Lens travel guide and discussion

I am planning a Senior Inter-Rail Trip for my next big adventure and there are some marvellous museums and Gothic Cathedrals to visit around Lille, my first stop over for a few days. I plan to buy a culture pass so I can use public transport and free entry into the museums and Gothic Cathedrals, following in the footsteps of Matisse, Monet and the impressionists. Yes, I can absolutely combine Arras, Douai and Lens into one incredible, action-packed regional day trip. Because all three cities sit along interconnected lines of the regional network I can ride from one to the next in a perfect loop. By scheduling my transfers smoothly, I will comfortably hit my major targets: the underground war tunnels in Arras the world-class art museum in Lens and the historic belfry in Douai. To get the most out of my day trip from Lille I have a highly optimised, stress-free route map for my day trip. 🚆08:30 – 09:05 Train from Lille Flandres to Arras. Take a direct morning train (approx. 35 mins). 🏛️09:15 – 12:00 Explore Arras. Head straight to the Carrière Wellington (Wellington Quarry) to use my City Pass for free admission. Afterward, I take a brisk stroll through the stunning baroque Grand Place and grab a coffee and make a few sketches at the Gothic Cathedrals. 🚆12:15 – 12:30 | Train from Arras to Lens. Hop on an hourly direct train—it takes just 11 to 15 minutes to jump between these two cities. 🏛️12:30 – 15:30 | Explore Lens. Grab a quick lunch near the station, then I take the dedicated, free pedestrian path straight to the spectacular Louvre-Lens museum park. Flash my City Pass at the ticket counter to receive my reduced admission rate for the temporary exhibitions (the breathtaking main Gallery of Time is always free!). I can take a chill time with a drink and some quick sketching before heading to the station. 🚆15:45 – 16:15 Train from Lens to Douai Board the direct afternoon train connecting the two towns (approx. 30 mins). On the train I can check out my sketching and look through my postcards. 🏛️16:15 – 18:30 Explore Douai and Walk into the town center to admire the dramatic architecture. Spend your time marvelling at the towering UNESCO-listed Belfry of Douai or relaxing along the scenic scarpe canals. Time for some quick sketching and a bite to eat. 🚆18:45 – 19:15 | Train from Douai to Lille Flandres, Wrapping up my loop with a direct evening train. It is a lightning-fast 20 to 25-minute ride back to where you started, leaving you plenty of time for dinner back in Lille. I’m looking forward to trying out my itinerary. What do you think? Have you visited any of the museums and Gothic Cathedrals? Any tips or suggestions you can give me? #travel #museums #thingstodo

🗺️Gothic Architecture Tour! Day 1:Vieille Bourse-Vieux-Lille-Beffroi de Lille Day 2:Louvre-Lens Museum-Grand'Place-La Carriere Wellington-L'Univers Arras by Elema Hotels ex Hôtel de l'Univers Arras-Holiday Inn Express ARRAS by IHG-Campanile Arras - Saint Nicolas Day 3:Amiens Cathedral-Les Hortillonnages d'Amiens-Hôtel Mercure Amiens Cathédrale-You Hotel Amiens - Handwritten Collection-Ibis Styles Amiens Sud Day 4:Cathedral Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul de Troyes Day 5:Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris-Ile de la Cite-Seine River Cruise Day 6:Louvre Museum-Musee d'Orsay-Tuileries Garden-Place de la Concorde-Eiffel Tower Day 7:Palais Garnier-Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile Must-Visit Attractions 1. Vieille Bourse 2. Vieux-Lille 3. Beffroi de Lille 4. Louvre-Lens Museum 5. Grand'Place 6. La Carriere Wellington 7. Amiens Cathedral 8. Les Hortillonnages d'Amiens 9. Cathedral Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul de Troyes 10. Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris 11. Ile de la Cite 12. Seine River Cruise 13. Louvre Museum 14. Musee d'Orsay 15. Tuileries Garden 16. Place de la Concorde 17. Eiffel Tower 18. Palais Garnier 19. Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile 🏠Accommodation 1. L'Univers Arras by Elema Hotels ex Hôtel de l'Univers Arras 2. Holiday Inn Express ARRAS by IHG 3. Campanile Arras - Saint Nicolas 4. Hôtel Mercure Amiens Cathédrale 5. You Hotel Amiens - Handwritten Collection 6. Ibis Styles Amiens Sud Get around France with an Interrail card! #museums #citydaytours #travel

#holidayitinerary Site Du 11/19, located in Hauts-de-France in Loos En Gohelle, is a fascinating glimpse into the region’s industrial past. This former coal mining site has been transformed into a cultural and educational destination that highlights the history of mining and the lives of the workers who shaped the area. Walking through the site, you’ll find restored mining structures, informative exhibits, and guided tours that provide insight into the challenges and achievements of the coal mining era. The surrounding landscape features green spaces and scenic viewpoints, offering a contrast to the industrial heritage and making it perfect for casual exploration or photography. Whether you are a history enthusiast, architecture fan, or simply curious, Site Du 11/19 offers a unique and engaging experience. It captures the industrial legacy and cultural significance of Hauts-de-France in a memorable way.

