France – Saint-Quentin (En)
We went to Saint-Quentin because it had a municipal campsite; it was expected to be warm, and the municipal swimming pool was nearby. When we arrived, it turned out we’d already been there; the woman at the campsite recognised us. Anyway, we saw the town hall square, which is beautiful, but we couldn’t really appreciate it because a festival had just finished and they were taking everything down. Saint-Quentin is a historic town in northern France, known for its Basilica, its 16th-century Town Hall, and its remarkable Art Deco architecture.
Where to stay
As I mentioned, we stayed at the municipal campsite (49.854908, 3.309019 lat, long), which is also a youth hostel. We paid €18, including electricity and taxes. The campsite has drinking water and drains for emptying grey water. The chemical toilet is next to the sanitary building. The rubbish bins are behind the sanitary building. There are several trees for shade. The pitches have electricity and are spacious. The facilities are decent, with a washing-up area with hot water, showers with hot water also, a toilet without toilet paper (typical in France), and a seating area with tables. There’s a large garden and a basketball court. The municipal swimming pool is right next to the campsite, but we didn’t end up using it because I had an ear infection. The best thing about the campsite is its location, as you can walk to the town centre in 20 minutes or catch the bus at the campsite entrance, which drops you right in the centre.
What to see
We took the bus that runs every 15 minutes, and it cost €1.20. The same ticket can be used for the return trip. We got off at the Basilica, and it was the first thing we visited. The basilica is a monumental Gothic masterpiece built between the 12th and 15th centuries. We were able to see the inside, and it’s breathtaking; it has an ancient 260-meter labyrinth inscribed on the nave floor and medieval stained-glass windows from the 12th century.
Walking around the basilica, you’ll reach a square where you can admire the other side, which is beautiful. There’s a sign in the square with the city’s name.
In two minutes, walking down the main shopping street, you’ll reach the town hall square, which is beautiful. There were several exhibits in the square; we especially loved the bathing huts. The tourist office and a lovely garden with fountains are also located in the square. The town hall itself is the most impressive feature, with its ornate Gothic facade adorned with 173 sculptures.
We went to see the Butterfly Museum, but it was closed. So we took the bus back to the campsite after doing some shopping.
Next stop: Arras, with its stunning Flemish Baroque architecture and much more, which you can see in the next blog post.
