Douaisis Tourism

Less than two hours from London by train, Douai and the surrounding region can be enjoyed in many ways: on a boat or a barge, astride an electric bike, in a vintage vehicle… or as a detective! You will discover the history of Douai through the strong symbols of the region: climb the famous belfry and wonder at the carillon, still in operation today, dance with our giants during the Gayant festivals and explore the mining heritage, a rich legacy of the region’s industrial past.

A wealth of things to see and do

If you take a cruise on the Scarpe Canal, you will pass through locks and discover the world of inland navigation. Perhaps take a stroll around France’s second largest river port after Conflans Sainte-Honorine.

Take a walk through the mining towns, climb a slag heap, get up close to a headframe and walk through the mine galleries…

Time to relax at a convivial table, awaken your taste buds over a potjevleesch, a Flemish carbonnade or a welsh with chips, all accompanied by a locally brewed beer.

Spécialités du Nord

Douai – the brewing town

Portes- Douai -Douaisis Nord France-© Douaisis Tourisme

Douai a short break in France

The Northern French Fry

Immersion in the heart of Old Douai

Must-see

Things to do and see

The Musée de la Chartreuse, housed in the former Carthusian Convent, takes you through various collections with paintings by Bellegambe, Rubens, Veronese, Van Scorel… In the museum’s chapel, you will find magnificent sculptures by Rodin, Carpeaux and Bra.

Dive into the medieval world at the Arkéos museum-park, 200,000 years of history traced through objects discovered during excavations. Play Knights in the reconstructed medieval village, climb the feudal mound and taste medieval specialities in the Tavern.

At Orionis, Douai’s planetarium, you will journey to the stars! Sit back and immerse yourself in space, thanks to a 360° projection room with 10K resolution! A 50cm diameter telescope lets you observe objects in the sky for yourself…

Finally, just a short distance from Douai, at the Lewarde Mining History Centre, walk in the shoes of a miner and discover the region’s rich mining heritage. After donning your helmet, you will head down into the mine’s galleries to see how the coal was extracted, to explore the original equipment and tools, and see how a mine shaft worked…

A visit to Douai will awaken your senses and leave you with stars in your eyes !