Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department, which forms part of the region of Hauts-de-France; The historic centre of the Artois region, with a Baroque town square, Arras is located in Northern France at the confluence of the Scarpe river and the Crinchon River.
The Arras plain lies on a large chalk plateau bordered on the north by the Marqueffles fault, on the southwest by the Artois and Ternois hills, and on the south by the slopes of Beaufort-Blavincourt. On the east it is connected to the Scarpe valley.
Each year Arras attracts thousands of visitors, who explore the city’s architecture and historic buildings. Some attractions include the splendid Town Hall and its Belfry (listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 15 July 2005), the “Boves” (a maze 10 m (33 ft) beneath the city), etc.
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Region | Hauts-de-France |
| Department | Pas-de-Calais |
| Government | |
| Mayor (2020–2026) | Frédéric Leturque |
| Area1 | 11.63 km2 (4.49 sq mi) |
| Population (2017-01-01) | 41,019 |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
Geography
Location and area
Arras is located in northern France in the Hauts-de-France region. Hauts-de-France is divided into five departments: Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Somme, Oise, Aisne. Arras is in the south-east part of the Pas-de-Calais department and forms the Arras district (arrondissement d’Arras) in the Artois, a former province of northern France.
The city’s total area is 11.63 km2 (4.5 sq mi). The lowest point in the city is at 52 meters (171 feet) above sea level and the highest is at 99 meters (325 feet).
Hydrography
Two rivers flow through Arras: the Scarpe and the Crinchon, both left tributaries of the 350-kilometer-long Scheldt river (L’Escaut in French). The Crinchon is a rather small river of 19 kilometers (12 miles) flowing through Arras underground, while the Scarpe is 102 kilometers (63 miles) long, of which two-thirds has been turned into canals.
Sights and attractions
Squares
The city centre is marked by two large squares, La Grand’ Place and La Place des Héros, also called La Petite Place. The two squares are surrounded by a unique architectural ensemble of 155 Flemish-Baroque-style townhouses. These were built in the 17th and 18th century and were initially made of wood. In 1918, after the end of World War I, most of the townhouses were so severely damaged that they had to be restored to their pre-war conditions. They are now made of bricks.
Town hall and belfry
The Gothic town hall and its belfry were constructed between 1463 and 1554 and had to be rebuilt in a slightly less grandiose style after World War I. The belfry is 75 meters (246 feet) high and used to serve as a watchtower. Nowadays tourists can enjoy ascending the belfry.
Cathedral of Arras
The original cathedral was constructed between 1030 and 1396. This Gothic structure was destroyed during the French Revolution and rebuilt in the 19th century. The present Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame et Saint-Vaast is a minor basilica.
Other:
- The Boves
- Art District
- Abbey District
- Vauban Citadel
Seasonal events
Arras holds the biggest Christmas market north of Paris every year from the end of November to the end of December. Around 80 exhibitors offer a wide selection of arts and crafts, as well as local delicacies like chocolate rats, Atrébate beer and Coeurs d’Arras – heart-shaped biscuits which come in two flavours, ginger and cheese. Entertainment includes cooking lessons with chefs, craft demonstrations, a merry-go-round, a ferris wheel, an ice-skating rink and heated shelters. It also offers native products from International locations such as Canada, Vietnam, Morocco, Indonesia, Africa and gourmet regional specialities from different parts of France: Auvergne, Savoie, South-Western France and Nord-Pas-de-Calais.
The Main Square Festival is held for several days in early July within the Vauban Citadel, attracting tens of thousands of attendees and playing host to major acts such as The Chemical Brothers, Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, David Guetta and The Black Eyed Peas.
The Arras Film Festival is a film festival held for ten days in November.
UNESCO recognition
Two buildings in Arras are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
- The Belfry of the Town Hall, as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France group, since 2005
- The Vauban citadel, as part of the Fortifications of Vauban group, since 2008
Transportation
Railway station
The Gare d’Arras railway station is served by a purpose-built branch of the LGV Nord high speed railway, with regular TGV services to Paris (45 minutes). There are also regular trains to Lille, Amiens, Dunkerque and several regional destinations.
Highway
Autoroute A1 (A1 highway) is a tollway that connects Arras with Lille and Paris. As part of the European ‘inter-country’ route E15, it also connects Arras with the United Kingdom and Spain as well as the northern and southern parts of France.
