Lille, Reims, or Bruges

Old Jan 30th, 2023, 05:22 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lille, Reims, or Bruges

Hi, I am planning a family trip and want to end up in northwestern France or Belgium to meet up with my sister and her family. I am looking for a place to stay for 2-3 days that will be fun to explore with 3 teenagers. We will be driving from Lyon (or there abouts), and will stay in an AirBnB or VRBO, and will have a car. At this point, my thinking is to find a place to stay in Lille, Reims, or Bruges, but would love your experienced suggestions. Thanks!
alisoncarson6406 is offline  
Old Jan 30th, 2023, 07:47 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 25,493
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Reims
The centre is old and even has a forum, Carnegie library and cathedral.
To the south are a series of rivers/canals with some good cycling/walking etc

Bruges, similar but smaller

Lille, some interesting museums but... nah even after a lot of recent investment
bilboburgler is online now  
Old Jan 30th, 2023, 08:11 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,834
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
I don't know where you're coming from, so this may be too far east... but how about Verdun and some WWI sights?
Jean is online now  
Old Jan 30th, 2023, 09:18 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,840
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I presume you meant you wanted to end up in northeastern France, didn't you? You said northwest. It's hard to say without knowing what the kids would find interesting, you might consider Amiens also or Ghent. Bruges, after all, is up on the north coast.

I really liked Nancy in France, which is on a main route from Lyon. It really depends where you are going in Belgium, though, if you want to minimize being off track.
Christina is online now  
Old Jan 30th, 2023, 09:38 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 23,773
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 1 Post
Lille and Reims are not near northwestern France.
kerouac is online now  
Old Jan 30th, 2023, 09:49 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,919
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How would you describe the location of Lille, Kerouac?
k_marie is online now  
Old Jan 30th, 2023, 01:57 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by k_marie
How would you describe the location of Lille, Kerouac?
Lille is in north France, the area can be referred to as French Flanders region.
We need more info on this trip until then suggestion can be sort of wild guesses.
VANAARLE is offline  
Old Jan 30th, 2023, 04:39 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,991
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Consider Ghent over Bruges.
Sassafrass is online now  
Old Jan 30th, 2023, 07:08 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 23,773
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 1 Post
Any town east of the Paris meridian can be considered to be in the east,but it's true that Lille is only referred to as being in the north rather than northeast. The Grand-Est region covers northeast France.
kerouac is online now  
Old Jan 30th, 2023, 07:25 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,919
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks. If I’m reading the maps correctly, it seems the north west of France extends north to Normandy. North of that is Hauts-de-France which is considered north France.
k_marie is online now  
Old Jan 31st, 2023, 04:54 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I suppose teenagers would find more appeal in Ghent over Bruges, being a university town, but in our opinion, holds little of the charm of Bruges. None of our six teenage grandchildren would be particularly interested in any above, but history ranks very low in their fields of study.
aliced is offline  
Old Jan 31st, 2023, 07:50 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 23,773
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 1 Post
In any case, I vote for Lille.
kerouac is online now  
Old Jan 31st, 2023, 09:17 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by alisoncarson6406
Hi, I am planning a family trip and want to end up in northwestern France or Belgium to meet up with my sister and her family. I am looking for a place to stay for 2-3 days that will be fun to explore with 3 teenagers. We will be driving from Lyon (or there abouts), and will stay in an AirBnB or VRBO, and will have a car. At this point, my thinking is to find a place to stay in Lille, Reims, or Bruges, but would love your experienced suggestions. Thanks!
of these I’ve only been to Bruges and it was in 1994, so take this for what that’s worth, but it was one of my favorite stops in Europe. We did a bike ride tour in the countryside and the town itself was gorgeous and charming. I hope it hasn’t lost that. I’m always surprised when I see people suggest not to go there.
andyoinsefl is offline  
Old Jan 31st, 2023, 09:51 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 17,926
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Does it have to be a city? What about the Côte d'Opale and or the Somme estuary?

Last edited by hetismij2; Jan 31st, 2023 at 10:07 AM.
hetismij2 is offline  
Old Jan 31st, 2023, 10:25 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 23,773
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 1 Post
Hetismij2 is absolutely right. The seal colonies of the Baie de Somme are fabulous, as is the drive along the northern coast with stops at Cap Gris Nez and Cap Blanc Nez.
kerouac is online now  
Old Jan 31st, 2023, 10:26 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 23,773
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 1 Post
Originally Posted by kerouac
Hetismij2 is absolutely right. The seal colonies of the Baie de Somme are fabulous, as is the drive along the northern coast with stops at Cap Gris Nez and Cap Blanc Nez.
For a hotel, you could stop at Coquelles at the Eurotunnel, which has a substantial hotel zone.
kerouac is online now  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Silvia_B
Europe
7
Sep 4th, 2010 01:59 PM
bdesaul
Europe
5
Feb 23rd, 2010 06:36 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -