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Hoteliers, proud of their regions
- André Dennequin
The history, the beauty of the bell towers, the welcome and warmth of the locals ' les Ch’tis': better than in the movies.
Immortalised last year by a phenomenally successful film, the Northern France region has the memory of the past in its magnificent bell towers, but looks towards the future, carried by its dynamism. Why not try a Tarte au maroilles (a cheese pie) to complete a stay where hospitality will be second to none. As they say in the film, «Welcome to … the northerners».
André Dennequin manages the INTER-HOTEL Belle Hotel in Bailleul, next to Lille. And we can say he's a character!: «I'm pure Flemish, and I love the profession of hotelier/restaurant owner I've had with my wife for more than half a century. The region is between the Nord-Pas-de-Calais and the Belgian border, where the French fry was invented at the end of the first world war. When I'm relaxing I enjoy archery, a sport dating from the middle ages. Birds are my target. Don't worry, today they are artificial», he smiles.
- Typical Flemish building and bell tower, Lille
«The heritage of the «corons», old miners houses, is very strong. The Leward museum is a great memorial to the lives of these miners; the INTER-HOTELs Le Gayant and Liberty are nearby.
«In the North, remembrance tourism is very present. Lots of English, Australians and Canadians visit the war cemetaries, reminders of a painful past still present.»
«Our heritage also includes the textile industry. Lace from Calais and Caudry is greatly prized by the top designers. Our magnificent buildings in red brick, with ledges for birds, and our bell towers listed as word heritage sites by UNESCO, dominate the towns; you can hear the bells ringing for miles.».
In the North, every town has its «giant», which represents an imaginary or historical character or animal. They are witnesses to local fetes, carnavals and a generous gastronomy: «carbonade, Potje Vleesch, moules frites, tartes au maroilles»… The giants bring out there party clothes for the different carnavals of the region.
In Saint-Omer, you can discover the marshland of audomarois and taste the local liqueur «le genièvre de houle». Not far from there, in Cambrai, you can enjoy local sweets «les bêtises», and enjoy the beauty of the buildings. Finally the «Route du Houblon» which leaves Poperinge at the Franco-Belgian border, will allow you to discover the making of beer in the micro brasseries.
- On a beach, in Northern France
In Lille, the «capital» of the north, where general de Gaulle was born and spent his childhood, you'll be charmed by the old town, but the city is made up of 10 districts. Classified as «Ville d'Art et d'Histoire», Lille has a Beaux-Arts museum, considered second in France after the Louvre in Paris, and a natural history museum, as well as the Hospice Comtesse devoted to the life in Flanders from the middle ages to the Revolution. The birthplace of Charles de Gaulle is also a museum. Finally, for the many fans, the «Braderie de Lille» is a good occasion to visit the region, while hunting for bargains. We have a wide offer of hotels in the Lille region.
Nearby, in Roubaix, is the famous «Piscine», the old municipal swimming pool, a major example of Art Deco in the region, today a museum of art and industry. A 'must' visit. Take advantage of your stay to discover the magnificent architecture of our INTER-HOTEL Grand Hotel, in the heart of Roubaix.
«Northern France is also the coastline, the beautiful cliffs», continues André Dennequin. It's here that Louis Blériot became famous on the 25th July 1909 by crossing the Channel by plane. The pleasant kite fete, every year in the month of April, takes place on the beach at Berck-sur-Mer». Finally, the English didn't wait for the Channel Tunnel to discover the charms of the seaside resort of Le Touquet (Paris Plage) to play golf there.
The last word is for André Dennequin: «Come to my home. My door is always open». Because, in the North, you can't beat the quality of the welcome.