Stay sustainably in one of France's most stunning baroque cities. Flemish facades, underground tunnels, WWI memorials — and every IMPT booking removes 1 tonne of CO₂.
Arras is a masterpiece of Flemish baroque architecture hiding in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France. The city's twin squares — the Grand'Place and the Place des Héros — form one of the most spectacular civic ensembles in Europe. Together they present 155 baroque facades, their gabled rooflines and arcaded ground floors creating a visual rhythm that dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. These are not museum-piece squares — they pulse with café terraces, weekly markets, and festival stages that make Arras feel alive year-round.
Beneath the squares lies another Arras entirely. Les Boves are a network of medieval chalk tunnels carved from the 10th century onward, originally used as cellars by merchants and later repurposed as shelters and military passages during both World Wars. Guided tours descend from the Hôtel de Ville directly into this underground labyrinth, one of the most atmospheric subterranean experiences in France.
The city's UNESCO-listed belfry crowns the Hôtel de Ville and offers panoramic views across the rooftops of Artois. Originally built in the 15th century and reconstructed after World War I, the 75-metre tower is part of the Belfries of Belgium and France World Heritage inscription. Just outside town, the Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial and the Carrière Wellington tunnels bring visitors face to face with the region's profound WWI history. Arras was also historically one of Europe's great tapestry-producing centres — the English word "arras" literally means a rich tapestry wall-hanging, a legacy from the city's medieval textile trade.
Today Arras combines this layered heritage with a walkable, human-scaled city centre, excellent TGV connections (50 minutes from Paris), and a food scene rooted in Ch'ti and Artois traditions — from andouillette sausage to the famous Cœur d'Arras chocolate. It is a city that rewards slow exploration and an overnight stay far more than a rushed day trip.
Arras sits at a strategic crossroads in northern France. The TGV from Paris Gare du Nord reaches Arras station in just 50 minutes, with multiple daily services making it one of the fastest city-to-city connections in the region. From Lille-Flandres station, regional TER trains cover the route in around 45 minutes. By car, Arras is positioned at the junction of the A1 motorway (Paris to Lille) and the A26 (Calais to Troyes), making it an ideal stop on any northern France road trip.
The city centre is compact and gloriously walkable. From the train station, a pleasant 10-minute stroll along Rue Gambetta brings you to the Grand'Place. The twin squares and their surrounding streets hold the majority of Arras's restaurants, shops, and attractions within a tight radius. The Citadelle Vauban is a 15-minute walk northwest of the centre along the Scarpe river — a rewarding detour through public gardens and tree-lined paths.
For day trips, Vimy Ridge is only 12 km north of Arras (15 minutes by car, or take bus line 5 from the station). The Louvre-Lens museum — a stunning satellite of the Paris Louvre — is 20 minutes south by car or a short train ride to Lens. The coal mining basin of Lens and Liévin, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, sits alongside it. Douai and its own belfry are 25 minutes east. Lille, the regional capital, is under an hour by train for a full day of Flemish culture, markets, and gastronomy.
Local buses (Artis network) cover the city and suburbs, though walking is the best way to absorb the architecture. Rent a bike from the V'Artis bike-share scheme for longer explorations along the Scarpe towpath. For the Vimy Ridge memorial, a car or taxi is most practical — the site is spread across a wide area of preserved trenches, tunnels, and the monument itself.
The beating heart of Arras. Staying on or near the Grand'Place puts you at the centre of the baroque spectacle, with cafés, restaurants, and the entrance to Les Boves literally at your doorstep. This is where the Saturday morning market sets up and where the Main Square Festival stages its concerts in summer. Hotels here tend to be boutique and mid-range, housed in period buildings.
The smaller of the two squares is dominated by the Hôtel de Ville and its UNESCO belfry. It is marginally quieter than the Grand'Place but equally beautiful, with a handful of intimate restaurants and easy access to the covered market hall. The Boves tour starts from the tourist office here. Accommodation options include small hotels and guesthouses in the surrounding streets.
Northwest of the centre, the Vauban Citadelle occupies a vast star-shaped fortification surrounded by parkland and the winding Scarpe river. This area suits travellers who prefer green space and morning jogs over nightlife. It is a 15-minute walk to the squares, and you will pass through residential streets with patisseries and bakeries. The Mémorial britannique de la Bataille d'Arras is also in this direction.
Practical for arrivals on late TGVs or early departures. The station quarter has several chain hotels offering reliable, modern rooms. Rue Gambetta links the station to the Grand'Place in 10 minutes on foot — a straight, pleasant walk with shops and cafés along the way. A good base for day-trippers heading to Vimy Ridge or Louvre-Lens who want fast transport connections.
Book any of these Arras hotels through IMPT for 5% cashback in IMPT tokens and 1 tonne of CO₂ removed from the atmosphere — at the same price as Booking.com.
One of the largest and most uniform baroque squares in Europe. The Grand'Place stretches 184 metres long and is lined with 155 Flemish baroque facades featuring distinctive gabled rooflines and arcaded walkways at street level. Originally dating to the 11th century as a market square, the buildings were reconstructed after World War I damage to their 17th–18th century designs. Today the square hosts the Saturday market, café terraces, and the annual Main Square Festival. Free to visit.
The smaller companion to the Grand'Place, connected by a short street. Dominated by the Hôtel de Ville and its soaring belfry, this square has an even more intimate atmosphere. The covered market hall on one side sells regional produce — cheeses, charcuterie, and Artois specialities. The tourist office here is the starting point for guided tours of Les Boves.
Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France UNESCO World Heritage site. The 75-metre belfry crowns the Hôtel de Ville and was originally built in the 15th century, destroyed in WWI, and faithfully reconstructed in the 1920s–30s. A lift and stairs take you to the top for panoramic views over the city's rooftops and the plains of Artois. Entry ~€3.50. Open daily except Tuesdays.
A network of underground chalk tunnels beneath the Grand'Place and Place des Héros, carved from the 10th century onward. Originally used as cellars by merchants, the tunnels were later expanded and served as shelters during both World Wars. Guided tours (45 minutes, departing from the Hôtel de Ville) descend 12 metres below the squares into this atmospheric subterranean world. Booking recommended in summer. Entry ~€7.
Housed in the grand Abbaye Saint-Vaast, this fine arts museum contains an impressive collection spanning medieval sculpture, Renaissance painting, and 19th-century French art. Highlights include works by Delacroix, Corot, and a stunning collection of Arras porcelain. The abbey itself — with its cloisters and monumental stone architecture — is worth the visit alone. Entry ~€5. Closed Tuesdays.
A star-shaped fortress designed by the great military architect Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban in 1668, originally built to defend the newly conquered city for Louis XIV. Still partly in military use, the Citadelle's exterior ramparts and surrounding parkland are open to walkers. The Mur des Fusillés memorial within the grounds commemorates over 200 Resistance members executed here during WWII. Free exterior access.
A deeply moving WWI memorial museum built in the chalk quarry tunnels that New Zealand, British, and other Allied troops extended in preparation for the Battle of Arras in April 1917. Thousands of soldiers lived underground here for weeks before emerging to attack German positions. The guided tour descends 20 metres underground and tells the story through original carvings, inscriptions, and artefacts left by the troops. Entry ~€7.50. Allow 1.5 hours.
One of the most important Benedictine abbeys in northern France, rebuilt in the 18th century in a monumental classical style. The complex houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Cathedral of Arras (which serves as the abbey church). The cathedral's austere neoclassical interior, all columns and vaulted ceilings in pale stone, is a striking contrast to the gothic churches found elsewhere in France.
Located 12 km north of Arras, this deeply powerful memorial honours the 66,000 Canadian soldiers who died in France during WWI. The twin white limestone pylons rise 27 metres above Hill 145 and bear the names of 11,285 Canadians who have no known grave. The surrounding preserved battlefield includes trenches, tunnels (free guided tours run by Canadian students), and shell craters still visible in the landscape. Free entry. Allow 2–3 hours.
A satellite of the Paris Louvre, located 20 minutes south of Arras in the former coal mining town of Lens. Designed by Japanese architects SANAA, the museum's stunning glass-and-aluminium building houses rotating displays from the Louvre's permanent collection. The Galerie du Temps — a single 3,000 sq m gallery presenting 5,000 years of art in chronological order — is worth the trip alone. Free permanent collection. Closed Tuesdays.
A gentle 2.5 km walk starting from the Grand'Place, heading west along Rue des Trois Visages and through the Jardin Minelle gardens toward the Citadelle Vauban. The route passes residential streets with handsome 18th-century townhouses, crosses the Scarpe river, and enters the Citadelle's tree-lined fortification walls. Return via the riverside path for a circular route of about 5 km. Allow 1.5–2 hours with stops.
Follow the Scarpe river from the Citadelle southward along the towpath. This flat, tree-lined route passes through green parkland, past old lock gates and water meadows, and offers a peaceful contrast to the bustling squares. The path continues toward the village of Athies (about 5 km one way). Ideal for morning runs, cycling, or a leisurely afternoon stroll. Flat terrain throughout.
