Wellness break in Hauts-de-France

Valenciennes isn't the first destination that springs to mind when you think of a city break for two. Although the name may sound familiar, it doesn't conjure up many images when cities like Lille or Dunkerque immediately conjure up images by the thousands. And yet, less than two hours by train from Paris, Valenciennes is well worth a visit.* There's a gentle, soothing atmosphere in this human-sized town, a ***dolce vita valenciennoise** that you just have to take the time to savour.

A veritable open-air museum, art and the city are inextricably linked. Valenciennes even has the most statues per square kilometre in France! When night falls, the statues are decked out in their finery of lights, revealing themselves to visitors along the Promenade des Arts. The Sculpteur de lumière (Sculptor of Light) audio trail takes you on a magical stroll through the works of art.

As we approach the Place Saint-Nicolas, we hear a clamour of laughter and passionate discussion: all generations gather on the terraces of its restaurants and bars to share a drink or a meal. We're delighted to join them and discover the sweet bitterness of the local beers. We'll have dinner at our hotel, the 4* Royal Hainaut Spa, a veritable nugget in the heart of Valenciennes, housed in a sumptuous 18th-century building.

The gourmet restaurant La Storia offers a sophisticated menu inspired by Italian flavours, while the brasserie La Galerie serves regional dishes at low prices. The rooms and suites, skilfully furnished and decorated, promise a restful night, lulled by the beautiful memories of the day. Tomorrow, we'll be taking advantage of The Spa By Royal Hainaut'simpressive underground swimming pool, adorned with its blue sandstone pillars, and probably falling for one of the many treatments on offer.

With its endless sandbanks streaked with waterways that the tide tirelessly empties and fills, the Baie de Somme looks like the end of the world. These vast expanses between land and sea invite walkers to daydream and meditate, and the problems of everyday life dissipate a little more with each step towards the pearly horizon. All that remains is the sound of the wind, thesmell of iodine and the almost mystical sight of the sun's rays reflecting off the damp sand.

To take the contemplation even further, we organise relaxation sessions at dusk, where you can reconnect with your senses and emerge transformed.

Accompanied by our guide Olivier, we discovered that this site, which at first appears deserted, is in fact teeming with life. The salt meadows, known to the locals as "mollières", are teeming with edible and decorative plants, while the waterways are overflowing with cockles that dozens of species of birds are vying for. In the distance, colonies of seals bask in the sun: there are now several hundred of them making the Baie de Somme their home.

Seven kilometres of dunes, marshes, lakes and salt meadows separate Le Crotoy from Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. In season, a steam train dating from the early 20th century travels around the Baie de Somme, returning you to your starting point after the crossing.

Aboard authentic Belle Époque carriages, you'll feel transported 80 years back in time as the train passes through breathtaking scenery. We'll end the evening at the Tourelles restaurant, where guests are seduced by the local, family-style cuisine and, above all, by the breathtaking view over the Bay.

While many people are tempted by the charming seaside resorts along the Channel, the inland areas are not to be ignored. Between forests, rivers and fields, the countryside of Hauts-de-France is green and rejuvenating. In the Pays d'Artois, Valériane organises "sophro-rando" walks during which walkers reconnect with nature and themselves.

A few kilometres away, a walk in the Vallée de la Sensée, rich in megaliths, brings you spiritually closer to the origins of time. A little further on, the ruins of the abbey overlooking Mont Saint-Eloi emerge like a mirage. They are there to remind us of the passage of time and how important it is to take our time.

Coal deposits were discovered in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region at the end of the 17th century and were mined for almost 300 years. Today, the landscape is still marked by the region's mining past, with almost 340 slag heaps rising from the ground here and there, like immense black mountains reaching for the sky. Hiking trails connect them and reach their summits, where nature has sometimes reclaimed its rights. Some people recommend climbing them barefoot to better concentrate on your body, your movements and your emotions.

Natureza means 'nature' in Brazilian. This is the name chosen by Mylène and Fréderic, a warm and welcoming couple as only northerners know how, for their estate ofunusual accommodation in the heart of the forest at Roeux. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, the atypical cabins and lodges on the Natureza estate offer a real break that feels like a journey.

On the water, on dry land or perched in a tree, tranquillity and comfort are the watchwords of the place. Here, the pace slows and the seconds tick away. You experience a moment out of time, in harmony with nature, with others and above all with yourself.

Sport is good for your health, and the Hauts-de-France region offers plenty of opportunities to get active. It's so invigorating to walk along the seafront early in the morning, your face caressed by the sea spray. The Slack dune path winds for five kilometres through the dunes of the Côte d'Opale, taking walkers through wide open spaces drenched in sea salt.

Both novice and experienced riders can enjoy a horse ride. At a walk, you'll pass through a coniferous forest, gradually discovering splendid landscapes shaped by the wind, with the sea at the end. Then it's time to pick up the pace and gallop across thewild, unspoilt immensity of the beach, exhilarated by the speed.

Thrill-seekers may be tempted by a session of sand yachting or kitesurfing on the beaches of Dunkirk. We opt instead for coastal longeering, a little-known sport that is often denigrated because it is generally enjoyed by retired people. And yet, the abs, thighs, back and every muscle in the body are put to good use as you face the North Sea current immersed in waist-deep cold water. It's all in good fun, and you soon realise that this sport is much more collective than it looks.

The Vélomaritime® runs along the French coast from Dunkirk to Roscoff in Brittany. The section between Le Touquet-Paris-Plage and Cayeux-sur-Mer is accessible to cyclists of all abilities. There, on the shores of the Opal Coast and the Baie de Somme, you can pedal with your nose to the wind through magnificent landscapes combining plains, scrubland and beaches. As the kilometres go by, your thoughts are lost in the pearly horizon and you have no choice but to let yourself go in this active meditation.

Where to stay in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage?