Saint-Omer, Opal Coast and Lille – NEW TOUR

Depart the UK

Travel to Dover and take the ferry across to either Calais or Dunkerque.  Upon disembarkation, continue to Saint-Omer for the next 4 nights.

Saint-Omer, Cheese Tasting, Brewery Visit and Gardens

Meet up with a local guide for a stroll through the charming town centre of Saint-Omer where cobblestone streets lead to stunning landmarks such as the magnificent Cathedral and the 13^th century public library, one of Europe’s oldest.  (Market day is Saturday).

Discover the secrets of some delicious Flemish cheeses on a tour of the Eecke Cheese Factory which includes a cheese tasting followed by a visit and tour of the nearby 3 Monts Brewery, home to one of the region’s most famous beers and where you can explore the fascinating history and secrets behind their beers ending with a tasting session.

Before heading back to Saint-Omer a stop will be made at the gardens of the Mont des Recollets, set around a 17^th century Flemish farm and considered one of the most beautiful in northern France.

Return to the hotel for dinner and evening at leisure.

Lille and Art Deco Swimming Pool

Meet up with a local guide in Lille for a city tour to see La Vielle Bourse, the Opera and the Palais des Beaux Arts.  After the tour, there will be some free time to explore and to get some lunch.

Continue to nearby Roubaix to visit an Art Deco gem, La Piscine, a former swimming pool, now a museum.  The highlight is the yellow and orange ‘sunrise’ stained glass window overlooking the sculpture garden set alongside the pool’s water.

Return to the hotel for dinner and evening at leisure.

Opal Coast, Le Touquet and Boulogne-sur-Mer

Accompanied by a local guide drive to Le Touquet a beloved destination for British visitors and famous people such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Noel Coward and Winston Churchill amongst others.  The tour of Le Touquet will include plenty of hop-on/hop-off stops including a guided tour of the beautifully preserved Town Hall finishing with a tasting of local delicacies in the majestic Salle d’Honneur.

Drive north along the Opal Coast to the resort of Boulogne-sur-Mer, France’s largest fishing harbour and visit the underground passages beneath the Notre-Dame basilica with the biggest crypt in France.

There will be some free time to explore the town further, maybe wander along the charming Ville Fortifee with its stone houses, cobbled streets and its world heritage listed town hall belfry or around the circular promenade of the 13^th century ramparts which offer views over the town and the port.

Return to the hotel for a final dinner and evening at leisure.

Return to the UK

Depart after breakfast and drive to Calais or Dunkerque and take the ferry across to Dover, and home.

French Flanders – Gardens and Lunch

Cassel is a picturesque Flemish town near the Belgian border, perched on a hill offering breathtaking views of the countryside.  A visit will be made to the Jardin des Récollets, a garden set around a 17th century Flemish farm and is considered one of the most beautiful in Northern France.  After some free time enjoy lunch at a typical ‘Estaminet’ a local Flemish restaurant serving hearty dishes such as Flemish Beef Stew.   If time allows and there is enough interest,  return to Cassel to visit the Musée de Flandre one of the most beautiful Flemish buildings in the region.  Unique in Europe, the museum aims to show the diversity and richness of Flemish art from the fifteenth century to the present day.

Audomarois Marshes, Saint-Omer

A cruise through serene waterways cultivated since the middle ages – a unique wetland eco-system teeming with diverse flora and fauna.

Calais

Often underrated town, but the beautiful Lace Museum is well worth a visit.