Hauts-de-France : de la Côte d’Opale aux cités médiévales – Les villages de nos régions – MG

Hauts-de-France : de la Côte d’Opale aux cités médiévales – Les villages de nos régions – MG

Discovering France
means wandering its cobbled streets, climbing to the top of its most beautiful towers,
tasting its specialties, climbing its trails or sailing on its rivers. It also means meeting its inhabitants,
those who, every day, maintain and strive
to bring our heritage to life. Discovering our country
means immersing yourself in the villages of our regions. For this stage,
let’s head to Hauts-de-France, one of our new regions. It is the fusion
of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy. Its largest city is Lille. From the beautiful and wild Opal Coast
to the Alabaster Coast, to our most authentic
Picardy villages, we will cross this region from north to south. We will meet
friendly locals who are enthusiastic about showing off their region. A territory marked by
untamed landscapes and strong traditions. We will visit Wissant,
a seaside resort that has inspired many painters. Terre de Guem, a Flemish village
with deep-rooted rural traditions. Montreuil-sur-mer, a medieval city,
Victor Hugo’s favorite setting. Then we will head towards Picardy,
where we will discover Holt, a wealthy village in a wild setting. We will then take a detour
to the garden of the painter André Van Beke, in Saint-Paul. Before ending our escapade in Gerberoy,
one of the most enchanting Picardy villages. The first stop on this journey is
in the north of the region, on the charming Opal Coast, the village
of Wissant, located 20 km from Calais. A former fishing village that has become a
charming seaside resort over time. Yves has lived here his whole life
and never tires of the scenery. So, we can see here,
Cap Grinet, right here, and on the other side, Cap Blanet. Admire all these colors that
attracted countless painters at the end of the 19th century,
hence the reason why Wissant was called the wild pearl of Opal. Painters inspired by this
wild pearl will be part of a movement called the Wissant School. Today, the favorite gathering place
for Wissant residents is the Charlemagne, a friendly bar
ideal for meeting local figures. I’m doing well ?
Hi, are you okay? How are you ? Is
David okay? Everything is good in Wissant.
The people are as friendly as can be. I think what makes the
village sourcer are the villagers themselves. Here, the mascot of the place
is Hall, the dog. Who even provides service in his own way. Hold. He brings back the small one, but he keeps it. He turns around, he makes it more. Come on, give it. Given
. Given . Given
. That’s very good.
That’s very good. At Charlemagne,
you will also surely come across Jules Denel, a windsurfing champion who has trained
here since he was a child. How are you? How are you?
It’s good and you ? How are you?
I come back here all the time. It’s always a pleasure. The bay is beautiful
and for training conditions, it is one of the best spots
in Europe to train. So, for kitesurfing and windsurfing,
it’s really an exceptional site and it’s a really good place. If today,
Wissant is known for its board sports, yesterday,
it was fishing that made the village’s reputation. And I knew
fishermen who lived. Absolutely, that time, yes. Before they became, of course,
second homes for me. The village kept its rows
of small houses where fishermen lived until the 1960s. It was the name of the fisherman, in fact,
of the time, generally, since… Does it keep it, does it keep
everyone’s name? Yes, in general, we always perpetuate
the tradition a little bit. Hi Marcel, how are you?
How are you. Are you okay, Marcel?
Yeah, always. Since 1962, I have been in Wissant,
the most beautiful village in the world. The winter is a bit harsh, but otherwise… It doesn’t matter.
Of course. The wind, the snow, we have the beach,
we go down the other side, we are in the woods.
It’s really a beautiful village. The charm of the village
also lies in its exceptional location in the heart of nature, in the heart of the
Deux Caps regional natural park. Wissant offers several
hiking trails and sea trips to explore the coastline. That’s a flobart. A typical boat from the
Opal Coast, of course. It’s a boat that’s stout and
holds the sea very well. And it’s the boat of the
Opal Coast of Wissant. Every year,
at the end of summer, Wissant organizes the Flobart festival,
as if to remember this tradition. I went back to live in the countryside
and came back to Wissant. Oh yes, yes, no, no.
