Arras, Prefecture city in Pas-de-Calais, France
Arras is a prefecture town in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, known for its Flemish-inspired squares and Baroque architecture. The old town stretches between the Grand Place and Place des Héros, both lined by continuous rows of houses with arched arcades on the ground floor.
The town became famous during the Middle Ages as a center for tapestry weaving, with works prized across Europe. It was nearly destroyed during the First World War and faithfully rebuilt in the 1920s.
The name comes from the Atrebates, a Celtic tribe that settled here over two millennia ago. Locals speak French with a slight northern accent and maintain culinary traditions such as andouillette sausages and local beers from small breweries.
The central railway station offers regular train connections to Paris, Lille and other towns in the north of the country. The two main squares lie close together and can be easily reached on foot, with the historic center remaining compact.
The underground quarry galleries stretch for several kilometers beneath the streets and served as shelters for thousands of soldiers during the First World War. A large section of these vaults is now open to visitors and shows traces from different centuries.
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