Douai

Douai City Hall and Belfrey

Douai is a small city of 40,000 inhabitants in the Hauts-de-France region of France, known for its belfry. The city is located between Lens and Valenciennes.

Understand

View from the Belfrey; the Collegiale St. Pierre is the large church in the background

Douai has been an important city in the region since the Middle Ages, and had previously been capital of the region. Historically, Douai has been a Dutch-speaking city during the Middle Ages. In the 17th century the city eventually became French territory. Interestingly enough, one of its claims to fame is its connection with the Douai Bible, an early translation of the Bible into English.

• 1 Tourist office, 70 Place d'Armes, ☏ +33 3 27 88 26 79. 

Get in

View on the Scarpe River

By train

The 1 Douai Railway Station is located quite close to the historical centre of the city. There is a direct train from Lille which takes about 40 minutes.

See

Porte de Valenciennes

• 1 Belfry, Rue de la Mairie. The clocktower of Douai City Hall (French: Hôtel de Ville de Douai), it is the best preserved of the region's medieval belfries, built in the 14th century. It is 54 meters high. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. 
• 2 Collegiale St. Pierre, Rue Saint-Cristophe. The largest church in the region. 
• 3 Tour des Dames, Rue de la Tour des Dames. Part of the city's medieval fortifications. 
• 4 Porte de Valenciennes, Rue de Valenciennes. Part of the city's medieval fortifications. 
• 5 Porte d'Arras, Rue d'Arras. Part of the city's medieval fortifications. 
• 6 Musée de la Chartreuse, 130 Rue des Chartreux, ☏ +33 3 27 71 38 80. Fine arts museum housed in a Renaissance mansion. 

Musée de la Chartreuse

View on rue de Valenciennes

Go next

• Lens — nearby city known for the Louvre-Lens (branch of the Louvre located in Lens) and for its famous football club, RC Lens, who play in the Stade Félix Bollaert.