The North of France may not be as sunny as the south, but it is renowned for the warmth and friendliness of its inhabitants. Due to the shifting of borders over the centuries, in the Nord-pas-de Calais area you’ll notice many Flemish influences, both architecturally and culturally, including in the cuisine and the dialect. Likewise, in the Alsace region you will find a strong German influence in the culture. As well as the wines of Alsace, such as Reisling and Gewurtztraminer, you'll also find Kronenbourg, which is brewed in this area, and German-style cuisine with dishes such as choucroute (sauerkraut) on the menu. Lorraine is of course famous for quiche lorraine, as well as potato-based dishes, and macaroons.
Lille is one of the historic cities of Flanders, and you’ll find many signs of its Flemish identity, in the architecture as well as the culture. The Flemish style belfry attacted to the
Hotel de Ville in Lille is the tallest in Europe. Lille has many fine museums, and many people flock to Lille for its
Braderie de Lille, the biggest fleamarket in Europe. Like Lille, the attractive market town of
Arras also has a fine Flemish-style main square, and a listed belfry.
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Northern France Guide