Beer Lovers Tour de France in northern France! Uncover highlights, must-sees and locations to cease off at in the course of the world’s most well-known bike race!
On 5 July 2025, the world-famous Tour de France will set off from Lille, the capital of Haut-de-France within the far north, an space well-known for its gorgeous shoreline, sleepy villages, historic cities, battle websites, and beer.
Beer Lovers Tour de France
The Hauts-de-France area, affectionately generally known as “le pays de la bière” (the nation of beer), is the right area for cyclists, foodies, nature lovers and people who love historical past and tradition.
We requested the consultants at Calais Vins, the premier retailer for beer, wine, champagne, and many others., to share their prime ideas for benefiting from the Tour de France within the area.
Stage 1 – Lille to Mont Cassel to Lens (195 km)
Lille is thought for its laid-back attraction, wealthy tradition, gastronomy, and deep-rooted beer tradition. The locals are pleasant and welcoming, and we will count on that this start line for the 2025 Tour will likely be memorably incredible. Discover the bars of rue de Gand in Previous Lille and seize a tasting board at an area estaminet.
The peloton will loop by the area, rolling previous windmills, hop fields, and cobblestone climbs. For those who’re following, put together to cease usually — for views and pints–and meet the locals who converse of beer and golden ales with poetic reverence.
Three key climbs form this stage: Notre-Dame-de-Lorette close to the historic and enchanting metropolis of Arras; the steep cobbled hill Mont Cassel (stated to the hill upon which the kids’s rhyme “The Grand Previous Duke of York is predicated); and Mont Noir, considered one of a number of UNESCO-listed slag heaps, round 40 km from the end.
Highlights of Tour de France Stage 1:
Mont Cassel: A postcard-perfect hilltop village with panoramic views from the windmill, and the best place for a beer tasting at T’Kasteelhof, the locals’ favorite estaminet.
Brasserie du Mont Cassel: Their Reuze beer pays tribute to Cassel’s folkloric giants, wickerwork figures which have lengthy performed a component within the space’s historical past.
Blaringhem: Residence to Brasserie du Pays Flamand, the place Anosteké — voted France’s finest IPA — is made.
Saint-Sylvestre-Cappel: Basecamp of the mighty 3 Monts brewery, makers of a fiery sturdy blonde.
Additionally, cease at:
Ferme Beck (Bailleul): Meet a household of hop-growers for 4 generations. Strive their Hommelpap, brewed from recent, native lupulin.
Brasserie Web page 24 – famend for his or her glorious beers.
Journey tip: In Cassel, hike the Rampe Alpine, a ‘pure’ mountain path constructed on town’s historic Gallo-Roman fortifications and resulting in the general public backyard, then cool off with an area blonde on Cassel’s Grand Place. Pop to the Museum of Flanders to see work that look similar to the cafés you’ll encounter.
Cease off in Terdeghem, a postcard fairly village. On the Kerk Hoek bar and restaurant, Romain and Bertrand will pour you an area ale and serve charcuterie in a setting that appears like a Flemish portray come to life.
Stage 2 – Douai to Boulogne-sur-Mer (212 km)
This stage swaps hills for heritage, by coal mining nation, previous Gothic cathedrals, and with memorable coastal climbs.
Key stops Tour de France stage 2:
Douai: Tower bells and Brasserie de Gayant, well-known for La Goudale beers. There’s additionally Brasserie Lepers, who make the well-known L’Angélus beer.
Montreuil-sur-Mer: This medieval city is perched above a verdant valley and encircled by ramparts. Victor Hugo was impressed by his go to right here to put in writing “Les Misérables.” The city has a marvellous Saturday morning market and so many eating places that it’s known as a “Vacation spot Gastronomique.” It additionally has a rising craft beer scene.
Boulogne-sur-Mer: France’s largest fishing port — excellent for moules-frites and a chilly white beer by the ocean. High tip: Go to Nausicaa – Europe’s largest aquarium.
Don’t miss: Bière Blanche de Wissant, brewed on the Brasserie des 2 Caps. Christophe and Alexia Noyon based the brewery in 2003 on their household farm, preserving Belle Dalle’s heritage and successful a number of awards for his or her clean, genuine beers.
Stage 3 – Valenciennes to Dunkirk (178 km)
This last northern stage winds by red-brick cities and wind-swept plains.
Stops and Highlights:
Hordain: Brasserie La Choulette retains Bière de Garde alive — sturdy, malty, and made for ageing.?????
Pont-à-Marcq: PVL (named after the Pévèle space) is making waves with white IPAs and triple-fermented ales.
Esquelbecq: Half-timbered homes, beer festivals, and Brasserie Thiriez. “Beer is like delicacies — it’s private, it’s alive. You don’t simply drink it. You reside it.”
The stage ends in Dunkirk, the filming location of Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster Dunkirk. Immediately, Dunkirk is dwelling to Malo-les-Bains, a seaside resort with an extended promenade, Artwork Deco villas, and seaside bars serving moules-frites and chilly pilsners with sea views.
Find time for a detour to Bergues, the real-life village from Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis, France’s biggest-grossing (and good ) movie, the place humour, heritage, and hops go hand-in-hand.
Calais Vins: Your Craft Beer Cease Earlier than Heading Residence
Earlier than heading again throughout the Channel, cease at Calais Vins — solely minutes from the Eurotunnel and ferry port — for the final word beer purchasing expertise.
With over 200 regional beers and greater than twenty-five PerfectDraft keg choices, you’ll be able to simply examine beer costs at dwelling vs. the pub — and discover out why a top quality pint can value lower than £2 when purchased in-store with Obligation-free offers and VAT refunds.
Tip: Get a free day journey from Dover: Pre-order €300+ on-line and get a free return ferry ticket with P&O.
Get your beer at Calais Vins
Helpful information:
The UK allowance is 42 litres of beer per grownup.
It’s not necessary to guide your purchases on-line forward of your go to, however it may possibly prevent time—simply click on and accumulate. For those who’re utilizing the free Calais possibility, you will have to pre-order on-line.
All beers are chilled and prepared, and the bilingual crew at Calais Vins is prepared with pairings, ideas, and tastings.
We’ll go away the final phrase to Jerome Pont of Calais Vins: “What makes beer from this area particular is the combo of Belgian approach, French terroir, and Flemish soul — daring, beneficiant, and filled with character. Seize a Case, Be part of the Race!”
Store on-line, not only for nice beer however for an unlimited vary of wines, Champagne and spirits, and discover particulars of nice provides and rather more at wine-calais.co.uk
