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When we head home from the Alps we usually find a overnight stop in Arras so we can get on a morning ferry and crack on home to Pembrokeshire the next day.
Just need a little town with a few options for places to eat and a big Carreforre or Auchan to fill the last spaces in the van with cheap wine and smoked garlic.
Fairly happy to head back to Arras but thought I’d see if anyone has done a similar thing in a different place. Thanks!
Just opened the topic to suggest Arras. Sorry I've got no suggestions in that range. Arras is very nice.
We’re booked into a little hotel just off this square in Saint Quentin for the summer Zebin trip.
https://maps.apologies earth linky.goo.gl/yTLUpqfKNdabSA767
If I remember right from a booze cruise to France very many years ago, Calais itself has a rather pleasant town center.
De Panne, 30 miles North though. St. Quentin as suggested. Boulougne was nothing special when we stopped there. St. Omer gets a big vote, we’ve stayed there 3 times now, would definitely go back. Poperinge and Ypres in Belgium are both fine stop off points.
Le Crotoy. Lovely coastal town with lots of restaurants. 1hr South of Calais.
We stopped last September in the campervan. It's just really nice
Your post has reminded me that it’s over 10 years since I was last in France! Anyway, one town, near Dunkirk, which is worth a visit is Bergues. Doesn’t have the hypermarket (or didn’t, back then) but close enough to the Dunkirk ones. It’s a small walled town, entered over a drawbridge, defensive canals/moat still there.
Le Crotoy is fabulous
And lots of easy waymarked bike trails to explore the Somme Baie area
Mrs Sims says St Quentin was quite nice when she visited, this was 20 yes ago, but could be a good shout as others have suggested. Although it is out of the hour and a half range so any problems and time might be tight.
Le Touquet is nice
Came to suggest Arras, that's our usual stop
For anyone going to Le Crotoy, this restaurant is fab. It's not on the sea front so less touristy and more of a family run local bistro vibe.
https://au-ptit-matelot.eatbu.com/?lang=fr
Bethune is about 70kms south of Calais, quite picturesque
Le Crotoy. Lovely coastal town with lots of restaurants. 1hr South of Calais.
Also, St Valery sur Somme, just a few miles south of Le Crotoy is nice. It's generally a nice area although Cayeux sur Mer is the bleakest seaside resort I've ever been to. The sort of place where poets went to drink themselves to oblivion by absinthe while writing their last few lines.
I'd plump for Ardres, it has an Auchan too! https://www.auchan.fr/magasins/supermarche/auchan-supermarche-autingues/s-1264
Have you visited the mine in Arras, (Carrière Wellington) I found it fascinating, better than the WWI trenches etc.
Thanks for all tips; I love little French towns!
Laon is well located and pretty spectacular.
Hautvillers is a little further South than you asked, but my favourite village in Champagne and the burial place of Dom Perignon.
Laon was to be my suggestion too.
Arras or Laon. If Arras is 'en fete' it is hard to beat. Laon is quieter and qauinter, just really rather 'French'.
we like Saint Omer. great little town, and super if you like a beer or 2 around the square.
Ton's not wrong. St Omer is nice and like Laon (but not Arras) has a low Brit count. Some interesting WW2 stuff nearby at Eperlecques.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZKMiMA7m3aMYfyFx7
Another vote for Laon too, we were very pleasantly surprised