MEETINGS 

         ART DECO PASSION IN THE HAUTS DE FRANCE

When visiting a region and taking interest in its culture it's also worthwhile to discover its architectural features often located in the heart of great towns or wemcoming cities full of character as I observed with the integrated Art Deco architecture in harmony with the historical heritage of the Hauts De France.

Located in northern France in the majestic Hauts-Of-France region including five departments—Aisne, Nord, Oise, Pas-de-Calais,and Somme,the Art Deco style short for "Art Décoratif" (Decorative Art),takes its name from the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts which held in Paris in 1925 it is both a global artistic movement of the international scope evident in a furniture design as well as a fashion and design with an architectural style whether

applied to interior architecture or very external and which developed gradually between 1910 and 1930 notably shaped

in a way which was a significant change, particularly after the First World War , in the identity and layout of towns and cities in the Hauts-de-France region whether for the construction of town halls , swimming pools , stadiums or private residences that are appreciated and admired for their original architectural achievements with completed geometric

shapes of mosaics and ironwork, which can be found both in the stair railings and in the design railings,balconies and

stained glass windows are also references and a testament to the great craftsmanship and talented artcrafstmens and

artisans of the era and of what was also called the "Roaring Twenties" of the early 20th century . Proud of its heritage

its heritage and history,The Hauts-de-France region also showcases its rich Art Deco architectural heritage in a fitting manner every year, primarily through two major cultural events, one of which is international renowned in conjunction

with the European Heritage Days which take place every year on the 3rd weekend of September and which is notably allow the visitors to tour iconic places such as the Calais town hall or to stroll through the city center of Lens Liévin to

admire the facades of buildings and houses in its streets with some colored flowers and for those who love the warmer seasons,nothing beats participating every year in the "Spring of Art Deco" which takes place over several weeks spread across April to early June and offers a varied program including guided tours and entertainment such as in Croix with a major show at the Flanders tennis club in the Sthrau hall in Maubeuge , along the beach of Le Touquet Paris Plage and

 in the offices of the former Cambrai chamber of commerce.

A Magnificent Heritage Witness To Our History.

A unique feature, much appreciated by visitors to this magnificent region of Hauts-de-France , is the opportunity to discover the " Art Deco " architectural heritage while enjoying sports everyday gastronomic and cultural activities as is the case in Bruay-la-Buissière with its swimming pool and adjoining changing rooms, as well as the games available at the Saint-Quentin casino in the Aisne department , which is sublime thanks to its meticulous decor and an imposing magnificently designed facade by the architects of the time,before a lunch on a terrace featuring a generous seafood platter along the Wimereux promenade, dotted with great villas and typical Art Deco houses, and located very close to Boulogne-sur-Mer in the Pas-de-Calais, and after a detour to the charming and pleasant city of Amiens in the Somme

head towards the sublime Art and Industry Museum of Roubaix, which concentrates and presents a rich artistic and

cultural heritage industrial sector incorporating strong values and symbols before reaching Lille, the major metropolis and administrative capital of the region which like the other welcoming towns and great cities of the Hauts-de-France

has the unique characteristic of possessing both a big majestic architectural heritage complemented by some events

and fully integrated into its cultural and historical richness such as the Lille flea market whose origins back dating to

the 12th century it attracts between 2 and 3 million visitors each year and is also the largest market to the flea markets

of Europe and this magnificent and very welcoming region of Hauts-de-France rich in its diversity as well as its great architecture integrating territories where local produce, culture and the art of living are constantly combined also this

specificity of maintaining a magnificent heritage that bears witness to our history alongside old ancestral traditions

which are an expression of its cultural vibrancy and the beauty of its unique places that one never tires of discovering.



Report by: Gabriel PAGE

Photos credit: Gabriel PAGE / Getty Images