Lille: Day Trip to Arras

Arras only got on our radar when we were trip planning. Since the train fare was only 2 euros (pp/ow), we thought we'd have a look. Arras has two big squares with mostly Flemish houses (one of the squares appeared in Costa-Gavras' very Kafkaesque film The Confession), a handful of art deco buildings, a Vauban fort, and a free fine arts museum. Our 8 euros were well invested.

Arriving in Arras on the train, one first thing one sees is a very cool Art Deco War Memorial Statue.




Some shots of Heroes Square and its Belfry.




Giant Letters in Grand Square (featured in The Confession).


A traditional Flemish townhouse with a bit of a flair.


The Chinese Labor Corps of WWI was previously unknown to us; but we were pleased to see this marker honoring their service.


A few photos from the Musée Des Beaux-Arts, a former abbey. The one just below is just one of many paintings of Arras and surrounds by artist Charles Desvaary.












Arras was almost completely destroyed during WW1. While most of the buildings were reconstructed exactly as they had been before the war, some were rebuilt in Art Deco style which was popular in 1920's and 1930's. There is also a super cool Art Deco water tower.










The old citadel is a short walk west of city center. Always nice to see a Vauban-designed fortification. Goats roam the grassy areas around the moat and "mow" the grass. And there is a monument to the 218 WWII Resistanace patriots executed here.










Ourselfies under the Cathedral dome.


Myself and the Arras Gigantes which live at the Town Hal under the Belfry.


Walking back to the station to catch our train home to Lille.