 |
|
|
Friday 12 April 11-11.30am |
|
|
|
Route for Programme 1 - Pas de Calais
ARRAS
Famous for its Grande and Petite Place - beautiful squares built in Flemish gable style. Massively bombed and rebuilt after WWI when Arras formed the HQ of the British Army. It was here that super gaul chef Jean Christophe Novelli started his career, working in a boulangerie in Arras, Boulangerie-Patisserie de Menis, 11, rue Meaulens, 62000 Arras, tel: 03 21 71 54 58.
If you would like to sample his cooking, he runs:
Maison Novelli, 29 Clerkenwell Green, London, EC1R ODU.
La Faisanderie - is where Jean -Christophe and Arthur explored the kitchens and the restaurant - if you would like eat here, it's probably best to book. It is located at 45 Grand 'Place, tel: 03 21 48 20 76, fax: 03 21 50 89 18, open Tues-Sat.
La Coupole d'Arras, 26 Bd de Strasbourg, tel: 03 21 71 88 44
The Boves: from the basement of the Hotel de Ville you can begin a tour of the Boves, cellars and tunnels running under the whole town - once quarries and billets for soldiers -now useful as cellars for shops, restaurants etc.
Robespierre's House
If you are interested in the Revolutionary era, you can see a few artefacts, some clothing and documents displayed in the house that belonged to Maximilien-Robespierre. The house is open from April to September Tues-Sun 2-6.30 and Oct-Mar 2-5.30, Sat and Sun 33-6.30.
Local Tourist Office
Hotel de Ville, Rue Jacques Le Caron, 62000 Arras, tel: 0033 3 21 51 26 95, fax: 0033 3 21 71 07 34, www.ot-arras.fr
HESDIN
Another interesting area enroute between Arras and Montreuil is Hesdin - possibly one of the oldest new towns in the world. Emperor Charles V, the Spanish Hapsburg King, had Vielle Hesdin demolished as a punishment for resistance. The new Hesdin was built in 1554, and was Spanish until Louis X111 retook it in 1629. It has a beautiful gatehouse at the hotel de Ville where you can still see signs of the Spanish occupation. Hesdin is also the birthplace of the writer Abbe Prevost, who wrote 'Manon Lescout'.
MONTREUIL
Montrieuil is a beautiful walled town and once a major port (the river silted up long ago). Fought over by the Dukes of Normandy and Burgundy and Kings of France, and Spain. At one point demolished completely and rebuilt. It was later used by General Haig as a base during WW1.
Victor Hugo set part of Les Miserables here and the town takes advantage of this by having a Les Miserables son et lumiere each summer on the last weekend in July and the first weekend in August.
Getting there
From Calais or Boulogne it is possible to drive to Montreuil in about half an hour on the A16, this is a toll road from Boulogne which passes through Montreuil and the sea, you need to take exit 26 on the motorway.
Local Tourist Office
La Guingette, 21 rue Carnot - BP 13, 62170 Montreuil-Sur-Mer, tel: 0033 3 21 06 04 27, fax: 0033 3 21 06 57 85, e-mail: otmontreuilsurmer@nordnet.fr
AZINCOURT
Site of the famous battle of 25th October 1415.. in which Henry V broke the chivalric rules of conduct but also inflicted a tremendous defeat on French knights - against tremendous odds. The fields in which the battle took place are farmed today, but you can walk and drive close to them, and with the help of a bit of imagination you can make out the battle scene.
Museum - Centre Historique Medieval, 22 rue Charles VI, 62310 Azincourt, tel: 03 21 47 27 53, fax: 03 21 47 13 12 , open 9am to 6pm from April to October, 10am to 5pm from November to March
M Patrick Fenet is an archery enthusiast, and he gave Arthur a personal long bow lesson. He runs a B&B with Mme Fenet: La Gacogne, Azincourt 62310, tel: 03 21 04 45 61, http://www.azincourt-medieval.com/ They also help run archery competitions, lessons and battle re-enactments.
GENERAL INFO ABOUT THS PART OF FRANCE
Eurostar trains leave London Waterloo or Ashford International in Kent, disembark at Lille, for more information call 0990 186 186, or look up their website at www.eurostar.co.uk
P&O Stena, the ferry takes anything from 75 minutes from Dover to Calais, tel: 0870 600 0600, www.posl.com
Sea France sail from Dover to Calais, the crossing takes 1˝ hours, tel: 08705 711 711, fax: 01304 2440033, www.seafrance.com
French Tourist Information Office
178 Piccadilly, London, W1V OAL, tel: 0891 244 123, www.franceguide.com
Travel Guides
Short Breaks in Northern France by Nick Rider, published by Cadogan Guides, ISBN 1 86011 814 3 - has tons of inspiring ideas about where to stay/ eat and visit -lots of history and enthusiasm.
Lonely Planet France published by Lonely Planet, ISBN 0 86442 612 7, includes a comprehensive food and wine guide.
Related reading
Your Place or Mine? By Jean Christophe Novelli, published by Quadrille.
Music
Vas-Y Mimile by Marc Perrone, track 8 from the album, Rough Guide to Café Paris, published by Rough Guides, RGNET 1084 CD.
Read Arthur Smith's Diary of the visit
The Jura
Pagnol Country - Provence
Find out the route used in programme 2
Find out the route used in programme 3
Find out the route used in programme 4
Find out the route used in programme 5
Find out the route used in programme 6
|
|
|
|
RELATED LINKS |
|
|
BBC French Steps - French online for beginners
BBC Language Courses on the web
|
|
|
|
|
Don't miss We want to hear your experiences |
