Places to visit in Arras:
Arras Fine Arts Museum - prestigious collection
Salle des Mays - gallery of 17th century religious art from Notre-Dame in Paris
Robespierre's house - infamous leader of the French Revolution and the "Terror"
Nearby:
Notre-Dame de Lorette & la Targette - memorials and museums about French sacrifices defending the line in 1915.
Vimy Ridge - First World War memorials
Near Béthune:
Arbronauts - live up in the trees!
Bruay Mining Museum - life underground: guided tours by old miners
Christmas markets - a tradition that's more popular each year
Near Douai:
Historic Mining Centre - experience going down a mine at Lewarde Mining Museum
Belfry and Town Hall - hear Europe's biggest peal of bells
Chartreuse Museum - local museum & art gallery, Douai
Gayants - Douai's town mascots, a family of giants
"Les Gayantines" - sweets for giants from Douai
Palais de Justice - historic riverside courts, start of river tour.
River Tours - starting from Douai
Denis Papin Centre, Oignies - Small mining museum & industrial railways.
Chicory Museum - Orchies
Near Lens:
Lens RC football - stadium
Loisinord ski and watersports resort, year-round skiing on former coal-mine slag-heap