Food fit for heroes at Northern France’s Arras market

With the architecture, history and foodie culture of Place des Héros square, it’s hard not to be moved by a morning spent at Northern France’s Arras market

 

With a perimeter of towering Flemish townhouses, a soundtrack of half-hourly belfry bells and the stunning hôtel-de-ville, no one enters Place des Héros square in Arras for the first time without gasping. Only 70 minutes’ drive from Calais or a short train journey from Lille, see it at its most vibrant on Arras’ market days ─ Wednesday and Saturday mornings.  

 

Come with great expectations of French food and Arras market in Northern France will surpass them. Colourful and more-than-traditional (there’s been a market here since the Middle Ages!), all the locals turn out to fill their baskets with Northern France specialities like Andouillette sausage and heart-shaped Coeur d’Arras cheese. And with the local producers’ stalls selling everything so fresh, so organic and so local, there’s a lesson in sustainability right here for all of us.

 

And when in Arras, do as the locals do by treating yourself to a ‘gaufre’ (Northern France’s take on waffles ─ made right in front of you on old-fashioned press) or pausing for a mid-market coffee and iconic chocolate rat at marketside Patisserie Thibaud. Hang around to discover the intriguing market-store tunnels beneath your feet too…