Arras lies to the southwest of Lille in the Nord-Pas de Calais region of northern France. Built on a bed of limestone and chalk that was mined in medieval times, the highlight of the town is definitely its old-town centre, which was damaged during World War II, but has been restored.

Two expansive squares that are surrounded by Dutch-style houses and mansions grace the town of Arras. The Place des Heroes-the smaller of the two squares-is home to the town hall and the belfry, which has been designated as a World Heritage site. After climbing to the top of the belfry and taking a few minutes to enjoy the view, visitors can then descend into the subterranean world and explore the tunnels and rooms that have been carved out of the ground underneath the town hall.

While visiting Arras, be sure to tour the cathedral, which was built in the 18th century on the site of a much earlier cathedral that was once one of the architectural gems of France. Also, the moving war cemetery and memorial on the edge of town offers deep insight into the lives of soldiers here during World War I and should not be missed.