Sport in the North
Doing sports in the North is like second nature. Here, there are many clubs, structures and events of (very) high level, which make the territory shine at the international level, in all practices.
The most universal of all, linked to the ball, is soccer. And the North is spoiled: LOSC (for Lille Olympique Sporting Club) has been French champion several times and has won the national cup many times. This tradition of victories goes back a long way, with clubs such as Tourcoing or the Racing Club de Roubaix, which won the championship five times between 1902 and 1908! The department is also represented in Ligue 2 by VAFC, the Valenciennes club and its fervent Stade du Hainaut, with its 25,000 seats, as well as by USL Dunkerque, recently promoted to the second level of professional soccer.
They also turn, like the ball, but are associated with races: they are the wheels of the bicycle! Cycling in the North is an institution. This is due to the fame of one of the most feared and followed cycling races in the world: the Paris-Roubaix! This race, which was created in 1896, is known for its difficulty, especially in the mythical sector of the Trouée d'Arenberg with its cobblestones. The cyclist Jean Stablinski, who was responsible for the inclusion of the Trouée d'Arenberg in the Paris-Roubaix, also gave his name to the Stab Vélodrome Jean Stablinski in Roubaix, a Mecca for track cycling!
Cycling, soccer but also trail : the trail of Val Joly is a famous event !
Leisure in the North
Having a good time in the North is an absolute must and a natural thing! Here, everyone can find what they are looking for, whether alone, as a couple or as a family. You can, according to your desires, devote yourself to all the variations of walking, in all its forms. So, why not go along the northern coastline and practice your long-distance walking, with the scenery of the sea, the smell of the sea and the sound of the surf? And if you prefer hiking, then the Avesnois and Flanders, for example, will be your favorite playgrounds, with their bucolic scenery, changing with the seasons, and which will never cease to enchant you!
If you are more attracted by the maritime and aquatic aspect of the North, don't worry: fine sandy beaches, as in Grand-Fort-Philippe, a leisure center with the Blue Flag label in Fourmies, pebble beaches... The choice is vast! And it will be the ideal occasion to try the experience, on windy days, of sand yachting or kite flying!
If you want to discover the North with the Little Queen, no problem, especially by using the Points-Nœuds network, which allows you to build a customized itinerary, precise to the meter, knowing exactly the distance you will cover, but which can also be modified on a whim.
Finally, leisure activities in the North are also placed under the sign of culture: museums, workshops, visits and discoveries are waiting for you!
