Where to go for 2/3 nights in northern France?

We recently went to Gent in Belgium and Arras in Fance. We loved both places and have decided to have pre christmas break in Northern France. We are both under 45 - just and love sitting in a bistro or restaurant with a bottle of red wine watching the world go by. Days are spent taking photos of the buildings and colourful locals as well as a bit of window shopping.

Where should we go within 3 hours / 150 miles of Calais? We do like a large bed in a comfortable room with unobtrusive service. We can get by in French and are improving every day.

Let me know if you have been to this place recently

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Here%26#39;s some suggestions:

Honfleur

Montreuil sur Mer

Rouen

Laon

Compiegne

Verdun

Reims

Not in any particular order, but any one of these places should satisfy your remit.

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I would pick a town that has a Christmas market - google search.

Can I make a suggestion? Pre christmas in Northern France can be dull weather wise - making people watching over a bottle of wine not so interesting.

Why not look for a cheap flight to the south of France? Ryanair do some great deals to Marseille and the towns of Provence are great for people watching in the winter sunshine.

For example Avignon about an hour to the north of Marseille has a christmas market that starts at the beginning of December and it is a short drive from the Cotes du Rhone vineyards so you can drink your red wine where it is produced.

The area would also offer a good contrast to Northern France as well as giving a little winter sunshine.

If Northern france is still your preferred place I would suggest Reims and Epernay for the Champagne or the Belgian Ardennes - very pretty (and great beer).

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