Dunkirk, the third largest port in France, is a seaside resort, a nautical, urban, cultural and festive destination, and a great place to spend a weekend. Discover a typical weekend in one of Nord’s most beautiful cities.
SATURDAY MORNING
To really understand maritime Dunkirk, you have to visit the Port Museum. Located in the heart of the Vauban citadel, in a former tobacco warehouse, near the wet docks. The Musée à Quai collection teaches you about the history and development of the city, not to mention that of its illustrious privateer Jean Bart. The Musée à Flot puts you in the shoes of the sailors aboard three boats: the three-mast Duchesse Anne (1901), the only tall ship open to visitors in France; the Sandettie lightvessel, which marked the sandbanks of the Dunkirk Pass; the barge Guilde, a testimony of canal transport. Open every day except Tuesday, 10:00-12:30, 13:30-18:00.
From there, head to Place du Minck, where the octagonal Leughenaer tower (Flemish for ‘liar’) stands. It is said that its signals were used to cause enemy ships to run aground.
Follow the docks and take the new Texel lift bridge to the sculpture garden, in the grounds of the Museum of Contemporary Art (LAAC). This museum takes visitors on a journey through time, from the 1950s to the 1980s. The works presented are punctuated by the joyful colours of Pop’art and large skylights offer expansive views of its garden and its unusual steel, stone, water and wind sculptures. A great place to rest and eat lunch. There are many restaurants in the surrounding area.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Pass by Rue du 110e Régiment d’Infanterie, named after the 110th infantry regiment created in 1692 with the bold motto “qui s’y frotte s’y pique” (if you play with fire, you get burned), to get to the busy city centre with its many shops, big names, boutiques and its large shopping mall.
Prolong your day with a visit to Pôle Marine, another shopping centre where you can grab a bite to eat before an evening of festivities and culture.
There is no shortage of cinemas, theatres, convention centres and entertainment venues like the Kursaal in Dunkirk!
SUNDAY MORNING
Sticking with the maritime universe, a visit to the Municipal Aquarium is a must. Its 11 marine aquariums host multiple species of fish of all sizes, including ferocious piranhas and koi carp. Open all year round from 09:30 to 18:30 (19:30 in summer).
Then head to the Malo-les-Bains neighbourhood. This residential area of Dunkirk is famous for the nearby dike. It is a popular place for a Sunday stroll. By the sea, beautiful decorated beach huts attract the eye. If the weather permits, work up an appetite with a swim. In fact, the terraces await, where you can tuck into mussels and other produce from the sea.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Settle into a deckchair or lie on the fine sand to soak up the seaside atmosphere.
Want to keep moving? Tempted by a walk or run? The new section of the GR 120 coastal path, which runs from Dunkirk, through Fort-Vallières, to Bergues, Bierne, Brouckerque, Bourbourg and finally Gravelines, has just been completed. Not to mention the Dunkirk triathlon and the Dunkirk marathon, both of which are held each year!
Fancy getting out to sea?
You can always take a boat trip, with several on offer to explore the Port of Dunkirk and its locks. Or how about a mini cruise to the walled town of Gravelines? There you can walk around the ramparts and visit Château Arsenal, which was built by the Spanish and repurposed by Vauban.
Prefer to go solo?
Feel like a sailor for a day by renting a boat and rowing the moats surrounding the ramparts, a good way to round off the weekend exploring this magnificent maritime town!
