The Nord département of France is a land of giants. In a tradition that dates back hundreds of years, local towns and villages across the region hold annual parades in which huge human effigies are carried by locals through the main streets. Each of these figures has its own name and personality. Their annual walk is a tour of inspection, a chance for the giants to look down on their home towns and pass quiet judgment.
The most celebrated of these parades takes place in the towns of Cassel and Douai, whose festivities are classed by Unesco as non-material heritage treasures. Cassel's giants, known as Reuze Papa and Reuze Maman, make their appearance in February and at Easter, but Douai's ogres bide their time until the Sunday following 5 July, when they stay in town for three days.
Douai's six giants are the "Gayant" family, and their first recorded appearance was almost 500 years ago. The biggest family member, Monsieur Gayant, is 8.5m (28ft) tall, weighs 370kg (815lb), and is carried aloft by six men, all of whom have inherited the position of Gayant bearer from their fathers.
The best day to meet the giants this year is on Sunday 7 July, when you can join more than 100,000 spectators and participants to watch them pass before beginning their two-day tour of the local villages. They re-enter Douai on Tuesday evening accompanied by more raucous celebrations, before returning to their lair for another year.
Further north, close to the Belgian border, there's more of a feeling of permanent celebration. Dunkirk is marking its year as regional capital of culture for 2013 with a host of festivals and activities. From April to December, the city will be alive with more than 600 events and the work of more than 5,000 artists. Public parades, concerts and exhibitions complete the party.
A highlight of the 2013 calendar is the Dunkirk Maritime festival, which begins on 30 May. For four days, a fleet of historic vessels, large yachts and working ships will dock at the port and offer sea trips and tours. If you want to experience life under sail on the high seas, step on board the Artemis, a three-mast barque built in Norway in 1926 and used as a whaling ship until the 1940s.
Back on dry land, the quays will be lined with living history re-enactments, including rope-makers, figurehead sculptors and fish smokers and a wealth of entertainment, including concerts and performances.
To find out more about this destination, visit gotofrancenow.com/northern-france-nord
