Gites and holiday cottage accommodation near Arras in northern France

Arras is famed for its extensive labyrinth of medieval underground tunnels carved into the chalky rock. People sought refuge in these tunnels in times of distress as during in World Wars.

In peacetime, locals used the tunnels to store food and wine.

There are two large historic cobbled market squares lined with 17th and 18th century Flemish merchant's houses in Arras which hint at Flemish and French changes of ownership throughout history.

In one of these market squares, the Place des Héros, you will find the Town Hall where you can climb the stairs to the belfry affording great views over the town.

• Northern France holiday lets : cottages, gites

In the larger square, Grand'Place, there are numerous cafes and restaurants providing sustenance for hungry tourists.

Anyone with an interest in the two World wars will find plenty of places to visit including battlefields; the front line in World war I was close to the town. Visit the Vimy Ridge Canadian memorial and reconstruction of World War I trenches. Twenty thousand white crosses in the graveyard of the Notre-dame de Lorette church represent the 120,000 men who died in battle here. The Museum de la Targette exhibits army paraphernalia; uniforms, arms and military documents.

The town's Musée des Beaux-Arts has a collection of fine art and historic artifacts telling the story of this region, the wealth created by weaving wool tapestries interspersed with gold and silver threads in the 14th century and later manufacture of other textiles including lace.

Gites and self-catering cottage accommodation near Arras in northern France