Arras is famous for its two magnificent cobbled squares, listed at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, it attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Place des Héros and Grand-Place. Surrounded by 155 Flemish Baroque-style houses, lined with covered galleries housing fine food shops and cafés. Place des Héros is dominated by the city hall's impressive belfry, it is the symbolic monument of the city.
You can also discover Arras from its depths. Located 12 metres underground, the boves are a collection of underground chambers dug in the 10th century to form a very extensive network of tunnels. They were made first to help build the town's most important buildings. They provided shelter for Allied soldiers in the First World War before they went to fight in the Battle of Arras in April 1917.
Continue your tour of the city via the citadel. Built by Vauban in the 17th century, today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It exhibits the environment, food and agricultural history. You can also take part in workshops and activities.
How to get around
Arras is a perfect town to discover on foot. The squares are surrounded by bars and cafes.
Arras is a very easy train ride from Lille, Ypres or Paris. Alternatively driving in these parts is straight forward. It can be reached by TGV from Paris in about 50 minutes.
Events
Main square festival: The festival goes down on the first weekend of July and has welcomed the likes of The Black Keys, Pearl Jam, Pharrell Williams Coldplay and the Arcade Fire recently.
Carnival: If you are visiting in March, the carnival is an unmissable event.