#holidayitinerary Musée du Louvre de Lens, located in Hauts-de-France, is a captivating museum that brings the grandeur of Paris’s Louvre to northern France. Housed in a modern, light-filled building, the museum offers a spacious and inviting environment for art lovers of all ages. Walking through its galleries, you’ll encounter a diverse collection of paintings, sculptures, and artifacts spanning centuries of artistic achievement. Temporary exhibitions add variety and highlight both classical and contemporary works. The museum’s design encourages a relaxed and immersive experience, with open spaces, natural light, and thoughtful displays that make it easy to explore at a casual pace. Visitors can also enjoy nearby green spaces and cafes for a full day of leisure. Whether you are a dedicated art enthusiast or a casual explorer, Musée du Louvre de Lens provides an enriching and memorable cultural experience in Hauts-de-France.

This time, I’m sharing my personal top 4 recommendations! These are places I consider to be the pinnacle of art museums 🥺🥺🥺. Among the top 10 museums in the world ranked by visitor numbers, I’ve been to all except Russia’s Hermitage Museum! Having visited countless amazing museums, here are the ones I’d recommend and would love to revisit 🙆. Spoiler alert: I ended up choosing two Louvre museums 🥺🥺🥺. The Louvre truly lives up to its reputation 👍👍👍. ____________________ 【2nd and 3rd images】 🖼 Louvre Abu Dhabi 🚖 Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪 💰 Price: 60 AED (approx. 2,500 yen) Louvre Abu Dhabi is a museum that opened in 2017 as a collaboration between France’s Louvre Museum and the United Arab Emirates. The Abu Dhabi government paid over 1 billion euros for the rights to use the Louvre name and expertise, with additional fees for artwork loans. Designed by Jean Nouvel, the building features a distinctive dome, showcasing the grandeur of Arab investment 💰. It’s truly breathtaking! ____________________ 【4th, 5th, and 6th images】 🖼 Louvre-Lens 🚖 Location: Lens, France 🇫🇷 💰 Price: Permanent exhibitions are free 🆓; special exhibitions require a fee. Louvre-Lens is a branch of the Louvre Museum that opened in 2012 in Lens, France 🙆♀️. The building, designed by Japanese architects SANAA (Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa), features transparent glass and aluminum, allowing natural light to create an open and inviting space. The museum primarily showcases collections loaned from the main Louvre, with innovative displays that let visitors travel back over 100 years in time, offering a unique way to compare art across eras 😍. ____________________ 【7th, 8th, and 9th images】 🖼 Austrian Gallery 🚖 Location: Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹 💰 Price: 25€ (approx. 4,090 yen) The Austrian Gallery is located in Vienna’s Belvedere Palace and houses numerous masterpieces of Austrian art. Its most iconic piece is Gustav Klimt’s "The Kiss," which uses gold leaf to depict lovers in a sacred and dreamlike manner. This gallery offers a deep dive into the symbolism of late 19th to early 20th-century Viennese art 🙆♀️. Klimt is my favorite artist, so I had to include this gallery ✨. Seeing "The Kiss" in person is truly awe-inspiring—it’s more like a jewel than a painting, thanks to the real gold used 💎. Note that tickets purchased in advance or opting out of photography may be slightly cheaper 🙆♀️. ____________________ 【10th and 11th images】 🖼 Heydar Aliyev Center 🚖 Location: Baku, Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 💰 Price: 15 AZN (approx. 1,347 yen) The Heydar Aliyev Center is a cultural complex in Baku, Azerbaijan, designed by architect Zaha Hadid. Its flowing curves bring softness and futuristic design to the city’s otherwise rigid urban landscape. Inside, the center features exhibition halls, museums, and event spaces, serving as a hub for Azerbaijani culture. The sheer size and striking white presence of the building are awe-inspiring. · **・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・*** As a freelance graphic designer, I travel the world visiting museums. From niche museums to iconic ones, I focus on beautiful places and architecture. This is the only place where I share global museum information 🙆♀️. The world is full of beauty—not just in museums but everywhere. I hope my posts from a designer’s perspective inspire you to appreciate art and design, enriching your life 😆. · **・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・***

Most famous in the world Musee Du Louver . historical characters, and there's panting . Mona Lisa

The Lens Slag Heap is located on the outskirts of Lens, France, and is a very special tourist attraction. These slag heaps originated during World War I and are composed of materials used in the war and construction debris. Today they are a unique urban landscape. Here visitors can see the steel structures transformed by time and natural weathering, and feel the profound significance of history and war. There is also beautiful natural scenery around the slag heap, which is suitable for walking and taking photos. This place is a very fascinating choice for history lovers and explorers alike, offering experiences and reflections that are different from traditional tourist attractions.