The 100-hectare Vimy Ridge memorial park preserves the WWI battlefield in an extraordinary open-air landscape. Walking trails lead through preserved Canadian and German trenches, past shell craters filled with wildflowers, through a copse of trees planted by Canadian soldiers, and up to the twin-pylon memorial on Hill 145. Interpretive panels explain the geology, the tunnelling, and the battle. Allow 2–3 hours for the full circuit. 12 km from Arras — drive or take a taxi.
The Grand'Place and Place des Héros area is the most atmospheric choice, putting you within steps of the baroque facades, the UNESCO belfry, and the best restaurants. The area near the Citadelle offers a quieter, greener setting along the Scarpe river. Staying near Arras train station is convenient if you are arriving by TGV from Paris (50 minutes) and want easy access to both the city centre and day-trip connections to Vimy Ridge and Lens.
IMPT partners with 8M+ hotels globally, with eco-certified and sustainable properties available in Arras ranging from boutique hotels on the Grand'Place to modern chain hotels near the station. Every booking removes 1 tonne of CO₂, earns 5% cashback in IMPT tokens, and costs the same as Booking.com. New users receive 5 € de crédit gratuit.
Late spring (May–June) is ideal for walking the baroque squares in pleasant weather. Summer brings the Main Square Festival, one of France's top rock and pop music events held on the Grand'Place. The Arras Christmas Market (late November–December) transforms the squares with over 130 chalets, an ice rink, and a giant Ferris wheel. Anzac Day (25 April) sees poignant commemorations at the Carrière Wellington and Vimy Ridge.
Must-sees include: the Grand'Place and Place des Héros with 155 Flemish baroque facades — the most uniform baroque squares in Europe; the UNESCO-listed belfry with panoramic views; Les Boves (medieval chalk underground tunnels beneath the squares); the Carrière Wellington (WWI memorial museum in tunnels used by Allied soldiers before the 1917 Battle of Arras); Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial (15-minute drive); the Musée des Beaux-Arts in the Abbaye Saint-Vaast (Delacroix, Corot, medieval sculptures); and the Citadelle d'Arras, another masterpiece by Vauban completed in 1672.
Arras is served by TGV from Paris Gare du Nord in just 50 minutes, with frequent daily services. From Lille-Flandres, regional TER trains reach Arras in about 45 minutes. By car, Arras sits at the junction of the A1 (Paris–Lille) and A26 (Calais–Troyes) motorways. The city centre is compact and easily walkable — the Grand'Place is a 10-minute walk from the station.
The Grand'Place and Place des Héros area is the most atmospheric choice, putting you within steps of the baroque facades, the UNESCO belfry, and the best restaurants. The area near the Citadelle offers a quieter, greener setting along the Scarpe river. Staying near Arras train station is convenient if you are arriving by TGV from Paris (50 minutes) and want easy access to both the city centre and day-trip connections to Vimy Ridge and Lens.
IMPT partners with 8M+ hotels globally, with eco-certified and sustainable properties available in Arras ranging from boutique hotels on the Grand'Place to modern chain hotels near the station. Every booking removes 1 tonne of CO₂, earns 5% cashback in IMPT tokens, and costs the same as Booking.com. New users receive 5 € de crédit gratuit.
Late spring (May–June) is ideal for walking the baroque squares in pleasant weather. Summer brings the Main Square Festival, one of France's top rock and pop music events held on the Grand'Place. The Arras Christmas Market (late November–December) transforms the squares with over 130 chalets, an ice rink, and a giant Ferris wheel. Anzac Day (25 April) sees poignant commemorations at the Carrière Wellington and Vimy Ridge.
Must-sees include: the Grand'Place and Place des Héros with 155 Flemish baroque facades — the most uniform baroque squares in Europe; the UNESCO-listed belfry with panoramic views; Les Boves (medieval chalk underground tunnels beneath the squares); the Carrière Wellington (WWI memorial museum in tunnels used by Allied soldiers before the 1917 Battle of Arras); Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial (15-minute drive); the Musée des Beaux-Arts in the Abbaye Saint-Vaast (Delacroix, Corot, medieval sculptures); and the Citadelle d'Arras, another masterpiece by Vauban completed in 1672.
Arras is served by TGV from Paris Gare du Nord in just 50 minutes, with frequent daily services. From Lille-Flandres, regional TER trains reach Arras in about 45 minutes. By car, Arras sits at the junction of the A1 (Paris–Lille) and A26 (Calais–Troyes) motorways. The city centre is compact and easily walkable — the Grand'Place is a 10-minute walk from the station.