France: Arras
Arras is a beautiful town in northern France where you actually feel like you are in Belgium – rows and rows of Flemish Baroque houses line up the two large squares in the town center – La Grand’ Place and La Place des Héros. Supposedly, no two houses are alike. The larger square has a UNESCO-listed gothic townhall with a beautiful belfry rising almost 250ft/75m high above the square and the entire town. Not far away is the Cathedral of Arras founded in 1030 with high vaulted ceilings and beautiful stained glass windows. Restaurants line up the Flemish houses on both squares and it’s a sin not to stop and enjoy a nice glass of Leffe or a plate of classic French beef tartar with frites.
