The Département du Nord stretches for around 200 kilometres from the North Sea to the valleys of the Avesnois. In the Scarpe-Escaut area, meadows, farmland, woodland, plateaus, valleys and plains sit side by side. Trails, waterways, natural history and heritage offer different ways to get to know Nord.

Exploring trails and greenways

The département maintains 7,000 kilometres of routes for walking, cycling and horse riding. It also manages 21 cycling loops. Cyclists can also use Nord’s numbered Point-nœuds network, which comprises 830 kilometres of cycle routes that can be combined to create individual itineraries. These figures describe different ways of finding your way around: routes for several types of travel, dedicated cycling loops managed by the département, and a numbered cycle network.

Two greenways connect the places named in their routes: the Scarpe Greenway links Douai with Mortagne-du-Nord, while the Plaine-de-Scarpe Greenway runs from Orchies to Denain. Comparing their endpoints helps distinguish the two routes. For a break, 84 Cafés Rando in the département are located near walking, horse-riding, cycling or mountain-biking routes. They offer the chance to enjoy local food and combine time on the trail with regional cuisine.

River landscapes and woodland

At the confluence of the Escaut and Scarpe in Mortagne-du-Nord, visitors can watch barges and stroll along the towpath. The water and the riverside path offer two different perspectives on the same place. In addition to valleys and plains, the Scarpe-Escaut area includes meadows, fields, plateaus and woodland, so its landscape cannot be reduced to a single type.

Beech avenues are among the distinctive features of the Flines-les-Mortagne Forest. The forest provides habitats for black woodpeckers, European honey buzzards and the protected royal fern. Mormal Forest is another notable woodland landscape: it is one of the largest forested areas in northern France. The PDIPR areas are described as rich in fauna and flora, and are also considered ecological corridors for many species. Nature lovers can discover a range of features, from specific forest habitats to the importance of connected natural areas.

Heritage in Nord

Nord brings together landscapes, nature, culture and significant historical heritage. Ten cultural institutions run by the département are spread across the area. One prominent heritage theme is the Nord section of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais coalfield: it forms part of a living cultural landscape that stretches for around 120 kilometres across the départements of Nord and Pas-de-Calais.

At the Forum antique de Bavay, the museum and archaeological forum complement one another: the museum is closely linked to the ancient forum and helps bring its remains to life. A new visitor route is accessible to people with reduced mobility. Interpretation points and scenographic displays trace the site’s development from the ancient forum to the fortress. Visitors can therefore focus on both the archaeological remains and their place in the site’s history.

Regional cuisine and cheese

Estaminets are traditional restaurants associated with local dishes and a distinctive atmosphere. Specialities highlighted by regional tourism include carbonade flamande, endives au gratin, tarte au Maroilles and beer from the north. The selection showcases different sides of regional cuisine, from hearty dishes to cheese tart and beer.

Another culinary discovery is the 64-kilometre Flanders Cheese Route between Armentières and Esquelbecq. It leads to 14 farms, markets and cheese shops. Its stops connect the two named towns with a range of places to visit for cheese. Together with the estaminets and Cafés Rando, the route offers an insight into local food culture, whether as a planned itinerary or as an additional theme for a trip.

Discover more destinations: Bousignies-Sur-Roc, Gravelines, Ohain, Trelon, Eppe-Sauvage, Lille, Wasquehal, Valenciennes, Tourcoing, Seclin, Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer, Saint-Amand-Les-Eaux, Roubaix, Roncq, Proville, Orchies, Neuville-En-Ferrain, Merville, Maubeuge, Marcq-En-Baroeul, Loon-Plage, Lezennes, Lesquin, Le Cateau-Cambrésis, La Madeleine, Hem, Hazebrouck, Halluin, Grande-Synthe, Ennevelin, Englos, Dunkerque, Douai, Cuincy, Cassel, Cappelle-La-Grande, Cambrai, Bondues, Bollezeele, Armentières, Armbouts-Cappel, La Creche, Naves, Mons-En-Baroeul, Somain, Honnecourt-Sur-Escaut, Douchy-Les-Mines, Bailleul, Saint-Saulve, Coutiches, Gruson, Ronchin, Petite-Forêt, Aubry, Auberchicourt, Feignies, Bourbourg, Faches-Thumesnil, Lambersart, Mons-En-Pévèle, Saint-Pierre-Brouck, Louvroil, Pecquencourt, Sars-Poteries, Lompret, Avesnelles, Caudry, Cousolre, Wambrechies, Prémesques, Leffrinckoucke, Sainghin-En-Mélantois, Solesmes, Oisy, Aubers, Bray-Dunes, Drincham, Crèvecœur-Sur-L'escaut, Socx, Bouvines, Coudekerque-Branche, Bergues, Potelle, Saint-Hilaire-Sur-Helpe, Artres, Le Doulieu, Liessies, Bambecque, Avesnes-Sur-Helpe, Villeneuve-D'ascq, Téteghem, Lécluse, Merris, Baives, Sains-Du-Nord, Quaëdypre, Prisches, Estreux, Steene, Jolimetz, Boeschepe, Bierne, Bousbecque, Bachy, Raismes, Vicq, Ghyvelde, Croix, Déchy, Staple, Fourmies, Ribécourt-La-Tour, Ramousies, Haverskerque, Marly, Tilloy-Lez-Marchiennes, Sémeries, Saint-Sylvestre-Cappel, Anstaing, Amfroipret, Arleux, Renescure, Féron, Wormhout, Erquinghem-Lys, Ferrière-La-Petite, Dimont, Saint-Martin-Sur-Écaillon, Hordain, Crespin, Sin-Le-Noble, Marchiennes, Wignehies, Le Favril, Steenvoorde, Banteux, Méteren, Lecelles, Gommegnies, Beauvois-En-Cambrésis, Templeuve, Godewaersvelde, Pont-Sur-Sambre, Hondschoote, Watten, Wattignies, Clairfayts, Dourlers, Hestrud, Houplines, Prouvy, Saint-André-Lez-Lille, Denain, Masnières, Walincourt-Selvigny, Haubourdin, Condé-sur-l'Escaut, Ferrière-la-Grande, Romeries, Esquelbecq, Steenwerck, Bousies, Lannoy, Landrecies, Solre-le-Château, Taisnières-en-Thiérache, Villers-Guislain, Larouillies, Grand-Fort-Philippe, Fontaine-Notre-Dame, Villers-au-Tertre, Éclaibes, Gondecourt, Salomé, Bas-Lieu, Haut-Lieu, Ramillies, Aulnoye-Aymeries, Looberghe, La Gorgue, Deûlémont, Sebourg, West-Cappel, Mouvaux, Genech, Louvignies-Quesnoy, Maresches, Steenbecque, Mortagne-du-Nord, Haulchin, Hem-Lenglet, Saméon, Annœullin

For the broader travel overview: Nord Pas De Calais.