Not long Yeah, yeah. Because the sea asked me. As my father says, when you can’t see
the church steeple anymore, it’s gone. As you will have understood, Wissant
has everything of an endearing village. But wait until you see what happens next. The neighboring department of Le Nord
also has many advantages. Velkommen, as they say in Flemish,
to Terre de Guêmes. Located 50 km from Lille,
this small village between Mont des Caes and Mont Cassel
is protected from the rest of the world. Behind his tractor, here is Joseph, from Guémois, pure stock. I was born in Terre-de-Gaimes,
so that makes me almost 74 years old. It’s a village that fascinates me to live
in Terre-de-Gaimes, well it’s magnificent. Hello, good morning. To understand his enthusiasm,
start by going to the church, the jewel of the town. In
1905, when the church and state were separated, the locals
even fought for it. So, how are you? I’m
doing well. In Flanders, this
sparked a major rebellion. So, the people of Terre de Guem,
some were locked in the sacristy and others, including my grandfather,
had climbed onto the roof of the church. He had taken the bundles of wood that were used
to light the oven and they were ready to make me throw these
bundles at those who came to take the treasures of the church. But after a fierce battle,
the building was finally well defended. They didn’t succeed,
they had to give up. The lands of Guet, I, had won. Since then, the Church Square has become
a place of life and gathering for young and old. And everyone’s favorite game here
is windmills, made of paper for the youngest
and large format for adults. In Terre de Guet, there are two left. A wooden mill and a brick one
famous in the region: the Steine ​​Meulen. It is recognizable from afar by its
sienna sails, specific to Flanders. Joseph’s mill,
don’t hesitate to visit it. It is the last to produce
flour in the region. Keeping a mill going like this
is really something we want to keep in the family for as long as possible. In the blink of an eye, you will then find yourself in the heart of the village. Before leaving, we highly recommend you
visit the Estaminet, the typical northern inn.
Hello Robin. Joseph. On the menu, let yourself be tempted
by the establishment’s specialty: carbonade. What’s the secret to making
a good carbonade? That’s a secret. It must be marinated
in beer overnight. Upon arrival, the taste is there. It’s disgusting. We are never disappointed when we come here, it’s charming, it makes you want to come. And then, well, not too often,
because it can happen that I get yelled at if I come too often. You too, let yourself be carried away
by the atmosphere of Terre de Guêmes. Let’s continue our journey and
discover a village in the pure Ch’ti tradition. Here we are in Montreuil-sur-Mer. And contrary to its name, this village,
close to the coast, is nevertheless located inland, 70 km from Arras. A village with a multiple decor. From workers’ houses
to 18th-century mansions, including imposing
medieval ramparts. Karine, adopted by Montreuil,
appreciates more than anything the living environment that the city offers. We realize that we are in an
extraordinary environment since we are in the countryside, we know that we
are not far from the sea. There are really a lot of things to see. That’s what’s
extraordinary here, actually. And the first thing to see when you arrive
is Rue du Clap-en-bas, an emblematic place in the village. So, these little houses, in fact,
were the houses of the pottery artisans. All right. We are right on the edge of the ramparts and it was
necessary to protect, to bring together in some way, the beautiful residences,
the beautiful private mansions. So, it was the most miserable,
in a way, who lived there, who were most exposed
to enemy attacks. A squalid neighborhood that inspired one
of the greatest literary works in our history. We have to imagine that Victor Hugo passed
by in 1837, and therefore the entire first part of Les Misérables takes place in Montreuil. I fell to the ground. Meet at Rue
de la Cavée Saint-Firmin. You will discover the setting of a
key scene from Victor Hugo’s novel. In 1925, a film adaptation
was even shot on this street. In fact, he says that Mr. Madeleine
had a terrible accident. Father Fauchelevant who was
crushed on his cart. And so, Mr. Madeleine came
to the aid of this brave man by lifting the cart. And it was there
that he was recognized as being, in fact, not Monsieur Madeleine,
but Jean Valjean. And who recognized him?
Who recognized him? Who escaped from the Toulon penal colony. So, the awful Inspector Javert.
Javert. So. And the entire sequel to Les Misérables
stems from this episode. All right.
Okay. Now let’s open the historical chapter. Good morning. And let’s follow Karine to the other end
of the village, on the ramparts. Here you can take a tour
of the citadel and discover this enormous catapult which is called the bricole. All year round, events are
organized around this strange machine. Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to do a bit of shooting
if you wish, but I am sure there will be
volunteers. It is a It is one that was
mainly used by women, the men being generally in combat,
at the foot of the fortifications. What I suggest
is that you act as the sergeant-at-arms, that is, the one who will give
the orders, to launch the shooting of Ça va, ça va.
Should it be okay? Yes, that should be fine.
Okay, let’s go. I’ll get through this. So, you’re going to start
by bringing the mast back. So, in the Middle Ages,
we have very figurative terms. In fact, in reality,
the mast is called the rod. So, I’m going to
ask you to take it down. Okay. So, Carine, to be a sergeant-
at-arms, you need one quality. You have to know how to count to three.
It should be fine. Should it be okay?
Yes. One two three. We pull and we retreat. In Montreuil-sur-Mer, the cannonballs of the
bricole sank many ships. This may seem surprising when you
know that the sea is today 10 km from the Ramparts. Jean-François, the
citadel historian, has an explanation for this. You see there, we are on the patrol path
and on our right, it is the valley of the Canche.
