Arras France: Best Things to Do in One Day

After Tournai, Belgium we crossed borders and slipped into France. Our road trip through Normandy region of France was planned with halts at Arras, Amiens and night halt at Lisieux.

Whether Arras is worth visiting depends a lot on your interests and what kind of experience you’re seeking. If you have an interest in history, architecture, and cultural exploration, Arras can offer a rewarding experience. I was particularly interested in the UNESCO status of Arras France.

Its location in the Hauts-de-France region made it a convenient stop in my itinerary of Europe Road trip. If you’re traveling through northern France or exploring the nearby battlefields and war memorials from World War I then Arras is definitely worth stopping.

Artois France

Where is Arras

So, where is Arras? Arras is a city located in northern France at the confluence of the rivers Scarpe and Crinchon. It is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France. Arras is situated approximately 165 km north of Paris, but Paris figured much later in our Europe itinerary. We arrived at Arras from Tournai.

Europe Road Trip – Tournai to Arras

We arrived at Arras by car, the road trip starting from Tournai in Belgium. As we crossed the border from Belgium into France, there was noticeable change in the road signs and scenery. The E42 motorway in Belgium is known as the A16 in France. The trip was a short and pleasant journey through the scenic countryside of northern Europe.

Arras Town Hall and Belfry

Arras has 2 buildings inscribed in list of UNESCO heritage sites:  the Belfry of Arras which belongs to the group of Belfries in France and Belgium and The Citadel of Arras, a star-shaped fortress was built by the military engineer Vauban in the 17th century. Both were inscribed in 2005.

Arras is one town which had been battered and bruised badly during both World War I and World War II. But it was lovingly rebuilt and so much of the past glory was restored. It is almost a replica of ancient buildings built in their original locations as a tribute to the city’s medieval heritage!

Arras France Town Hall and Belfry

Things to See in Arras France

Squares of Arras

Arras Town Hall

There are two market squares, La Grande Place and Place de Heros, the latter smaller of the two. The Town Hall adds charm to this square.

The beautiful French Town Hall got destroyed by the end of World War I. Only 5% of the houses were inhabitable after the dreadful bombing receded. One reason for this was Arras was just 10 km away from front line throughout the war. It came to be known as martyred city.

Well, standing there and relearning history with my kids was an experience by itself!

Interesting features inside Arras Town Hall

• Four giants, depicting the market gardeners of Achicourt
• Interior is Art deco
• Council and wedding rooms are adorned with wainscoting
• Banquet hall has 240 sqm of tapestry
• It depicts 800 figures of those who played a role in the history of Arras

Roof of Arras town Hall with cute windows.

Interested in more Town Halls of Europe? You may like these:

• Aachen Rathaus, Germany
• Leuven Town Hall, Belgium

Architectural details of French Town Hall in Arras

Those arcades, pinnacles, dormers, ridge spikes embellished with gold leaf are identical recreations made between the years 1922-1924. They were constructed after the explosion in October 1914 which razed the Belfry and the French Town Hall to the ground.

Timings and Tickets for Arras Town Hall

Open timings: Mid Apr-mid Sep: 9 AM to 6.30 PM, Sun and Bank Hols: 10 AM to 1 PM, 2.30 PM to 6.30 PM.
Rest of year: 9am-noon, 2pm-6pm, Sun and Bank Hols 10am-12.30pm, 2.30pm-6.30pm, Mon 10am-noon, 2pm-6pm
Closed 1 Jan, 25 Dec

Tickets: 3.10 € (<18 years old 2.10 €)

Beautiful Facade design of Arras Town Hall

Lovely Facade with unequal arches

Belfry of Arras France

The visit duration allowed is 20 minutes but they allow only 19 people per ascent to Belfry. So if you intend to go up the Belfry of Arras for mesmerizing views of this medieval town some bit of planning is required. A night halt at Arras can help or you have to book with some operator for a time slot.

We had to give this a miss because we didn’t anticipate this situation, bad planning there.

Tickets: Full price: €3.50, Concessions: €2.40

Emblem of Arras – Gilded Lion on top of Belfry

Belfry of Arras belongs to the group of 23 belfries in the north of France that were inscribed in 2005, as an extension to the 32 Belgian belfries inscribed in 1999 as Belfries of Flanders and Wallonia to the UNESCO list.

Belltower of Arras

Grande Place Square (Place des Héros) of Arras France

The Grande Place (pic below) has houses and few restaurants lined along the sides. We parked our car here in this square. During weekends both these squares turn into market area and is filled with lot of activities.

Markets in the Squares are held every Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

Panoramic view of Arras Grande Place Square

Arras Ruins Grand Place after World War I – image from http://northumbriangunner.blogspot.com/2017/03/arras-arras.html

Boves of Arras

Can you believe we were actually standing over a maze of tunnels? Yes, underneath the square there exists a maze of tunnels.

