Around thirty buildings listed or classified as historic monuments form part of Cambrai’s cultural heritage. Since 1992, the city has been part of the national network of Villes et Pays d’art et d’histoire. City history is therefore a useful thread to follow during your stay: you’ll encounter it in exhibitions, churches, architecture and public spaces. To choose a focus for your visit, consider whether you’d prefer to get an overview, explore collections, or take a closer look at individual buildings and their art.
Cambrai Between the City Model and Its Collections
The CambraiScope at Le Labo is a free permanent exhibition. Models, plans, current and historical photographs, and videos show different perspectives on Cambrai. The faithful reproduction of the city model under Louis XIV is especially vivid. There is also a virtual tour of the Château de Selles. Alongside historical views, the exhibition therefore focuses on spatial representations and moving images.
The Musée de Cambrai is housed in the Hôtel de Francqueville; its collections range from prehistory to the 21st century. Its four departments are devoted to archaeology, Cambrai’s heritage, fine arts and geometric abstraction. The collections span four floors in a permanent exhibition arranged chronologically. Thematic focuses are thus combined with a chronological order: you can consider the departments as well as the chronological structure of the display.
Churches, Art and Architectural History
The Église Saint-Géry is Cambrai’s oldest church. Its present-day building combines Dutch Baroque with French Classicism. The Jesuit Chapel offers another way to explore the city’s history: it was rebuilt between 1678 and 1694 according to the principles of the Counter-Reformation. The work was funded by a bequest from Monseigneur Vanderburch and based on plans by architect Jean du Blocq. The choir and nave contain numerous high and low reliefs, as well as paintings by Arnoult de Vuez depicting scenes from the life of Christ. The building’s history and its iconographic programme each offer a distinct perspective.
The history of the cathedral can also be traced across several sites. The Église Saint-Sépulcre was designated the new cathedral of Cambrai in 1804, after the Gothic cathedral was destroyed during the Revolution. The Cathédrale Notre-Dame preserves trompe-l’œil paintings by Martin Geeraerts of Antwerp, dating from 1745, as well as the icon Notre-Dame de Grâce, which has been venerated in Cambrai since 1492. The two sites thus represent different chapters in the city’s religious and artistic heritage.
The citadel was built in 1543 on the city’s highest point, Mont-des-Bœufs, on the orders of Charles Quint. A guided tour titled “Visite de la Citadelle de Cambrai et ses souterrains” is led by a conference guide and lasts one hour and fifteen minutes. Check its availability before your trip. Another way to explore the city’s heritage is the “Cambrai, la cathédrale et son quartier” walk, which explores the cathedral quarter along a 1.5-kilometre route. Check the route details before your trip as well. These offer different points of reference for planning: the duration of a guided tour in one case, and the length of a walk in the other.
Promenade, Gardens and Water
Cambrai beyond its interiors includes the Mail Saint-Martin: this tree-lined space dedicated to strolling opens onto the Beffroi. The Tour Saint-Martin, also known as the Beffroi of Cambrai, is protected as a historic monument. The Jardins publics feature a bandstand built by André de Baralle in 1867. These places complement the churches and collections with the design of public spaces. At the Port de Cantimpré, the canalised Escaut meets the Canal de Saint-Quentin—another notable feature of the cityscape.
If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay, let your cultural interests guide your focus: city history through models and collections, church art, or Cambrai’s buildings and public spaces. First choose the subjects that interest you most, then plan your visit around them.
Discover more destinations: Wattignies, Louvignies-Quesnoy, Hestrud, Houplines, Neuville-En-Ferrain, Maubeuge, Avesnelles, Deûlémont
For the broader travel overview: Nord.