Yeah. In the Middle Ages, one must imagine that the
sea could reach as far as Montreuil. The boats entered a port,
hence its name Montreuil-sur-Mer. All right. That’s where all the trees,
the marshes, all that stuff are. Yeah. And this site is a very
important site for the King of France. He needs to defend his city and he
will build a royal castle, then he will transform it into a citadel. With its five star-shaped bastions,
the citadel of Montreuil-sur-Mer was one of the most famous in the region. And if today
the sea is no longer at the village gates, the marshes have become
a new source of attraction. Indeed, there are thousands
of frogs there, but only one frog,
the name of the restaurant of Alexandre Gautier, a two-star chef. Hi Alexandre, how are you?
How are you, Karine? What are you doing that’s beautiful? Listen, I’m picking bread for some
mint, since it’s still in the marsh. This local boy has made his
establishment a highly rated restaurant. I cook this with roasted frogs. If you want, I’ll show you. Well yeah, with pleasure.
Ok. For about thirty years,
frogs from the surrounding marshlands have been the specialty of the place.
This is my dad. Delighted. Before Alexandre took over
the kitchen, it was his father who was in the kitchen. But tell me, did you buy all these frogs
? No, these are customer gifts.
Oh yes ? Some of them came from Mexico. From everywhere, from everywhere. What a collection.
It’s a bit like a museum here. Remember to book a table when you
come, because according to the chef, coming to Montreuil without tasting
the frog would be a sin. I have childhood memories of
my father’s recipes with frog, which we ate,
which we sauced with our fingers, and which we dried our lips and fingers with. You see, the herbs there,
they roast at the same time. Here we go, let’s taste it.
Come on. Come on, let’s go. It’s good. Do you smell the infusion? The herbs that infused? A little taste of mint there. You see that freshness there? It’s the taste of… I won’t say Montreuil,
but it’s really the taste of that morning freshness,
in the marshes of Montreuil. Can I have one?
Wait. Above all. If you skip dessert,
you might be at an advantage when you try your hand at
Montreuil’s quintessential sport, the game of who’s who. Good morning.
Hello Carine. Are you doing well ?
And you ? Well, yes, it’s going well.
That weighs a lot. What is it made of?
Well, to be. To be in it?
Yes, yes, yes. Okay, but it looks like
there’s some scrap metal. Yes, there are nails in it.
And why do it? Well, it’s to give weight
and strength to the wood. The ball weighs 12 kg, so
there are about 4 kg of nails. All right.
Ah, is that why it does that? It’ll be OK ?
Yes. I force her. Careful, eh? Oh, beautiful. This is the first, this is the first.
This is the first one. Don’t hesitate, just do a little
dance step, it will be fine. You’ll see.
Ok. As you can see,
between the history, the gastronomy and the
local customs, you won’t be bored in Montreuil-sur-Mer. Let’s now set sail and return to the coast to discover Hôlt, this impressive balcony overlooking the sea. This village in Picardy is
located 80 kilometers from Amiens. Yves has
been admiring this landscape every day for over 40 years now. Holt, the coastline. We are really at the edge of the cliff. We overlook the sea
at a height of approximately 80 meters. A wild setting, sometimes
uncontrollable throughout the story. Swept by storms, Holt has been
wiped off the map more than once. Holt Harbour
was completely destroyed and buried, along with part of the lower town. And each time,
the people of Ault have rebuilt their seafront, what they love above all,
that is to say this facade facing the sea. Today, have no fear,
you can enjoy this facade facing the sea in complete peace. During your stroll through the village,
you will be able to admire the very beautiful villas which, at the beginning of the 20th century,
began to spring up like mushrooms. Beautiful, really. In fact, it was the railway, the line,
the Tréport Paris, which would create a real craze. Yes, but that was in 1900?
Yes. At the time?
Yes yes. At that time,
Ault was the Saint-Tropez of the North and each villa had
its own little name. So, originally, she was called
Pierrot, Garamantes and Madolinette. It’s It was cute. After the pretty houses, go and
admire the other treasures of the village. Its majestic lighthouse,
its flint Saint-Pierre church, not forgetting its nature reserve,
the Hable d’Ault, a very beautiful walk to take in the heart of the marshes. Then, head to
Dede’s fish market to feast on whelks. Hi Dede.
Hi. How are you ?
It’s good and you ? Not bad. Your specialty, whelks, there. How long have
you been making your recipe? Half a century.
Half a century? Yes. So how do you do that? We can’t tell you that.
It’s a secret, then. Family secret. You can still
go there with your eyes closed. Everyone here
loves these crustaceans. A delight, a treat. Come on, my darling. Even her.
This is our mascot. Let us also take flight. On the road leading to the last village,
Gerberoy, let’s take a detour to a site where peace and quiet reign. Here we are in one of the most
beautiful private gardens in the region. The garden of the painter André Van
de Bec, in Saint-Paul. Open from May to October,
stop off at this colorful and poetic site, just 10 km from Beauvais. I wanted to find for my paintings,
for my vision as a painter, things that I could not find elsewhere.
