Tour de France 2025 in Lille: Discover the Craft Beer Soul of Northern France

Table of Contents

• Lille, Flanders & Flavour
• Stage 1 – Lille to Mont Cassel to Lens (195 km)
• Stage 2 – Douai to Boulogne-sur-Mer (212 km)
• Stage 3 – Valenciennes to Dunkirk (178 km)
• Calais Vins: Your Craft Beer Stop Before Heading Home
• How to Turn the Tour into Your Own Epic Beer Trip
• FAQs – Everything You Need to Know
• Grab a Case, Join the Race

Lille, Flanders & Flavour: Why the 2025 Grand Départ Is the Perfect Excuse for a Beer-Lovers’ Road Trip

On 5 July 2025, the Tour de France sets off from Lille, the capital of French Flanders — famous for its Braderie (Europe’s biggest flea market), its laid-back charm, and its deep-rooted beer culture. From there, a journey begins — not just across kilometres, but through flavours, traditions, and terroirs.

The Hauts-de-France region, affectionately known as "le pays de la bière", is opening its taps to cyclists, food lovers, and curious travelers. Expect cobbled climbs, golden ales, windmills, estaminets, and locals who speak of beer — or Ch’ti — with poetic reverence.

Stage 1 – Lille to Mont Cassel to Lens (195 km)

The peloton loops through Artois and Flanders, rolling past windmills, hop fields and cobblestone climbs. If you're following by car or campervan, prepare to stop often — for views and for pints.

Three key climbs shape this stage: Notre-Dame-de-Lorette in Artois, the cobbled Mont Cassel, and Mont Noir, around 40 km from the finish.

Highlights:

• Mont Cassel: A postcard-perfect hilltop village with panoramic views from the windmill, and a tasting at T'Kasteelhof, the local estaminet.
• Brasserie du Mont Cassel: Their Reuze beer pays tribute to Cassel’s folkloric giants.
• Blaringhem: Home to Brasserie du Pays Flamand, where Anosteké — voted France’s best IPA — is born.
• Saint-Sylvestre-Cappel: Basecamp of the mighty 3 Monts brewery, makers of a fiery strong blonde.

Also stop at:

• Ferme Beck (Bailleul): A family of hop-growers for four generations. Try their Hommelpap, brewed from fresh, local lupulin.
• Brasserie Page 24

Travel tip: Hike the Rampe Alpine to the windmill, breathe in the Flanders plain, then cool off with a local blonde on Cassel’s Grand Place.

Slow down in Terdeghem, one of France’s prettiest villages. At the Kerk Hoek, Romain and Bertrand will pour you a local ale and serve charcuterie in a setting that feels like a Flemish painting come to life.

At the Museum of Flanders in Cassel, you’ll see paintings that look like the café you were just sitting in.

Stage 2 – Douai to Boulogne-sur-Mer (212 km)

This stage swaps hills for heritage — through coal country, gothic cathedrals, and coastal climbs with sea spray in the face.

Key stops:

• Douai: Tower bells and Brasserie de Gayant, famous for La Goudale. Brasserie Lepers with the famous L’Angélus.
• Montreuil-sur-Mer: A medieval town perched above a valley, with ramparts, food markets and a growing craft beer scene. Known for its citadel and Les Misérables link.
• Boulogne-sur-Mer: France’s biggest fishing port — perfect for moules-frites and a cold white beer by the sea. Don’t miss a visit to Nausicaa.

Don’t miss: Bière Blanche de Wissant, brewed at the Brasserie des 2 Caps. Christophe and Alexia Noyon founded the brewery in 2003 on their family farm, preserving Belle Dalle’s heritage and winning multiple awards for their smooth, authentic beers.

Stage 3 – Valenciennes to Dunkirk (178 km)

This final northern stage blends red-brick towns, lace-filled windows, and wind-swept plains.

Stops and Highlights:

• Hordain: Brasserie La Choulette keeps Bière de Garde alive — robust, malty, and made for aging.
• Pont-à-Marcq: PVL (named after the Pévèle area) is making waves with white IPAs and triple-fermented ales.
• Esquelbecq: Half-timbered houses, beer festivals, and Brasserie Thiriez. “Beer is like cuisine — it's personal, it's alive. You don't just drink it. You live it.”

Film lovers’ note: The stage ends in Dunkirk, filming location of Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk. Today, Dunkirk is home to Malo-les-Bains, a seaside resort with a long promenade, Art Deco villas, and beach bars serving moules-frites and cold pilsners with sea views.

Make time for a detour to Bergues, the real-life village from Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis, where humour, heritage, and hops go hand-in-hand.

Calais Vins: Your Craft Beer Stop Before Heading Home

Just before heading back across the Channel, stop at Calais Vins — only minutes from the Eurotunnel and ferry port — for the ultimate beer shopping experience.

With over 200 regional beers and 25+ PerfectDraft keg options, you can easily compare beer prices at home vs. the pub — and find out why a pint can cost less than £2 when bought in-store.

Why Stop at Calais Vins?

• Over 200 regional beers: Anosteké, 3 Monts, La Choulette, Tripel Karmeliet and more.
• 25+ PerfectDraft keg references: Stella, Jupiler, Leffe, Kwak — pub-style beer at home.
• Duty-free deals: With VAT refund, a pint can cost less than £2!

Free Day-Trip from Dover: Pre-order €300+ online and get a free return ferry ticket with P&O.

Looking to find the cheapest PerfectDraft kegs in France? Calais Vins offers unbeatable duty-free deals for cross-Channel shoppers.

How to Turn the Tour into Your Own Epic Beer Trip

• Start in Lille: Explore the bars of rue de Gand and grab a tasting board at a local estaminet.
• Follow the peloton: Take country roads through hops country, from estaminet to estaminet.
• End by the sea: Watch the sun set in Boulogne or Dunkirk with a ruby ale in hand.

FAQs – Everything You Need to Know

• Can I really bring back that much beer? Yes. UK allowance = 42 litres per adult.
• Do I need to book ahead at Calais Vins? Not mandatory, but to get the free ferry, pre-order online at wine-calais.co.uk.
• Are all beers chilled and ready? Absolutely. Our bilingual team is ready with pairings, tips and tastings.
• What makes beer from this region special? It’s the mix of Belgian technique, French terroir, and Flemish soul — bold, generous, and full of character.

Grab a Case, Join the Race

Start your Grape & Hops Escape:

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Book your ferry & VAT refund info

? Get more local travel inspiration around the Tour de France Grand Départ Lille 2025 on Tour de Lille.