Frenchies of the North

Salut! I've had a hitch on a planned jaunt away this week & as such I've holiday days booked off that I don't wanna waste.

So the plan is this. I can get return via the Channel Tunnel for £44. Depart Thursday 03:30 & return Friday 22:30. Not much of a trip but gives me 2 solid days.

My question is this. What's good to see around the area? I'm thinking within an hour or so drive from Calais.

The weather looks like it'll be crappy so I doubt a beach is on the cards. I fancy something cultural... maybe visit Dunkirk. A bit morbid but likely interesting. Any better suggestions?

At worst I'll just eat loadsa baguettes & bring back a car full of booze & cigs...
Comments
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Until Wednesday night I'll be mostly playing Civ 5. Think this may've worked out well for me.
Calais is dead tbh...
Hence looking to drive an hour or so beyond it. Don't wanna venture too far & spend all my time driving but 3 hours for something decent would be acceptable.

I do love castles. You guys have castles?
Parent
Yep. Yes they do http://castles.francethisway.com/map-castles-of-france.php

What the devil was so unruly about that region to the east of Bordeaux? Around Paris & then the U shaped arc to protect from the English. But eh?
Parent
we do, but sadly not in this part of France, at least not the best ones, I'd maybe advise you to visit the town of calai if you're keen on history, as north towns have for most of them historic centers which are classy and more or less nice.
Lille is @ 90 km of Calais, and it's a way more active and a nicer town, u may have to give it a shot.There u'll have a center called " Le vieu lille" rly nice to walk in...
Parent
"Lille is the only place in France where beer is brewed in small breweries" - looks nice. Had never intended to stay in Calais that's just where the Channel Tunnel train arrives.
Parent
then go for it, defintly something to visit
Parent
What DongRaeGu said.
I'm deadly serious. :s North of France is rainy, no bitchez, no money most boring place in EU
Parent
Brussels is only a 2 hours drive away, Rotterdam 3 hours. They're all on the cards. I just don't fancy too much driving (will have to drive down to the tunnel as it is).
Parent
booze & cigs are more expensive in the UK?
ofc, in UK 20 cigs is around 7/8 euros
Parent
haha try 10 euros
Parent
Pack of 20 is £7-7.30 we've heavy taxes on it.

Beer on offer maybe 24x 440ml cans (Carlsberg / Carling / Stella / etc) for £17.

I'm not really sure what the prices are in France tbh. The perception over here has always been that as our sin taxes are higher things are cheaper on the continent. Sadly no duty free <o/
Parent
Camel malboro : 6€ at least, cheap compared to UK
Beer - Kronenbourg x24 : ~9€
Parent
Well fuck. That is massively cheap you'll get 2 packs for every 1! I imagine 9€ is for bottled beer?
Parent
yeah, 33cl bottles

but that's not cheap tbh, compare it to east europe countries or even spain and u see how expensive it is, depends on the life's level i guess
Parent
as I said, compare it to many toher countries, and it's part of the highest price u may find in europe

btw took the example of a cheap beer but kinda ok to drink. Not tasty tho
Parent
on the other hand the french beers are disgusting and for for kids..
Parent
We drink Carling & Fosters. If I want a tasty drink I'd have some fresh fruit juice or a smoothie... long as it's palatable & doesn't make you projectile vomit I'm good.

I was given a pack of Leffe the other day. Fuck that's vile. Who the devil wants to drink blonde beer?
Parent
FYI most of the world drinks "blonde" beer

oh wait, that's supposed to be ale
Parent
rofl, if you can't stand our Leffe then keep on drinking your untasty beers
Parent
Yes because beer is a great thing to be elitist about.

Do you ever drink non-alcoholic beer / ale?
Parent
Nope, never. Those beers are untasty. And yes I do be elitist. That's because of my nationality.
Parent
You guys don't really have much to be elitist about I guess.
Parent
> belgium
> beers
> nothing to be elitist about.

Can tell if trolling of definitely stupid.
Parent
The beer is nice to drink but after 2 or 3, I get stomach ache. Reminds me when I was young and ate too much candy.
Parent
Really? Damn, thats the first time I see so many negative criticism about one of the most exported belgian beers.
I remember myself amazed to even find it draugh in Nimes, South France. Easier to convey than bottles I guess. It was so damn expensive though..
Parent
Don't get me wrong, I never said it is a bad beer. I am just into different tastes of beer.

btw. If you once go black, you never go back :)
Parent
that's why we're mostly drinking belgian beers :))))))
Parent
camel marlboro 3 eur here, boom g5 playa
Parent
The mineral field has been classified as a cultural landscape by the UNESCO, I don't know exactly where it is located but if it's close to Calais, you should check it out!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap_Blanc_Nez

a nice cliff with a nice point of view but i don't think it's worth it if the weather is crappy.

as tomoyo said, lille is a really nice city if you don't mind driving 100kms more. Im living there so if you need a few more tips about the city just let me know.
been there last year
great place, plenty of awesome sceneries + massive war history (thinking about the totd battery)

+ lille is also a great city (going there one more time in september for the "braderie" :))
Parent
bring me some fags oh loved Nellie
Deal.

All I want in return is a r/GW style photoset. Torso only.

Nobody need know.
Parent
drive to Lille or Gent in Belgium
Enjoy your 75% tax rate, communist nellie.
Boulogne Sur Mer is quite nice city tbh.
Yea with that local star, a guy named Ribéry or something like that... :P
Parent
I lived in Normandie for some years (2h south of Calais) and If I were you I would go visit Fécamp (3h from calais) because it is beautiful place :

image: profile_hautenormandie_small

You can drive along the coast, there are many cities and villages worth to visit.

Otherwise as mentiinned above, Lille and Brugge in Belguim are very nice cities definitely worth it. Just do not stop in Calais, it's ugly and nothing to see or do there.
Go to Lille, I'm living there. It's totally worth it. You won't regret it. The main place called the "grand place" is quite awesome.
T'habites dans quel quartier déjà ?
Parent
Vieux Lille - Rue Royale
Parent
ah nice quoi qu'un peu loin du métro :o)
Parent
5 mins de Rihour :)
Parent
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