Places to visit | Local area map | Trains to/from Calais, Dunkerque, Arras, Lille
Hazebrouck

Hazebrouck - important railway junction Hazebrouck grew as a textile town the 16th century when Philip II of Spain built a canal linking the town to the River Lys. It has a much older history - which still continues - as a market town for local farmers. In the 19th century, Hazebrouck gained a striking classical town hall in the Napoleonic era, and became an important railway junction, which led to it being a military target during World Wars I and II.

In the 1860's Hazebrouck became a busy railway junction between the Lille-Calais, and Dunkerque-Arras lines.

Hazebrouck Town Hall, built at the beginning of the 19th century under Napoleon (the clock was added later) - Traditional Folk dancing in the main square, where weekly markets are also held.

The town giants on an “outing”, and in their usual home - in the town museum.	Town Traditions Hazebrouck's giants - Roland, Tijse-Tajse, Toria and Babe-Tajse - are normally there to welcome you to the town's Museum. The Flemish-style building was once an Augustinian Friary, andnow displays a collection of Flemish and French paintings, church relics, and a traditional Flemish kitchen. .
Museum: formerly Chapel and Friary of the Augustines - Outside: waiting for the Giants to lead the Carnival procession
Musée des Augustins: Art Gallery, collection of French and Flemish paintings	Location: Musée des Augustins, HAZEBROUCK Directions: Take N42 W from St-Omer; from A25 Dunkerque-Lille autoroute, exit 11, take N42 E to Hazebrouck. Information/ reservations: Tel: 00 33 3 28 43 03 83
Hot air balloons
Hot-air balloons - invented by the Montgolfier brothers in the 1780's. You can ride in one from Hazebrouck over the surrounding countryside.
Location: Club Montgolfières Passion, 253 rue d'Aire, HAZEBROUCK Directions: - as above -. Information/ reservations: Tel: 00 33 3 28 41 65 59

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Weblinks and more information		Local area map: Click on towns for more information
Other places to visit 'T Kasteelhof Estaminet - traditional Flemish bar Cassel Windmill - see it working! Saint Omer Brewery La Coupole - Museum of Second World War & Rockets	feature QUICK TOUR round the Heart of Flanders, starting with a typical Flemish estaminet...
Background Information: Flemish dialect and customs Giants - a Flemish custom

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