easy as it is pleasurable.

The port in Honfleur (Alamy)

Throughout northern France, charming cathedral such as Rouen or Chartres offer small doses of history and culture. Wander the castles of Chantilly or Écouen, housing stunning museums inside their palatial walls. There are even unexpected towns such as Lens, offering a stunning satellite museum for the Louvre, and Bayeux with its world-famous medieval tapestry. Honfleur and Deauville offer charming seaside escapes, near the famous Second World War beaches. It’s no wonder France is in the top five countries in terms of Unesco heritage sites. A bit of planning goes a long way to visit the endless sights scattered across the north.

Tastes and experiences

Beyond the basic sightseeing, northern France offers culinary and cultural discoveries. From specific wines and cheeses to other artisanal products — think Champagne in Reims or Camembert from Normandy — a trip to France always surprises. Some products are only made in certain areas, and any tasting or sampling will leave travellers wanting to fill their boots with cases of cider and dried sausages.

Sample Camembert in Normandy (Alamy)

Sightseeing aside, sampling the French way of life is an essential part of any weekend away. Spending an entire afternoon or evening tucked into a small local café or eatery is the ideal way to indulge in a holiday in northern France, no matter which city, town, or remote hamlet you find yourself visiting.

Discover the cities, culture and cuisine of northern France when you go by car on Eurotunnel Le Shuttle – travelling under the English Channel in just 35 minutes. Book tickets today at eurotunnel.com