The city tours take you around one city for 2/3 days trip, from its fresh local products, fine cuisine and traditional recipes to its most famous monuments, you’ĺl know everything there is to know about the city.
If there’s a culinary speciality from Valenciennes that you should really get to know, it’s this one – and believe me, you’re going to love it! If you’re thinking that the word ‘Lucullus’ doesn’t sound very French, you’re right, but when you know that he was a Roman general and aristocrat known for his discerning palate and surely the ancient world’s most famous gourmet, you’ll say ‘that sounds pretty classy’!
‘It’s an honour for a food product to have such a namesake!’ you might say.
The two local semi-artisanal production businesses, including the Lucullus de Marly company, won’t be the ones to tell you otherwise either! Awarded a Médaille d’Or Paris (Paris Gold Medal) in 2017 by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Véritable Lucullus de Valenciennes has become THE refined product, renowned and exported all over the world – and even sent into space.
Remember that the astronaut Thomas Pesquet even had it with truffles for Christmas dinner in front of an audience of millions of internet users! Prepared by the famous chef Thierry Marx, these flavours reminded him of his childhood while he was all the way up there…
So renowned today that an association dedicated to promoting it (La Confrérie de la Lucullus de Valenciennes) was also created in November 2014, bringing together several artisanal restaurateurs with a commitment to proper ‘home cooking’.
This pairing of smoked ox tongue and foie gras won’t leave you unmoved, especially if you try it with someone special in one of the Valenciennes area’s great restaurants. On the menu all year round at some restaurants, it’s served up with care with, for example, (onion) confit and toast. If you want to really appreciate this unmissable northern French delicacy, I suggest pairing it with a nice glass of white wine.
Imagine….Your flight just landed at Lille airport…you step out of the airport and feel the excitement of a vibrant city filled with history, art, beauty and modern energy, your chauffeur and your tour guide are right there waiting for you with a warming welcome and about a few minutes after you stepped out of the airplane you are comfortably seated ina luxury comfortable car and enjoying the city vibes through the car window.
The car just stopped in front of your luxury 5 stars hotel you just have to get down the car straight to your suite as your chauffeur took care of your luggage and your tour guide is taking care of checkin you in at reception desk. After that long flight maybe you’ll want to enjoy a spa or a massage, your tour guide just went ahead of your potential needs and has planned everything for you!
Now that you relaxed, it’s time for serious things, you’ll now be able to enjoy your first high-end cuisine dinner in France.
After dinner, you can enjoy the hotel fancy bar and just get a good night of sleep in your luxury 5 stars hotel.
In the morning, you are awakened by this sweet smell of hot butter croissants and fresh coffee… you have time for yourself in the morning, maybe you’ll want to take a walk around your hotel or enjoy your time there. At noon, your car with your chauffeur and your tour guide will be ready, waiting for you outside your hotel and you will hit the road for the program of the day : Each and every day during our tours we offer you to choose among several activities and before during ofr after that cultural visit, we planned a basket full of regional specialities for you to enjoy at lunch time.
Enjoy the many water sports that the Valenciennes area has to offer. There’s no shortage of bodies of water, nor of opportunities to make water sports synonymous with fun.
Smooth sailing on the Étang du Vignoble (Vineyard Lake)
Sailing isn’t exclusive to seaside resorts! In Valenciennes, you can find almost all sailing-based sports – there’s something for all ages. So with the wind in your hair, take the helm of a sailing dinghy and glide adventurously across the surface of a lake at the Vignoble. Just imagine it: sunshine, 54 hectares of water, nature. Only the wind, as keenly anticipated as the Messiah, can tear us away from this lounging around.
Sailing isn’t exclusive to seaside resorts! In Valenciennes, you can find almost all sailing-based sports – there’s something for all ages. So with the wind in your hair, take the helm of a sailing dinghy and glide adventurously across the surface of a lake at the Vignoble. Just imagine it: sunshine, 54 hectares of water, nature. Only the wind, as keenly anticipated as the Messiah, can tear us away from this lounging around.
The Valenciennes water sports centre is just a short distance away from the town centre. Its pleasant and friendly clubhouse is located on a peninsula. The lake was once called Le Vert Gazon, after a hamlet located by river Scheldt. In the first half of the 20th century, the lake was used as a ballast pit (an open-air quarry from which ballast was extracted).
This enlarged and added depth to what was originally just a marsh by the name of Bourlain. The Cercle de Voile de Valenciennes (Valenciennes Sailing Circle) was established there by a few enthusiasts. Over time, it has gained regional fame with renowned sporting results. indulge in the ‘pleasures of board sports’, we recommend the ‘Lève-toi et rame’ activity, which offers an introduction to stand up paddle boarding. It does what it says on the tin – you stand on a board and move around on the water by using a paddle. You know, it looks like there are people walking on water… but no! They’re doing SUP, a sport that’s very ‘in’ at the moment! We’ve been won over!
This activity is very accessible. The only prerequisites are that you be able to swim and not be afraid of falling into the water.
Head north of Valenciennes, into the heart of a major birdwatching site in the Scarpe Escaut Regional Natural Park. You’re looking for a place that’s peaceful, relaxing and green. But with water and outdoor activities for children, teenagers and adults. There’s no need to look any further – you’ll find it all in Condé-sur-l’Escaut. On the programme: a trip out on the Chabaud-Latour subsidence lake, the result of intensive coal-mining activity. It’s a space that’s been returned to nature, emblematic of the Cultural Landscapes of the Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012. It’s the ideal spot for starting kayaking with friends.
If you are curious to know more about this tour taking you to Lille and Valenciennes, you can request our brochure for the Valenciennes TOUR reference #TOUR78 by filling out this form :
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