Hauts-de-France
Coast, cathedral cities, battlefields and broad northern landscapes.
Discover the Nord
Discover Nord: coast, cathedral cities, battlefields and broad northern landscapes, with independently owned holiday homes that make a comfortable base for exploring.
Nord brings together coast, cathedral cities, battlefields and broad northern landscapes. Build a stay around Lille, Dunkerque and the smaller places in between, leaving time for markets, local food and unhurried day trips.
Independent holiday rentals
Browse independent holiday rentals, cottages, gîtes and other places to stay in the Nord, then contact owners and managers directly. Holiday House France does not add a guest booking fee.
We are building a collection of independently owned holiday homes across France.
Explore the whole department
Nord changes character as you travel across it. These four starting points make it easier to plan days out without reducing the department to a single headline attraction.
Historic centre & local highlights
Use Lille as a starting point for exploring this part of Nord, combining local heritage, everyday French life and the landscapes that give the department its character.
Lille · Dunkerque · Douai · Cambrai
A rewarding base for day trips
Use Dunkerque as a starting point for exploring this part of Nord, combining local heritage, everyday French life and the landscapes that give the department its character.
Lille · Dunkerque · Douai · Cambrai
Character, scenery & local life
Use Douai as a starting point for exploring this part of Nord, combining local heritage, everyday French life and the landscapes that give the department its character.
Lille · Dunkerque · Douai · Cambrai
Quieter corners & wider landscapes
Use Cambrai as a starting point for exploring this part of Nord, combining local heritage, everyday French life and the landscapes that give the department its character.
Lille · Dunkerque · Douai · Cambrai
Towns & villages
From Lille to Cambrai, these are useful anchors for discovering the history, scenery and everyday character of Nord.
A natural starting point for discovering Nord, with local heritage, places to eat and useful connections into the surrounding area.
One of the department’s best-known stops, rewarding for its setting, history and the chance to explore at a slower pace.
A characterful place to add to a day out, offering another side of Nord beyond its principal town.
A useful base for reaching the wider countryside and discovering smaller communities nearby.
Make a holiday of it
Nord rewards days built around its best-known sights as well as smaller discoveries. From Lille to Dunkerque, heritage and landscape sit comfortably alongside markets, cafés and local life.
The wider department opens up beyond the main towns, with scenic routes, walks and relaxed day trips around Douai and Cambrai. It is well suited to visitors who like to mix sightseeing with time outdoors.
Weekly markets, regional produce and independent restaurants are an easy way to get under the skin of Nord. Leave room in the itinerary for an unplanned lunch, a village market or a local speciality.
Travel & getting around
Nord can be reached through the wider road and rail network of Hauts-de-France. The most convenient arrival point will depend on where in the department you are staying.
A car is often the easiest way to combine towns, villages and countryside, particularly for holiday homes outside the larger centres.
Plan day trips geographically rather than by distance alone: local roads can be part of the experience, and allowing time for markets, viewpoints and spontaneous stops makes for a more relaxed holiday.
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