Nestling in open countryside, Les Jardins des Papillons is a haven for peace and relaxation, yet the surrounding area offers guests much to see and do in this unspoilt and little-explored region. Les Jardins des Papillons is located on two of 12 designated cycle routes.
Cycling along quiet, (almost) traffic-free lanes, there’s no better way to explore the attractive landscape dotted with pretty villages, churches and châteaux.
Younger visitors will appreciate the local child-friendly museums and will be delighted by water-fun and theme parks in the area.
Paris and Disneyland are a 55-minute TGV train ride from Arras.
Both young and not-so-young visitors will also enjoy the car and motorbike racing on offer at the Croix-en-Ternois Formula 3 racetrack - training courses are also offered.
If you’re energetic and love the open air...
- golf courses
- cycle routes
- horse riding
- swimming
- fishing
- tennis
- walking
- leisure parks
- nature trails
- mountain biking
- sailing
- water skiing
- dry slope skiing
- tree climbing
Les Jardins des Papillons is in a quiet rural village in the Artois region of northern France. The property is ideal for guests seeking peace and relaxation - but the good road and rail access also makes it an excellent base for exploring this historic region.
The market towns of Frévent and St-Pol-sur-Ternoise are both five minutes away. They have all the essential shops and facilities of a small town, as well as a good choice of bars and restaurants.
For a complete contrast, visit the vibrant modern city of Lille. It is rich with historic monuments and excellent museums, lively brasseries and numerous pavement cafés.
The renowned "Braderie" (bric-a-brac market) during the first weekend of September attracts two million visitors! Arras (25 minutes away) is the capital of Pas-de-Calais and the birthplace of Robespierre.
Arras is also famous for its Andouillette (chitterling sausage) and its Andouillette Festival held each September.
The shops in the town now sell heart shaped cheeses and chocolates as well. Look out also for the chocolate rats which grace the town’s shop windows - the rat is a symbol on the Arras emblem.
The famous monuments of World War I, the site of the battle of Crécy and the Agincourt Visitor Centre are all within easy reach, as are Vimy Ridge (the Canadian memorial) and Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (the French national military cemetery and museum).
Travelling further afield, but still accessible for day trips, are the Somme memorials and the Flanders Field route, which starts at Ypres in Belgium.
The Somme coastline and the Côte-d’Opale (Opal coast) is under an hour away and has miles of unspoilt sandy beaches. Amiens, the capital of the Somme (45 minutes away) is home to the largest gothic cathedral in France.
The town’s old quarter, St-Leu, is fun to explore, and don’t forget the fruit and vegetable stalls of Les Hortillonnages - market gardens which criss-cross the town’s narrow canals. During your holiday, you are bound to discover farms selling fresh local produce.
Frévent A little history... The town of Frévent is situated in a sheltered valley on the banks of the River Canche.
Prehistoric man was attracted by the valley which provided both fresh water and protection against the weather. Frévent continued to grow on both sides of the river and became a prosperous town during the Middle Ages.
Since then, the town has been variously affected by the French Revolution, the arrival of the railways, industrialisation and both World Wars.
Archaeology: Le Musée Ducatel has fine examples of early polished tools, Galoises coins and Gallo-Roman pottery.
Things to see Le Musée Ducatel; Ferme aux Oiseaux (bird sanctuary); Moulin Musée Wintenberger (farm machinery & tools); L'Eglise Saint-Hilaire; Le Château de Cercamp; ruins of a 12th-century château-fort.
Things to do Foire de Printemps (March); Foire d'Automne; St-Nicolas market (December); leisure lake.
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