Beer Lovers Tour de France in northern France! Discover highlights, must-sees and places to stop off at during the world’s most famous bike race!
On 5 July 2025, the world-famous Tour de France will set off from Lille, the capital of Haut-de-France in the far north, an area famous for its stunning coastline, sleepy villages, historic towns, battle sites, and beer.
Beer Lovers Tour de France
The Hauts-de-France region, affectionately known as “le pays de la bière” (the country of beer), is the perfect region for cyclists, foodies, nature lovers and those who love history and culture.
We asked the experts at Calais Vins, the premier store for beer, wine, champagne, etc., to share their top tips for making the most of the Tour de France in the region.
Stage 1 – Lille to Mont Cassel to Lens (195 km)
Lille is known for its laid-back charm, rich culture, gastronomy, and deep-rooted beer culture. The locals are friendly and welcoming, and we can expect that this starting point for the 2025 Tour will be memorably fantastic. Explore the bars of rue de Gand in Old Lille and grab a tasting board at a local estaminet.
The peloton will loop through the region, rolling past windmills, hop fields, and cobblestone climbs. If you’re following, prepare to stop often — for views and pints–and meet the locals who speak of beer and golden ales with poetic reverence.
Three key climbs shape this stage: Notre-Dame-de-Lorette near the historic and enchanting city of Arras; the steep cobbled hill Mont Cassel (said to the hill upon which the children’s rhyme “The Grand Old Duke of York is based); and Mont Noir, one of several UNESCO-listed slag heaps, around 40 km from the finish.
Highlights of Tour de France Stage 1:
Mont Cassel: A postcard-perfect hilltop village with panoramic views from the windmill, and the ideal place for a beer tasting at T’Kasteelhof, the locals’ favourite estaminet.
Brasserie du Mont Cassel: Their Reuze beer pays tribute to Cassel’s folkloric giants, wickerwork figures that have long played a part in the area’s history.
Blaringhem: Home to Brasserie du Pays Flamand, where Anosteké — voted France’s best IPA — is made.
Saint-Sylvestre-Cappel: Basecamp of the mighty 3 Monts brewery, makers of a fiery strong blonde.
Also, stop at:
Ferme Beck (Bailleul): Meet a family of hop-growers for four generations. Try their Hommelpap, brewed from fresh, local lupulin.
Brasserie Page 24 – renowned for their excellent beers.
Travel tip: In Cassel, hike the Rampe Alpine, a ‘natural’ mountain path built on the city’s ancient Gallo-Roman fortifications and leading to the public garden, then cool off with a local blonde on Cassel’s Grand Place. Pop to the Museum of Flanders to see paintings that look just like the cafés you’ll encounter.
Stop off in Terdeghem, a postcard pretty village. At the Kerk Hoek bar and restaurant, Romain and Bertrand will pour you a local ale and serve charcuterie in a setting that feels like a Flemish painting come to life.
Stage 2 – Douai to Boulogne-sur-Mer (212 km)
This stage swaps hills for heritage, through coal mining country, past Gothic cathedrals, and with memorable coastal climbs.
Key stops Tour de France stage 2:
Douai: Tower bells and Brasserie de Gayant, famous for La Goudale beers. There’s also Brasserie Lepers, who make the famous L’Angélus beer.
Montreuil-sur-Mer: This medieval town is perched above a verdant valley and encircled by ramparts. Victor Hugo was inspired by his visit here to write “Les Misérables.” The town has a marvellous Saturday morning market and so many restaurants that it is called a “Destination Gastronomique.” It also has a growing craft beer scene.
Boulogne-sur-Mer: France’s biggest fishing port — perfect for moules-frites and a cold white beer by the sea. Top tip: Visit Nausicaa – Europe’s biggest aquarium.
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 winds through red-brick towns and wind-swept plains.
Stops and Highlights:
Hordain: Brasserie La Choulette keeps Bière de Garde alive — robust, malty, and made for ageing.?????
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.”
The stage ends in Dunkirk, the filming location of Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster 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, France’s biggest-grossing (and brilliant ) film, where humour, heritage, and hops go hand-in-hand.
Calais Vins: Your Craft Beer Stop Before Heading Home
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 more than twenty-five PerfectDraft keg options, you can easily compare beer prices at home vs. the pub — and find out why a quality pint can cost less than £2 when bought in-store with Duty-free deals and VAT refunds.
Tip: Get a free day trip from Dover: Pre-order €300+ online and get a free return ferry ticket with P&O.
Get your beer at Calais Vins
Useful info:
The UK allowance is 42 litres of beer per adult.
It’s not mandatory to book your purchases online ahead of your visit, but it can save you time—just click and collect. If you’re using the free Calais option, you will need to pre-order online.
All beers are chilled and ready, and the bilingual team at Calais Vins is ready with pairings, tips, and tastings.
We’ll leave the last word to Jerome Pont of Calais Vins: “What makes beer from this region special is the mix of Belgian technique, French terroir, and Flemish soul — bold, generous, and full of character. Grab a Case, Join the Race!”
Shop online, not just for great beer but for an enormous range of wines, Champagne and spirits, and find details of great offers and much more at wine-calais.co.uk
