Northern France _ Saint-Amand-les-Eaux _ Scarpe-Escaut Regional Nature Park © CRTC Hauts-de-France - Sébastien JarryNorthern France _ Saint-Amand-les-Eaux _ Scarpe-Escaut Regional Nature Park © CRTC Hauts-de-France - Sébastien Jarry
©Northern France, Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, Scarpe-Escaut Regional Nature Park| CRTC Hauts-de-France - Sébastien Jarry

Reconnect with nature

In need of a wellness break? How about soothing strolls in the fresh, open air, trips along the water by barge, rowing boat or canoe, or even a round or two at a golf course, all courtesy of Mother Nature in Hauts-de-France, far from noise, pollution, crowding and chaos…? A return to the raw elements will help you take a real break from everyday life, re-anchoring and regenerating all your senses and reigniting your joie de vivre.

Country strolls

Large areas of greenery on your very doorstep will perk up the most tired brain cells and encourage you to tread lightly as you discover our five Regional Natural Parks, our immense forests (100,000 hectares!), our 100-plus soothing gardens including 31 classified Jardins Remarquables, our protected sites, our RAMSAR classified wetlands, our Natura 2000 sites… Here, fragrances, colours and sounds (or sometimes absolute silence!) permeate you, as does the naturally slow rhythm of life. Mother Nature offers up her panoramas to contemplate, her vitamins and her philosophy… Try once and you’ll be eager for many more such sorties!

Lazing to the rhythm of the water

The slow flow of a river deep within a valley, the murmur of a stream, the rich and primeval odour of damp soil…Everything contributes to a sense of escape and relaxation. The Hauts-de-France region has close to 5,000 miles of rivers, 620 of which are navigable. It’s also the French region with the most canals. So it’s no surprise to find a profusion of activities on the water here, perfect for reconnecting with nature. Let yourself be surprised by the options: float between the Audomarois marshlands with their cabbages, through the Hortillonnages (floating market gardens) of Amiens, among the seals of the Somme Bay in a canoe, through the landscapes of the 7 Valleys or even in the heart of Lille’s metropolis…

A green weekend

Explore Hauts-de-France nature

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