Hamilton’s guidebook

George
Hamilton’s guidebook

Sightseeing

Places to visit as part of a day out or a whole day out
La Coupole rocket and resistance museum housed in a WW11 V2 rocket base. An immense engineering structure with museums on the seventh floor under the cupola. About 20 minutes away from the farmhouse
78 recommandé par les habitants
La Coupole
Rue André Clabaux
78 recommandé par les habitants
La Coupole rocket and resistance museum housed in a WW11 V2 rocket base. An immense engineering structure with museums on the seventh floor under the cupola. About 20 minutes away from the farmhouse
Agincourt 25 October 1415 was one of the most significant battles of the 100 years war. Famous through Shakespeare's Henry V it was a victory snatched from the jaws of defeat by his tiny army of 6500 starving and ill men against a French force of over 20,000 blocking their way home to Calais. There is a musem at Azincourt (although they recently tried to change the number to their advantage (plus ca change)) but there are lots of reference books at The Farmhouse. There is a restaurant in the village. About 30 minutes from The Farmhouse
10 recommandé par les habitants
Azincourt
10 recommandé par les habitants
Agincourt 25 October 1415 was one of the most significant battles of the 100 years war. Famous through Shakespeare's Henry V it was a victory snatched from the jaws of defeat by his tiny army of 6500 starving and ill men against a French force of over 20,000 blocking their way home to Calais. There is a musem at Azincourt (although they recently tried to change the number to their advantage (plus ca change)) but there are lots of reference books at The Farmhouse. There is a restaurant in the village. About 30 minutes from The Farmhouse
A walled and moated town just south of Dunkirk about 70 minutes away from the Farmhouse that is one of the most complete fortified towns in Northern France and was from medeival times to WW11. Was part of the defensive ring around Dunkirk whilst the evacuation took place. Well worth a visit and Le Breugal restaurant by the canal that goes through the centre is well worth a visit. It featured in the iconic comedy film about Northern France called "Bienvenue les Chiti" About 75 minutes from The Farmhouse, visit Cassel on the way and go on to the beaches of Dunkirk.
45 recommandé par les habitants
Bergues
45 recommandé par les habitants
A walled and moated town just south of Dunkirk about 70 minutes away from the Farmhouse that is one of the most complete fortified towns in Northern France and was from medeival times to WW11. Was part of the defensive ring around Dunkirk whilst the evacuation took place. Well worth a visit and Le Breugal restaurant by the canal that goes through the centre is well worth a visit. It featured in the iconic comedy film about Northern France called "Bienvenue les Chiti" About 75 minutes from The Farmhouse, visit Cassel on the way and go on to the beaches of Dunkirk.
Cassel is a pretty hill town, about 45 minutes from The Farmhouse and can be visited on the way to either Bergues and Dunkirk or Ypres. A hilltop fortress in Roman times (see the roads emanating from it like a spider's web) with spectacular views over flat countryside. It was Marshall Foch's HQ in WW1. Part of the defensive line shielding Dunkirk,visit the CEG cemetary holding those who died holding it. It also gave rise to the nursery rhyme: "The Grand Old Duke of York, he had 10,000 men, he marched them up to the top of the hill and down again. When they were up they were up and when they were down they were down etc..... When you have driven up one side and down the other you can imagine what his troops said, but it was the only road coming from Flanders. About 40 minutes from The Farmhouse, visit on the way to Bergues or Ypres.
36 recommandé par les habitants
Cassel
36 recommandé par les habitants
Cassel is a pretty hill town, about 45 minutes from The Farmhouse and can be visited on the way to either Bergues and Dunkirk or Ypres. A hilltop fortress in Roman times (see the roads emanating from it like a spider's web) with spectacular views over flat countryside. It was Marshall Foch's HQ in WW1. Part of the defensive line shielding Dunkirk,visit the CEG cemetary holding those who died holding it. It also gave rise to the nursery rhyme: "The Grand Old Duke of York, he had 10,000 men, he marched them up to the top of the hill and down again. When they were up they were up and when they were down they were down etc..... When you have driven up one side and down the other you can imagine what his troops said, but it was the only road coming from Flanders. About 40 minutes from The Farmhouse, visit on the way to Bergues or Ypres.
Ypres probably needs no explanation. The key to the salient in WW1 it was the last town in Belgium to hold out, held by the allies but mainly by British Empire troops. After 4 years of fighting it was mainly ruins and brick dust. Churchill wanted to leave it like that as a permanent memorial but the industrious population returned and rebuilt it according to the original old plans. Surrounded by memorials it is a moving experience commemorating those who died to hold it. It is also a pretty town still moated and walled. You could spend several days here just visiting museums, Flanders Fields in Ypres centre, Sanctuary wood and Passendale with their trench systems and Hooge crater museum just up from Hellfire corner - now a peaceful roundabout - but well within the sights of German artillery on the Messine Ridge held by them, giving vantage points overlooking the Ypres countryside into the city itself. Dont miss the Last Post ceremony at The Menin Gate every night at 8pm. Plenty of restaurants around the main square. Plenty of reference books in The Farmhouse. About 60 minutes from The Farmhouse.
81 recommandé par les habitants
Ypres
81 recommandé par les habitants
Ypres probably needs no explanation. The key to the salient in WW1 it was the last town in Belgium to hold out, held by the allies but mainly by British Empire troops. After 4 years of fighting it was mainly ruins and brick dust. Churchill wanted to leave it like that as a permanent memorial but the industrious population returned and rebuilt it according to the original old plans. Surrounded by memorials it is a moving experience commemorating those who died to hold it. It is also a pretty town still moated and walled. You could spend several days here just visiting museums, Flanders Fields in Ypres centre, Sanctuary wood and Passendale with their trench systems and Hooge crater museum just up from Hellfire corner - now a peaceful roundabout - but well within the sights of German artillery on the Messine Ridge held by them, giving vantage points overlooking the Ypres countryside into the city itself. Dont miss the Last Post ceremony at The Menin Gate every night at 8pm. Plenty of restaurants around the main square. Plenty of reference books in The Farmhouse. About 60 minutes from The Farmhouse.
The old town above modern Boulogne has city walls with great views and atmospheric streets that you can walk around as well as good restaurants. France's premier fishing port means that seafood is to be had in abundance. It has the sealife aqyarium near the port. About 45 - 50 minutes from The Farmhouse.
78 recommandé par les habitants
Boulogne-sur-Mer
78 recommandé par les habitants
The old town above modern Boulogne has city walls with great views and atmospheric streets that you can walk around as well as good restaurants. France's premier fishing port means that seafood is to be had in abundance. It has the sealife aqyarium near the port. About 45 - 50 minutes from The Farmhouse.

