Nord

Overview

Key facts

• Type of place: department.

• Location:

• Department code: 59.

• Bordering departments:

• Prefecture: Lille.

• Sub-prefectures: Avesnes-sur-Helpe, Cambrai, Douai, Dunkerque, Valenciennes.

• Number of communes: 648.

• Population: 2,604,361 inhabitants (2017).

• Area: 5,743 km².

• Density: 453 inhabitants/km².

• Highest point:

• Lowest point: sea level.

• Coastline:

• Highlights (out of ★★★★): Nature ★★; Culture ★★★; Relaxation/holidays ★/ ★★

• Website: http://www.tourisme-nordpasdecalais.fr

History of the Nord

Geography and environment

Culture and economy

What to see in the Nord

• What to see in Hauts-de-France and the Nord

Logically, the best-known part of the department is the city of Lille, with its monuments, museums, and vibrant atmosphere, which now extends to neighboring towns (Roubaix, Tourcoing, etc.). Less mainstream, the Nord also boasts several of the "fortified towns of Nord-Pas-de-Calais" (Avesnes, Gravelines, etc.), charming belfries typical of the region—many of which are UNESCO-listed—as well as remnants of its mining past. For natural heritage, head to the coast, with its dunes and long beaches.

What to do in the Nord

Climate and weather

The department has an oceanic climate, characterized by mild, rainy winters and relatively cool summers, with less pronounced temperature differences between seasons than in regions farther from the coast. Note that it’s not the amount of rainfall that defines this climate, but its frequency and even distribution throughout the year.

Sea temperature throughout the year

Transport

Getting there

Getting around

Accommodation

Food

Additional resources