Couple standing in front of the Canadian WW1 Memorial at Vimy RidgeImagine beginning your day in Arras, a city known as “the town of 80 poets.” Wander cobbled streets of Grand’Place, where Flemish façades glisten in the early morning light. Climb the UNESCO-listed Belfry and drink in panoramic views that will make you pause—just for a moment—to soak in the history around you.
And you — how long would you stay up there, just taking it all in ?
Arras-country-artois-tourismAnd listen… do you hear that gentle bustle? Arras’ market is an institution. Once home to France’s largest grain trade, today the square bursts with regional produce every Wednesday and Saturday morning. Artisan cheeses, golden pastries, fresh fruits—it’s a feast for the senses. Take your time, taste something new, and let the aromas guide your steps. Here, history meets hospitality in every stall.
Local produce stall at the Arras market – cheeses, vegetables and craft goodsLens invites you to slow down and look closer. Begin at Place Jean Jaurès, where locals gather in lively cafés. Then, step into the 14-18 Centre—a modern space that recounts the Great War’s impact on the region with striking detail.
And don’t miss the Louvre-Lens, home to 5,000 years of art in one luminous, open gallery. Plug in your earphones, download the museum’s app, and let expert commentaries transport you through time. Whether you’re wandering hand in hand with a loved one or exploring with friends, Lens is the perfect base for a memorable weekend.
Your weekend with friends starts with a historical perspective. More exactly, it is on the steps of the First World War, along the monuments and museums in Collines et Plaines d’Artois that you have an appointment for a day placed under the sign of emotion and sharing.
Come and discover not one, not two, but three major historical monuments: the History Center, the Ring of Memory, the Necropolis… At the top and below the hill, the site of the Memorial’ 14-18 of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette marks the landscape and the spirits as a real portal to the past!
Ring of Memory / Ablain-Saint-Nazaire
French National Necropolis of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette
History Center of the 14-18 Memorial Notre-Dame-de-Lorette / SouchezA must-see monument on the Road to Remembrance, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial will dazzle you with its grandeur. Here, visitors come to meditate and admire the purity that emanates from it. An interpretation center, open to the public year round, where you can discover the fascinating history of this memorial.
Candian Vimy Memorial © Matthieu Brard - Lens Tourist OfficeThe monument of the Fraternizations, located next to the Garden of Peace, the French Necropolis and its 11,443 buried soldiers and the British cemetery, is at the heart of the Great War sites in Artois. Designed by the artist Gérard Collin-Thiebaut and the landscape architects Sylvain Delboy and Sarah Kassler (Atelier Sensomoto), the monument of the Fraternizations will surprise you by its artistic approach and the presence of a Timescope, a real time machine.
Monument of the Fraternizations Figures
Fraternization Monument
Fraternization Monument WallWhen the sun goes down, at the Wellington Quarry, put yourself in the shoes of an adventurer for the duration of a trip back in time! On the trail of the Battle of Arras, a soldier of the Great War awaits you to solve riddles and lead your troops to victory. During 1 hour, find the lost maps of the general staff, without which the Battle of Arras could not be won. On the very places where history took place, let yourself be drawn into the heart of a unique adventure!
📞 Phone : 03 21 51 26 95
📧 Email : contact@arraspaysdartois.com
📍Address : Rue Arthur Delétoille, 62000 Arras, France.
Track-Game-1-scaled-e1677678545242From real to virtual, Lens enters the game with a unique experience! The Louvre-Lens and Lens-Liévin Tourism are joining forces to offer you a unique adventure, inspired by Assassin’s Creed, the famous video game series! Let augmented reality guide you through the museum’s Time Gallery and the streets of Lens, from the train station to the former Great Offices of the Société des Mines, your mission is simple: find the Templar Treasure!
At Marcel's📍Address: 30 Rue de la Taillerie, 62000 Arras, France.
What better way to spend a weekend with friends than tasting a good beer… at a friend’s place? Hervé, Vincent and Stéphane invite you in particular to taste Page 24, the most famous of their beers!
Here, it’s expertise that takes precedence, and to share the secrets of a good brew, the Saint-Germain team offers a guided tour behind the scenes: discoveries and tastings are on the agenda, so why not you?