Neighbourhoods

St Omer is our local cathedral city about 15 minutes away from The Farmhouse. It has a bustling Saturday market and lots of cafes and restaurants. The centre is little changed for several centuries and the roof scapes are wonderful. There is the Sandelin museum and boat trips on the nearby Clairmarais - a kind of agricultural venice where the residents still get around on boats and bring their produce to market by boat. The cathedral is magnificent and has over a doorway a statue called "The great God of Therouanne" all that is left of our local town 5 minutes away which was the village outside the walled cathedral city. The city was totally destroyed in 1553 by the forces of the Holy Roman Emperor. It was never rebuilt. His soldiers refused to destroy the statue becauise it depicted God. St Omer was an early bishop there.
41 recommandé par les habitants
Saint-Omer
41 recommandé par les habitants
St Omer is our local cathedral city about 15 minutes away from The Farmhouse. It has a bustling Saturday market and lots of cafes and restaurants. The centre is little changed for several centuries and the roof scapes are wonderful. There is the Sandelin museum and boat trips on the nearby Clairmarais - a kind of agricultural venice where the residents still get around on boats and bring their produce to market by boat. The cathedral is magnificent and has over a doorway a statue called "The great God of Therouanne" all that is left of our local town 5 minutes away which was the village outside the walled cathedral city. The city was totally destroyed in 1553 by the forces of the Holy Roman Emperor. It was never rebuilt. His soldiers refused to destroy the statue becauise it depicted God. St Omer was an early bishop there.
Le Touquet Paris Plage was where the well to do took their holidays at the turn of the century up to the 1950s. A fascinating mix of Hollywood style homes, period architecture and modern. It has a massive sandy beach where the tide seems to go out as far as America. Fun for the kids with family cycling around town and lies of sandy beach. Good restaurants abound and it is a pretty drive to get there. Great for a day out the weather pattern there is often different from inland. About 45 - 60 minutes from The Farmhouse.
193 recommandé par les habitants
Le Touquet
193 recommandé par les habitants
Le Touquet Paris Plage was where the well to do took their holidays at the turn of the century up to the 1950s. A fascinating mix of Hollywood style homes, period architecture and modern. It has a massive sandy beach where the tide seems to go out as far as America. Fun for the kids with family cycling around town and lies of sandy beach. Good restaurants abound and it is a pretty drive to get there. Great for a day out the weather pattern there is often different from inland. About 45 - 60 minutes from The Farmhouse.
Historic town on North bank of the Somme estuary with quaint streets and magnificent views across the estuary mouth to St Valery Sur Somme on the south bank. Good restaurants as fishing port and boat trips. Has sandy beaches. Nature reserves for bird watching and seals on sandbanks. GGood walking.
110 recommandé par les habitants
Le Crotoy
24 Quai Courbet
110 recommandé par les habitants
Historic town on North bank of the Somme estuary with quaint streets and magnificent views across the estuary mouth to St Valery Sur Somme on the south bank. Good restaurants as fishing port and boat trips. Has sandy beaches. Nature reserves for bird watching and seals on sandbanks. GGood walking.
On the South bank of the Somme estuary. Pretty and hisoric riverside town with views from the castle and town walls. Famous as the place from where William the Conqueror took off to invade England, whre Joan of Arc was held, and where Henry V had to turn inland after Harfleur as the ford was broken, and ended up at Agincourt. It also has a preserved railway line which operates in summer. It is also famous for its salt marsh lamb from the salt flats in the estaury and has good restaurants.
202 recommandé par les habitants
SAINT VALERY SUR SOMME
279-5 Quai Jeanne d'Arc
202 recommandé par les habitants
On the South bank of the Somme estuary. Pretty and hisoric riverside town with views from the castle and town walls. Famous as the place from where William the Conqueror took off to invade England, whre Joan of Arc was held, and where Henry V had to turn inland after Harfleur as the ford was broken, and ended up at Agincourt. It also has a preserved railway line which operates in summer. It is also famous for its salt marsh lamb from the salt flats in the estaury and has good restaurants.