Have you decided to spend a weekend in the capital of Artois ? If you’re visiting the region, Arras has plenty to offer.
Steeped in history, Arras is an attractive city even in the northern rain. Here’s a small selection of places to visit, whether unusual or particularly touristy, and discover the city in a whole new light.
Climb the Arras Belfry and visit the squares
Arras is best known for its Belfry, voted France’s favorite monument in 2015. The Belfry in Arras is an institution, not only because it’s the heart of the town, but also because it’s the venue for public debates. Indeed, in northern France (Flanders) and Belgium, a belfry represents a town’s decision-making power. The 75-metre-high belfry in Arras, rebuilt after the war by Pierre Paquet, is one of the finest in the Hauts-de-France region, with its majestic flamboyant Gothic tower. Climb the dozens of steps leading up to the clock tower, dominated by the city’s golden lion, and you’ll enjoy a superb panorama of the city and surrounding countryside on a clear day.
If you have time, you can also explore the underground passages known as the Boves, which go all the way up to Mont Saint Eloi!
At the foot of the Arras Belfry, discover the Place des Héros and its urban dynamism. It’s the perfect place to go for a drink on a café terrace and share experiences with the people of Arras. A rectangular square like the Grand’Place, Place des Héros is the epicenter of the city and a must-see for visitors to Arras. A little further along, via Rue de la Taillerie, you’ll discover the magnificent architecture of the Grand’Place. The Grand’Place has been the subject of numerous films, and its original Flemish-Spanish style makes it unique north of Paris.
Place des Héros and its cafés
Getting lost in the Cathedral and Méaulens districts
While you can happily stroll through the squares of Arras on a sunny afternoon, you can also take a stroll through a nearby district known as “le quartier Méaulens”. This is primarily an artery leading down to the lower part of Arras from the administrative center. Running alongside Arras’ new cathedral (see our article on this subject), rue Méaulens is home to a number of original independent businesses. However, it’s also an opportunity to explore the sides of the street and discover the many alleyways of Arras’ historic old town. Classically, the cathedral also overlooks the Abbaye Saint-Vaast, where you’ll find the city’s museum.
Cathedral (seen from rue Méaulens)
Visit the Arras Museum
Between permanent exhibitions and recent collections contributed by French museums, the Musée d’Arras is a particularly interesting place if you like the Baroque periods. The partnerships forged between the town and Versailles bear witness to this (the carriages were a big hit with the public not so long ago). With its interior cloister, the site has a surprisingly refreshing atmosphere after a long walk through the city. If you’re a history buff, head off to the town’s mediatheque, which has managed to achieve a superb alchemy in its renovation between the tradition of the old building and the modernity of concrete. Here, on the second floor, you’ll find the town’s historical archives available for consultation.
Exterior view of the Arras media library
Discover the Arras Citadel
Further outside town, you can discover the citadel built by Vauban. It’s an important part of the city’s history, and also a place of remembrance (Le mur des fusillés). Today, the citadel is the headquarters of the CUA (Communauté Urbaine d’Arras), and features military buildings that have been converted into offices and local businesses. There’s plenty of room to stroll the cobblestones of the gigantic Place d’Armes. Further afield, enjoy a stroll through the city’s wooded lung, the polygon.
The Arras citadel built by Vauban
Walking along the Scarpe
Looking for a different kind of nature ? The banks of the Scarpe are for you. Here, you can go far out into the surrounding countryside by following the river. We invite you to stop for a few moments near the digital barge you see below, and also visit the Cité Nature, a building entirely dedicated to the environment which has been rehabilitated from a former industrial wasteland.
The Arras digital barge
Visit the Wellington quarry south of Arras
To make magnificent buildings, the people of Arras used quarries to the south of the town. They were also a refuge for New Zealand soldiers during the First World War. So it’s a place that’s worth discovering as part of the memorial trails organized in the region. You can immerse yourself in a reproduction of the atmosphere of the time. 
X.D.