🗓️ Date: individually, every Saturday at 10:30am and 4pm; in groups (30 people), by reservation on afternoons
💶 Rate: 6€ / person
brewerHas this introduction whetted your appetite? The gustatory journey continues! For the main course, the Tourist Office of Lens-Liévin takes you to the heart of a sparkling adventure at the Brasserie Saint-Germain: every two months, go in search of the missing Page 24! Legends, journeys and discoveries…An adventure to enjoy without moderation with your friends.
🗓️ Date: Saturdays January 28 and April 1, June 17 and October 7, 2023 from 10:30 am to 11:45 am, from 2:15 pm to 3:30 pm, from 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm, from 4:45 pm to 6 pm
💶 Rate: 24€ / person (teams of 3 to 7 players)
📞 Phone: 03 21 67 66 66
🖥️ Site: tourisme-lenslievin.fr
📍Address : 26 Route d’Arras, 62160 Aix-Noulette, France.
Table of Towers (4)Ravioles with porcini mushrooms and truffles with Grana Padano sauce or the gourmet and gourmet Profiterole with almonds…The choice is Cornelian at the restaurant la Table des Tours! Located in front of the towers of Mont Saint-Eloi, your hosts offer you a seasonal menu to enjoy with friends, on the spot or to take away…Psst! They say that from the square of Mont-Saint-Eloi, the view on the Scarpe Valley is incredible.
📍Address : 21 Rue du Général Barbot, 62144 Mont-Saint-Eloi, France.
📧 E-mail : la-table-des-tours@orange.fr
📞 Phone : 03 21 22 31 80
Restaurant La Signature © A. Wacogne (2)Jean and his wife open the doors of their restaurant, in the heart of the cellars of Arras. A French cuisine, passionate, daring…It is a treat for the taste buds as much as for the eyes. Without a doubt, La Signature restaurant is about to become the must-see spot of your weekend with friends between the Hills and the Plains of Artois!
📍Address: 14 Petite rue des Rapporteurs, 62000 Arras, France.
📧 E-mail : la-signature@orange.fr
📞 Phone : 03 91 20 99 48
Alfosse7-os-moelle-128-1024pix-1Flemish carbonnade, potjevleesch, homemade welsh…At L’Fosse 7, it’s not just the dishes that are out of the ordinary: the decor plunges you into a reconstructed mine gallery, a few minutes’ drive from the Louvre-Lens! With local, seasonal and tasteful dishes, A L’Fosse 7 invites you for a timeless dinner.
📍Address: 94 boulevard Henri Martel, 62210 Avion, France.
🖥️ Site: https://www.alfosse7.fr/
📞 Phone: 03 21 43 06 98
IMG_3729From the vegetable garden to the table: it’s mission accomplished for the restaurant L’œuf ou la poule! A local, authentic and creative cuisine going from eggs to poultry…How can you say no to the delicious guinea fowl confit parmentier. These are the flavors of our childhood that perfume the palate. Will you let yourself be tempted?
📍Address: 13 rue des Balances, 62000 Arras, France.
📧 E-mail : pot@sublimeurs.fr
📞 Phone : 03 21 24 69 81
A barbecue hut, 3 bedrooms and a common living room…smells like a vacation with friends, doesn’t it? For your weekend in the Collines et Plaines d’Artois, the best choice is to sleep at Lena’s! In this lodging there is no lack of space to enjoy your stay with your tribe. Located very close to Vimy, the Wellington Quarry and the Louvre-Lens museum, the gite la Cabane de Léna will be THE gathering point for everyone during this unusual weekend.
📍Address : 9 Rue Roger Maréchal, 62320 Acheville, France
📞 Phone : 09 54 25 41 13
🖥️ Website : https://www.lacabanedelena.fr
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la-cabane-de-lena-2020-06-20-pidz-805-hdr-webNot far from Arras and the 14-18 Memorial of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, the gîte La Grange is the ideal address to gather the whole gang of friends! With its large spaces, its 4 bedrooms and its 3 bathrooms, this old barn entirely renovated can easily accommodate up to 12 people. The program for this weekend with friends: elegance, charm and character. This establishment sets the tone for a successful stay. Spacious rooms for a peaceful night,a beautiful exterior with terrace for barbecue evenings… The lodging of La Grange gathers all the necessary conditions for a crazy stay between friends.
📍Address : 22 TER Rue Louis Blondel, 62223 ANZIN ST AUBIN
📞 Phone : 06 25 42 65 21
🖥️ Site : http://www.lagrangeanzin.com/
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