Nord Pas de Calais is France's most northerly region. It is comprised of just two departments - Pas de Calais and Nord - both of which are very popular with British buyers looking to purchase French Property close to the UK. The region includes three of the busiest French ferry ports along its coastline (Calais, Dunkerque and Boulogne), as well as the entry/exit point of the Channel Tunnel connecting France to the UK.
For British buyers the big attraction of the Nord Pas de Calais region is of course convenience. It takes less than two hours to cross from Dover to Calais by Ferry, with the whole of the Nord Pas de Calais region being up to a 90-minute drive away from the Calais ferry port. The department of Nord also borders Belgium, offering easy access for Nord Pas de Calais property buyers from the Low Countries. Additionally, the city of Paris is less than a two hour drive away from most parts of the region.
The climate in Nord Pas de Calais is similar to that experienced in Southeast England. Summers are warm and often dry, while winters are cool and sometimes wet. If you're looking for French property in a region that offers warmth all year round and plentiful winter sunshine, Nord Pas de Calais is not that region. But, if you're looking for a villa in France set in a contrasting landscape of forests, rolling hills and meadows that reach down to the sea, Nord Pas de Calais may find a special place in your heart.
The coastal areas of Nord Pas de Calais are always in favour with Nord Pas de Calais property hunters. Dunkerque in Nord, close to the Belgian border, is these days a lovely seaside resort. Several miles of sandy beachfront stretch out along its length, offering hours of fun for children. During the summer Dunkerque becomes quite busy with day-trippers from England and Belgium. Moving further west into Pas de Calais is the town of Calais itself. Just like Dunkerque, Calais is a lovely town but is often very busy with day-trippers from England, the Low Countries and even Paris.
To the south-west of Calais on the way towards Boulogne is the Parc Naturel Regional Des, in which the Pas De Calais landscape can be seen in all its glory. Forests, wooded hills and picture-postcard villages through which rivers run make up this delightful area. Property in this area is reasonably priced too.
Back towards the coast south of Boulogne is a series of lovely seaside resorts. Hardelot-Plage, the smallest of these towns, offers a vast expanse of sandy beach that slopes ever so gently in to the sea. It is also backed by a beautiful forest and open countryside, making it very popular with tourists and those looking to buy property along the coast.
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