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Spring 2022

Discover Paris in the spring, Caen in Normandy and its marvellous markets plus Yvoire, a picturesque village on the edge of Lake Geneva in Haute-Savoie. Explore Saint-Omer, a historic city in the far north that's full of secrets and treasures, and Evian, where Frankenstein's monster stayed! Head with us to Metz in Lorraine to find out about its incredible past, La Couvertoirade, one of the prettiest villages in France, and the UNESCO heritage of Avignon. Guides, gorgeous photos, what's new in France, the best tours and delicious recipes from the legendary Le Nôtre bakery in Paris - and more.

Discover Paris in the spring, Caen in Normandy and its marvellous markets plus Yvoire, a picturesque village on the edge of Lake Geneva in Haute-Savoie. Explore Saint-Omer, a historic city in the far north that's full of secrets and treasures, and Evian, where Frankenstein's monster stayed! Head with us to Metz in Lorraine to find out about its incredible past, La Couvertoirade, one of the prettiest villages in France, and the UNESCO heritage of Avignon. Guides, gorgeous photos, what's new in France, the best tours and delicious recipes from the legendary Le Nôtre bakery in Paris - and more.

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Saint-Omer<br />

Saint-Omer in the Pas-de-Calais department<br />

is just 30 minutes from Calais by car and<br />

2.5 hours from Paris by car or train. It is<br />

a town that has an extraordinary history<br />

spanning millennia. The Romans set up shop<br />

here. Thomas Becket AKA Saint Thomas<br />

of Canterbury, took refuge there. Three of<br />

America’s Founding Fathers studied at the<br />

Jesuit Chapel. Saint-Omer is the symbolic<br />

home of the British Royal Air Force and<br />

it’s where Douglas Bader, hero of the RAF<br />

in WWII was shot down, escaped from his<br />

captors and was sheltered in the town.<br />

And surrounding Saint-Omer is some of the<br />

most bucolic countryside in France, with<br />

shades of the Dordogne.<br />

Visit the town<br />

Start your visit at Place du Maréchal Foch<br />

in the centre of the town. It’s lined with<br />

gourmet food shops and cafés that are<br />

perfect for sitting outside and watching the<br />

life of the town go on. Behind the theatre<br />

which dominates this ancient square, is Guy<br />

Delalleau’s delicious boulangerie/patisserie –<br />

his cakes are like small works of art and taste<br />

as good as they look – it’s not to be missed.<br />

Around the squares are cobbled streets with<br />

300 year old merchants houses and majestic<br />

manors, a place that lures artists to capture<br />

the topsy-turvy Flemish style. The River Aa<br />

runs through the town and makes for a pretty<br />

walk and if you happen to be there in the last<br />

week in July, you’ll be able to join in the fun of<br />

the annual nautical procession, a carnival of<br />

floats on water!<br />

Park your car (there are several free car parks)<br />

and pick up a map from the tourist office<br />

which is in a tranquil green area behind the<br />

Cathedral and where you can sit on Paris style<br />

park chairs at the café and listen to those<br />

mellow bells ring. And if you go on Saturday<br />

morning, you’ll find one of the best markets in<br />

the region. Saint-Omer is a place to wander,<br />

and discover it’s many secrets…<br />

The Good Life France | 27

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