So, I did. I did accordingly. So we bought a hectare
of land so as not to have any neighbors near us. And so, my husband, every year,
would mow the grass and he would make old-fashioned haystacks that he would paint. That’s the starting point. For years,
André painted his haystacks in all seasons, in the middle of a virgin field. Then, he decides to change his scenery and
begins to shape the landscape around him. He himself creates pools decorated
with waterfalls and footbridges where you
can enjoy your relaxation. I wanted to make these
pools for painting. The garden is exactly
the same approach as my paintings. It is a permanent search. I’m not a born botanist,
but I still learn a lot of things over the years. Today, the result is amazing. More than a hectare of landscaped garden where
hundreds of species and colors mingle, including the
painter’s favorite flower: the muse of these paintings. The number one flower is the dahlia. There are about a thousand feet of them. It’s a dozen kinds, in fact,
that I place in whole clumps to have masses of the same color. So, it’s a range that goes from white,
pale pink, bright pink, to cardinal colors. And then we move on to blue. Yes, you will see, blue is
omnipresent in André’s garden. It brings a different note of color
compared to dahlias which do not have blue. Artists, flower lovers or simple
walkers, you will not be able to remain indifferent to this garden which
will show you all the colors. Finally, it will take you less than
half an hour to reach our last village. In the Picardy countryside, here is Gerberoy,
just 25 km from Beauvais. A city with a
medieval feel full of charm. With its half-timbered houses and
flower-lined streets, it is a pleasant place to stroll. A few years ago,
Benoît returned to live in the country. I am a die-hard Gerboroy fan. I am especially in love with this village
because I have all my memories and I have all my future.
How are you ? How are you, my love?
Can I help you? With his wife, he transformed the
family home into guest rooms and tables d’hôtes. If you pass by their establishment,
let yourself be tempted by their rose dessert. So, little Gerberoy is only
found here. For us, who have a very busy city life
, coming here is a real pleasure and a real rest. After relaxing in this pretty
flower-filled courtyard, wander through the narrow streets of Gerberoy, and don’t miss
the most typical house in the village. There, we arrive at the Blue House,
which is on rue du Château, a late 17th century house. Moreover, we have here the date of the house
with this magnificent fleur-de-lis. And then there you go.
This is… We go up towards the castle, rue du Château. This gate is one of the only
remains of the Gerberoy castle. On the other side, you will see the
Saint-Pierre collegiate church, the oldest building in the town. At the beginning of the 20th century,
the village was given a facelift thanks to the painter Henri le Cidanaire. When he settled in Gerberoy,
he created a lush garden on the ruins of the castle
and decided to fill the entire town with flowers. So, it amuses me to come back,
to climb these steps, because when I was a child, I used to come here. Don’t hesitate to stroll through this
garden designed by Henri le Cidanaire. There, we see that Gerberoy
is a magnificent setting. It’s almost flawless. To make the picture perfect,
the inhabitants, including Benoît, strive to bring the village to life.
Good morning. Or rather, to revive it,
as in the Middle Ages. Don’t miss their
traditional medieval festival. It’s huge. He’s huge, that
‘s his son, I know. Your children can even wear
the costume and participate in workshops. It’s a Saracen against
a Scottish knight. A celebration to commemorate the Battle
of Gerberoy during the Hundred Years’ War. Transmission and sharing,
it is on these values ​​which represent the region well that our journey ends. A path rich in discoveries,
with a very changing setting. Cliffs, sandy beaches,
countryside or medieval city, Hauts-de-France offers you
a whole range of landscapes and sensations .

Cap au nord, entre dunes, falaises et villages de caractère.

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À Wissant, perle sauvage d’Opale, l’école des vents initie kitesurf et windsurf, tandis que les flobarts rappellent la pêche d’hier et la fête de fin d’été. En Flandre, halte à Terre-de-Guînes : église gardée par ses habitants, moulin aux voiles terre de Sienne, estaminet et carbonade à la bière. Montreuil-sur-Mer déroule remparts en étoile, souvenirs des Misérables, marais aux herbes fraîches et la Grenouillère, table iconique des marais. Cap sur Ault : villas Belle Époque, phare, église en silex et réserve du Hâble d’Ault où l’on goûte bulots et iode. Final à Gerberoy, village-jardin : colombages, ruelles fleuries, Maison Bleue, jardin d’Henri Le Sidaner et fête médiévale. Un voyage de vent, de pierre et de sel, où l’on partage la chaleur des cafés, les jeux d’antan et la force des traditions.

Réalisé par Élodie BOUTIT.
© MORGANE PRODUCTION