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With so many monuments and masterpieces to visit - it will make your head spin! Loose yourself in a maze of secret lanes, before enjoying a great night out. Unravel mysteries from the past whilst cherishing the future... This is not just a dream. It is all possible with a break in Saint-Omer - a place full of art and history. The town will surprise you, whether it is for just a weekend break or a longer period away. Get ready to experience the dream...
Saint-Omer owes its cultural wealth to its strong religious activity during the Middle Ages. Abbeys and monasteries sprung up across the area after the monk Audomar brought Christianity to the region. Enjoy a romantic evening stroll in the summer beside the illuminated ruins of Saint-Bertin Abbey (one of the largest abbeys in Europe). This grand building has retained some high sections of stonework - truly spectacular! Wander around the college district and admire the Baroque façade of the chapel of the College of Walloon Jesuits. Further on, the chapel of the English Jesuit College feels just like Hogwarts from Harry Potter. Continue to the heritage room in the library - 50, 000 antique books and 1,000 unique items, all conserved within the wood-panelling of the former scriptorium at the Abbey.
“ Explore the small shopping streets in the town, which retain their medieval feel. ”
Saint-Omer has always been a great trading town because of its prime position beside farmed wetlands and because the river Aa passes through it. This was made a navigable waterway in the 12th century. This economic activity is evident in ‘La Grand'Place’ (Place Foch). Take a look around the weekly Saturday market. You will be surrounded by local small producers and high spirits. There is also a great range of restaurants and bars to choose from here - and all in such magnificent architectural surroundings! The town’s complete history is on display, with the neoclassical outline of the town hall and the Flemish flourish of old, step-gabled houses. Explore the small shopping streets in the town, such as ‘Rue des Clouteries’ and ‘Rue Louis Martel’ which retain their medieval feel.
The town comes alive with a series major events throughout the year. In April, you can explore the fortifications as part of the Euroregional Fortified Towns Days. Why not take a breath of fresh air in the public gardens, which are a real green urban oasis. This French formal garden was designed in the area of an old Vauban fortification. In May, come and enjoy ‘The Night of Museums’ and ‘Meet in the Gardens’ national events. The unmissable ‘Cortège nautique du Haut-Pont’ parade is THE event to attend in July. With Heritage Days in September, the ‘Patoisades’ meals in November and the Christmas Market in December, there is something interesting to experience throughout the year!
For centuries, the water network of this huge unenclosed garden on the outskirts of Saint-Omer has offered a livelihood to generations of men and women; it is a fertile area being the only marsh in France that has always been cultivated; it is an island between the river and the sea, a sensitive and vulnerable landscape, listed by UNESCO. Visit it at the pace dictated by the flat bottomed marsh boats which are still built the traditional way by the marsh’s last boat builder.
This massive concrete dome, a centre for remembrance and history, has already attracted millions of visitors. You too can explore this bunker focusing on the Second World War and the conquest of space.
A new waterside development. Visit the exhibition and learn all about the marshlands, before leaving for a trip on a traditional boat.
An elegant, typical 18th century hotel, which has been transformed into a museum. Admire the rooms, the collection of Flemish paintings and pipes, which were produced locally during the 19th century.
A Gothic masterpiece 57 metres high and built over 3 centuries! Some must-sees: the 16th century astrolabe clock, ‘The Descent from the Cross’ by Rubens and the Cavaillé-Coll organ.
Located on the site of the old Delloye coal-pit, where thousands of miners once worked, at the heart of the mining basin, the Centre Historique Minier is the biggest mining museum in France. It founded in 1984 with the aim of preserving and ...
If you're looking for somewhere cheap to stay in Douai, the Ibis Hotel is your best option. This hotel, in a listed 18th century building right in the city centre, is just a short walk from the belfry and the other attractions of this historic town. ...
Looking for an affordable and convenient hotel in Nord-Pas de Calais? The Volubilis hotel restaurant in Douai, surrounded by gardens, provides a peaceful setting close to the train station and opposite the "Gayant Expo" exhibition hall. The cosy and ...
