Cambrai, a town of art and history
The area's capital, Cambrai, is best discovered on foot. Its belfry is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, as one of the Belfries of Belgium and France. Around it, the cathedral, the church of Saint-Géry and the old houses make for a dense half-day stroll. The Cambrésis tourist office lists the visits and opening times.
You cannot leave town without tasting the bêtise de Cambrai. This striped mint sweet was born in the 19th century. It has become a gourmet emblem of the city, and several confectioners still welcome visitors.
Caudry and lace
A few minutes from Cambrai, Caudry is one of France's lace-making capitals on Leavers looms. Its craft, inherited from the 19th century, still dresses haute couture today. The town of Caudry has a museum of lace and embroidery. It is a rare detour for anyone drawn to the artisan trades.
This history is more than a backdrop: it runs through the local imagination. At The Granges, the game's story, The Secrets of Béthencourt, draws on the region's lace-making memory.
The countryside and the memory of WWI
Beyond the towns, the Cambrésis is a land of open fields, red-brick villages and church spires. It is also a land of remembrance: the Battle of Cambrai in 1917 saw one of the first massed uses of tanks in history. Commonwealth cemeteries, memorials and remembrance sites dot the area for those who want to understand the Great War in the North.
It is in this countryside, in Béthencourt, that the Granges estate is nestled, an 18th-century manor and its outbuildings.
An unusual night in Béthencourt
To extend your visit with an experience unique in the region, The Granges open in September 2026 the first escape game hotel in Hauts-de-France: 650 m² of playable space, 11 rooms, a session of around 7 hours for 6 to 12 people, dinner and night on site, from €135 per person. To place it among the other venues, see our sourced comparison of overnight escape games.
- An unusual night. You sleep where you have just been playing. See our dedicated article.
- With friends or family. The estate is privatised. Details and prices on the escape game with friends page.
- An original hen or stag do. See our hen & stag idea in Northern France.
The estate has already been featured in the local press, in L'Observateur and La Voix du Nord.
How to reach the Cambrésis
From Paris
2 h
Via the A1, or by TGV to Arras/Douai then by road.
The Granges: 22 rue Jean Jaurès, 59540 Béthencourt, in the Cambrésis (Nord). Opening in September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Cambrésis?
The Cambrésis is an area in the south of the Nord département (59), in Hauts-de-France, around Cambrai and Caudry, about 1 h from Lille and 2 h from Paris.
What is there to see in Cambrai?
The Cambrai belfry, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list as one of the Belfries of Belgium and France, the cathedral, the old town houses, and the famous bêtise de Cambrai, the mint sweet born in the town in the 19th century.
Why is Caudry known for lace?
Caudry is one of France's lace-making capitals on Leavers looms; its craft supplies haute couture. The town has a museum dedicated to this textile history.
What unusual thing can you do in the Cambrésis?
In Béthencourt, The Granges offer an unusual night: a 2-day, 1-night escape game hotel in a 650 m² manor, the first of its kind in Hauts-de-France. Opening in September 2026.