Boves of Arras are underground caves which got created due to quarrying proved to be blessing for residents of Arras during the wars. They were dug out from 9th century onwards, to extract material for the construction of the city’s religious buildings.

The tunnels left behind provided residents of Arras from heavy bombing during World Wars, other times they were used for storing wine and food. Today it is major tourist attraction as a unique walk 12 m below the city.

Sadly I had to give this a miss because only 25 people are allowed per time slot to tour inside the tunnels. All slots for the day were filled up. Arrive or plan early to take a guided tour to discover this subterranean world and learn about its historical uses.

Chapel of the Holy Candle Arras – long-gone historical buildings whose outlines are laid out on the cobbles of the Square.

Churches of Artois France

Arras, France has several churches, each one relevant with its own unique architectural and historical significance. You can include couple of them to your itinerary of one day trip to Arras:

Arras Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Vaast): The one we get to see today is a rebuilt structure on the remains of the old cathedral that existed at the site. It was destroyed badly in bombing during World Wars. The cathedral features a stunning Gothic architecture, intricate stained-glass windows, and a beautiful interior.

Left pic credit – By All images from the Canadian Expeditionary Force photograph albums were uploaded as part of the Archives of Ontario’s GLAM Wiki project., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=124445021 Right pic by me

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church (Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste): Located in the heart of Arras, this church is known for its elegant Baroque facade and interior. It’s dedicated to Saint John the Baptist.

Historical Monuments of Arras

The Arras Monument aux Morts – It is also known as the Arras Memorial. A World War I memorial located in the Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery in Arras, France, it commemorates the soldiers from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and August 1918 and have no known grave. It was constructed between 1929 and 1932. It was unveiled on July 31, 1932.

Ring of Remembrance Artois – Situated just a 15-minute drive north of Arras, the Ring of Remembrance stands as a pivotal monument along the Great War Remembrance Trails. Unveiled on November 11, 2014, at the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette Necropolis, this modern memorial takes the shape of a vast ellipse, bearing the engraved names of the 580,000 soldiers who perished in the Great War. It serves as a profoundly poignant symbol of international peace.

Flemish Baroque Style Townhouses

155 facades punctuated by 345 columns! These houses on the Squares of Arras are listed as Historical Monuments of France.

Some of the facades escaped the wrath of bombs and still have the same facade. This pic below is of one such building.

Heritage building facade that escaped the wrath of World War I

Interesting Facts of Arras France

First mention – In 843, the County of Artois had its seat in Arras, which later became part of the Royal domain in 1191. The name Arras first appeared in the 12th century.

UNESCO site – The Citadel of Arras was Constructed by Vauban in the 17thcentury. The town’s military history spanning 3 centuries makes it a distinctive and unparalleled site in France. Now demilitarized, Arras was added to UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008.

Different names of Arras

Arras was known by different names that reflect the city’s rich history and the influence of various cultures and languages in the region over the centuries. The official name is Arras in French. Some other names are:

• Artois – The region where Arras is located, historically known as Artois, had both French and Dutch influences, which is reflected in the different names for the city.
• Nemetocenna – This was the original name of the town, given to it by the Gauls who founded it. It means “sacred space” in the Celtic language.
• Aristum – During the Roman period, Arras was known as “Aristum” in Latin.
• Aras – In the local Picard dialect, Arras is sometimes referred to as “Aras” which may have come from the Celtic word for “running water”. Thus, Arras meaning may stand for running water.
• Atrecht – In Flemish, another variant of the Dutch language, the town is referred to as “Atrecht.”

Nicknames of Arras

• The City of Tapestries – This is because it was a major center for the production of tapestries in the Middle Ages.
• Martyred City – Only 5% of the houses were inhabitable after the dreadful bombing of World War I receded. It came to be known as martyred city.

How to reach Arras in France

Arras itself does not have its own airport; you can reach the city by flying into nearby airports – Lille Airport (Aéroport de Lille-Lesquin) and Brussels Airport (Brussels-Zaventem Airport). From these airports, you can take a train or rent a car to reach Arras.

If you’re traveling within France or from nearby European cities, taking the train is a convenient option. The Arras train station is well-connected and serviced by both regional and high-speed trains (TGV). You can check train schedules and book tickets through the French national railway company, SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français).

We preferred driving and reached Arras by car from Tournai in Belgium.

Conclusion

This trip to Arras Town Hall and Belfry could have been a memorable one had we planned a little better. We were aware of the timings of Belfry and Boves but we weren’t aware of the restriction on the number of people who can enter per time slot. Nevertheless I will say that a visit to Arras with family and kids is highly recommended, particularly if they are interested in history.

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