A Day Trip from Paris to Northern France: Hidden Towns and a Fairytale Castle Near Lille

France is so much more than Paris, and in the summer of 2025, I planned to discover less popular parts of Northern France, because I felt that might be the best destination to escape the crowds and heat from Paris.

And I hit the jackpot. After exploring Lille for a couple of days (which is truly an underrated city in Northern France) and driving to Dunkirk, I used one entire day to explore the surroundings of Lille, which are so abundant in gorgeous towns and even castles. 

France is also very well connected (by motorways and public transport), so I dare to call this trip a perfect day trip from Paris to Northern France.  

How to plan this day trip from Paris or Lille

I recommend driving to these locations, as it would be hard to fit all of them in one day if you’re relying only on public transport. 

If you’re planning this Northern France day trip from Paris, note that you need about 2.5 hours to get from Paris to Arras, the first stop on the itinerary. 

I visited all of these places during my 4-month Northern Europe road trip last summer.

If you’re driving from Lille, you can reach any of the spots in under one hour (and in this case, I recommend the itinerary in reverse). 

Here’s the Google Maps for this road trip itinerary in Northern France to understand how these places are located and why it makes more sense to go Bethune – Olhain -Arras, but then the castle schedule might not work if you stop in this order.

The stops are about 30 minutes from each other, and of course, you can visit them in whatever order you wish, but note that the castle is the only one with a strict schedule, and you might want to plan the entire day trip around that. 

I did this road trip in early June, and the weather was great. I think this is the kind of trip that can be done almost all year round, the only issue is that the castle is not open every day, and the schedule is more strict during the colder season. 

Stop 1: Béthune (a cute Flemish town with character)

As in many of the French towns, not just Béthune, there will be paid parking really close to the centre of the town. 

I parked in the underground parking under the Grand-Place (the main square of the town). If you don’t want to pay for parking, street parking is free at weekends or on holidays; you need to check when you get there. 

From the parking, you get direct access to the Grand-Place, which is surrounded by gorgeous Art Deco buildings. 

Unfortunately, Béthune was one of the many towns in France that were almost completely destroyed by bombs in World War I. However, this only highlights the resilience of the French, who made a concerted effort to rebuild the town, and in my opinion, it remains a gorgeous spot in Northern France today. 

In the centre of the square is the Beffroi de Béthune, a UNESCO World Heritage belfry. 

I visited on a Sunday, and there was a small flea market in the square. 

I feel like lots of these smaller towns are an attraction even for locals. Many travel between cities and towns during the weekend, some just to have lunch and go for a stroll. 

I truly appreciate the sense of authenticity that all these French towns give, and while most of France is touristy, it’s mostly French tourists, so smaller towns like Béthune feel off-the-beaten-path, and I love these kinds of destinations. 

Stop 2: Arras (history and underground secrets)

Arras is a larger town, with two large squares in the centre, which are right next to each other. Grand Place is a giant parking lot that is free during holidays and weekends. From there, you can walk to the Place des Héros, where the Beffroi d’Arras and the Hôtel de Ville are.

The bell tower of Arras (75 m tall) is a real treasure of Gothic architecture. It was destroyed during the First World War but was accurately restored with reinforced concrete in non-visible parts.

The view from the top is indescribable: you see the squares with the Flemish baroque buildings, the panoramic views of Arras, and the countryside around the city.

The ascent is a nice experience: you go up with an elevator and then about 30 steps on a twist staircase and thus reach the top. 

The bell tower was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.

I also visited Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, which is a short walk from the Beffroi. I visited churches and cathedrals in many different parts of France, and you will soon see how they all have similarities but are different from other catholic churches outside of France. 

If you’re interested in World War I history, make time for a visit to the Wellington Quarry (La Carrière Wellington) in Arras.

This underground museum tells the story of British and New Zealand soldiers who lived and worked beneath the city during the 1917 Battle of Arras. It’s an emotional and fascinating experience that gives real context to the region’s history.

Stop 3: Château d’Olhain (a fairytale castle in the countryside)

The Château d’Olhain is a fairytale castle surrounded by a moat and gorgeous nature. 

This was the first castle I visited in Northern France, and I was blown away that this looked like all the cartoons with castles. 

I took so many pictures and videos of this place, it felt surreal that it exists to this day, and it is so well preserved. 

While there were a few others, visitors were mostly scattered, and we had the entire place to ourselves almost the entire time. 

Some people only spent like 30 minutes around, because it isn’t that huge, but I couldn’t get enough of it, so we spent like 2 hours exploring every corner of the castle. 

There is an entry fee (about 6 euros per person in 2025), and you can pay by card. 

There is no parking, so we just parked on the street, as others have in front of the entrance. 

And they allowed access with our dog, which was great for us. It’s important to know that many places, shops, hotels, restaurants and even castle gardens allow access with dogs, although they don’t always mention it, as it is normal in France. 

Coming from a less dog-friendly country, I kept asking if dogs were allowed, and most of the time, locals were surprised that I had asked, but also very welcoming and friendly. 

Please pay attention to the schedule for Château d’Olhain.

The castle is only open during weekends and public holidays, so please check their schedule on their website before going. I visited on a Sunday and left the castle as the last stop because they opened in the afternoon, and it made more sense for this Northern France itinerary. 

Tips for doing this Northern France day trip

I recommend this particular order for the stops because it allows you to have lunch in Arras, which is the largest place in this itinerary. Arras has plenty of restaurants and you’ll definitely find something you like there. 

Given that you will be doing a lot of walking (this is the case for visiting Europe in general), make sure to wear comfortable shoes that are suitable for the weather. Of course, check the weather before you go. 

I recommend this trip for a weekend, to make sure the castle is open for visitors. Make sure to check the schedule for the Château d’Olhain before this trip. It’s not open every day. 

I made a video with this Northern France day trip from Paris or Lille

I filmed this entire day trip, and I have a video of it on my YouTube channel. I invite you to have a look and admire the visuals from Béthune, Arras, and Château d’Olhain. 

I hope it will help you plan your trip in Northern France and give you a better idea of what this day trip might look like, so you can decide if this is something you want to do while visiting France.  

This entire trip was made to explore the area, as I was driving towards the French coastline, where I spent about 2 weeks in Mers-les-Bains, one of the most gorgeous coastal resorts in France.

After exploring Normandy, I continued my trip and did a gorgeous north Brittany road trip, exploring as much of the French coastline as possible.