In Douai, you can explore cultural history in different ways: through a ceramics collection, a permanent archaeological exhibition and the belfry with its carillon. There are also boat tours through Vieux-Douai, activities at Parc Jacques Vernier, and routes for e-biking and walking. When choosing your activities, the format matters as well as the theme: exhibition, guided tour, boat trip or route. Each option offers a different focus, so you can tailor your stay to the mix of culture and activity you want.

The City’s History in Collections, Exhibitions and the Belfry

The Musée de la Chartreuse houses a collection of nearly 4,000 ceramics. Since 1958, the museum has been located in a former Carthusian monastery. Here, a clearly defined collection focus meets the history of the former monastery. If you choose your visits around different themes, you can combine ceramics and monastic history in a single museum visit.

The Arkéos Musée-Parc archéologique is on the border between Douai and Râches. It comprises a museum and a park with archaeological reconstructions. The permanent exhibition presents a chronological account from prehistory to the present day. It covers everyday life, forms of housing, activities and the development of the landscape. Unlike the Chartreuse’s focus on ceramics, Arkéos looks at longer periods and different aspects of life.

Douai’s belfry offers another way to explore the city’s history. The decision to build it was made in 1380 so that the city’s bells could be housed there. Its carillon consists of 62 bells and weighs 18 tonnes. The “Beffroi, Carillon et Hôtel de Ville” ensemble is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A spiral staircase with 195 steps leads to a platform about 40 metres high; from there, you can enjoy panoramic views over the Douaisis. The number of steps and the view also give you a concrete idea of what a visit to the belfry involves.

Boat Tours and Activities at Parc Jacques Vernier

Boat tours through Vieux-Douai can also include a visit to Vidocq’s cell. This lets you combine a trip through the old part of the city with another named visitor attraction.

At Parc Jacques Vernier, the high ropes course includes a red course reaching heights of up to 12 metres; the longest zip line is 111 metres long. There are also four orienteering courses ranging from 1.5 to 3 kilometres. Their themes include farm animals and monsters, as well as flora and Douai’s heritage. The courses therefore differ in both length and theme.

Compare the E-Bike Loop and Walking Trail

The guided “Au fil de la Scarpe” e-bike tour is a 22-kilometre loop lasting 2 hours and 30 minutes. It starts at the tourist office on Place d’Armes in Douai. A bicycle and safety equipment are provided; information about the tour is delivered through a Bluetooth earbud. If you want to plan the tour in advance, check the current dates beforehand.

The “Chemin des Eaux” is a 20-kilometre walking trail along the Scarpe, its canal and the Escrebieux River. Sights along the route include the Augustins locks in Douai. The two routes differ in both mode of travel and format: “Au fil de la Scarpe” is a guided e-bike loop with a stated duration, while the “Chemin des Eaux” is a walking trail alongside several waterways. You can use the cycle tour’s stated duration and the walking trail’s route as concrete points of comparison when choosing your activities.

Discover more destinations: Mons-En-Pévèle, Bousies, Bondues, Bourbourg, Bollezeele, Louvroil, Dimont, Bierne.

For the broader travel overview: Nord.