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| Les Monts de Flandre Set at the heart of the Flanders hills, Bailleul boasts an astonishing cultural heritage. Exploring the streets of the town is a veritable delight, as you discover typically Flemish sparrows foot facades, niches sheltering statues of the saints, parks and gardens÷ The history in which the town is steeped permeates its streets punctuated with monuments. The Pr"sidial de Flandre (former court building), the Winged Victory (monument to the dead), the lace museum, the Benot Depuydt museum and Saint Vaast church ensure that we are constantly reminded of Bailleuls eventful past. The Flanders hills offer up a variety of landscapes, from woods to farmland, plains to hills, and babbling brooks Ideal for family walks, they also lend themselves to sporting activities such as hiking, riding and mountain-biking. This natural environment is still home to many rare animal species (owls, buzzards), while the area is also the subject of a plant species protection programme coordinated by the regional physiology centre. Not surprisingly for such an enchanting setting, the Flanders hills are a magnet for true nature lovers. There are a host of things to do in the Flanders hills, such as vertical archery, donkey riding, visits to local producers, mills, museums, churches, local crafts. We promise you won't get bored here! The traditional festivals are extremely friendly. More often than not enlivened by folk music, they represent an opportunity to get together as a family or with friends and savour the delights of a traditional Flemish meal. The Bailleul carnival (Mardi Gras weekend) is the regionÌs most important after that of Dunkerque. The floats, each more colourful than the last, file slowly along confetti-strewn streets, accompanied by fanfares and harmonies. Gargantua, the town giant, makes his only appearance of the year to a cacophony of cheers from the crowd. Intrigued and amused, let yourself be guided by the rhythm of the songs until you come to a halt before the tremendous spectacle provided by Doctor PicolissimoÌs operation. The scarecrow festival pays homage to the bird chasers in all their glory (3rd Saturday in July). A competition open to all provides an opportunity for the mad scientists among you to give free rein to your imagination by creating a larger-than-life character. The chus are then paraded through the streets of Bailleul to the sound of fifes and drums, before meeting a scorching end in the main square. Courtesy of a traditional market, the event also serves as a showcase for local produce. And what better way to round off a special day than with a folk ball, an ideal means of cultural exchange and making new friends. Every third Saturday in October, the festival of Saint Hubert celebrates hunters, their horses and dogs. A major event attended by several thousand people, the day provides an opportunity to admire the riders as they try to outdo each other in equestrian and rally events. The traditional buch des Flandres concert provides a beautiful end to the day, as the lovely autumnal sun highlights the warm, reddening shades of the Flanders hills, all of which makes the month of October an ideal time to discover the region. |
| Information from Monts de Flandre
Tourism Office 3 Grand Place BP 95 59270 BAILLEUL Tel.: 03.28.43.81.00 - Fax: 03.28.43.81.01 - E-mail: otmontsdeflandre@nordnet.fr. |
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