An insider’s guide to Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardy in northern France, including the main attractions to visit on holiday, the best towns and villages to live in, the major festivals and events, and buying property in Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardy

Some of France’s most beautiful beaches, villages and attractions are close to the ferry ports of Brittany, Normandy and Hauts de France, making northern France a great place to live or buy a holiday home

If you are thinking of moving to or buying a property in Lille or any other part of Nord, here are some key things to know about life in the northern department

You don’t have to travel far at all from the Channel ferry ports to find your dream French property. These lovely homes are within an hour’s drive of Calais, Dieppe, Le Havre, Caen, Cherbourg, St-Malo or Roscoff.

France has beautiful villages and remarkable gardens in abundance, but which beautiful French villages also have remarkable gardens? Ruth Wood presents a magnificent seven