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• Giants | Gayant.
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Gayant the giant is the symbol of Douai. Each year for three days at the beginning of July, the Gayant festival (Les Fêtes de Gayant) takes place. Gayant is registered with the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity like member of Giants and processional dragons of Belgium and France.
The Gayant family, composed of the giant’s wife Marie Cagenon and their three children, Jacquot, Fillon and Binbin, are carried through the city. On Sunday the largest procession starts from the town hall.
Across Europe, you find festivals with historical roots that run so deep they seem to twine around a medieval mindset that feels a little out of place within the modern context of the contemporary European Union. As these carnivals go, the Festival of Giants is one of the most spectacular and visually grand.
Douai is a small city in the Hauts-de-France region of France, known for its belfry. Hauts-de-France was created in 2016 by merging Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy.
Douai Railway Station (map) is located quite close to the historical centre of the city. There is a direct train from Lille which takes about 40 minutes.
Lille (map) – the capital of the region is a handsome ex-industrial city with vibrant culture and lots of students.
• Public transport.
Guide to traveling to and getting around in the France.

Evéole (Bus) + Arc en Ciel 2 – public transport.
30 minutes from Lille | 1h10 from Paris
⇒ Also сheck оut мore info: Mobilité (douai.fr) • Getting to France (uk.france.fr)
BUS: sobus.travel — sells bus tickets for all the bus companies. Ouibus • Isilines • FlixBus • Eurolines • Megabus >> (*Intercity buses in France)
TRAIN: Trains are a great way to get around in France. For regional trains, schedules can be found at ter.sncf.com. You can get from pretty much anywhere to anywhere else by train.
For long distances, use the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse, or High-speed train) on which reservations are obligatory. TGV • Thello • Ouigo. + RailEurope • Eurostar • Thalys • izy (Paris-Brussels) • TGV Lyria (Switzerland) • DB (Germany) • RENFE (Barcelona) >> (*Rail travel in France)
AIRPORT: parisaeroport.fr – Paris airport information. The main international airport, Roissy – Charles de Gaulle, is likely to be your port of entry if you fly into France from outside Europe.
FERRY: Brittany Ferries • P&O Ferries • DFDS Seaways
Fêtes de Gayant 2022 à Douai – sortie des Géants.
Replay de la vidéo en direct de la sortie des Géants et plus particulièrement de Monsieur Gayant, le 10 juillet 2022.
⇒ video source: Ville de Douai / youtube.com /
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• Useful websites.
Links to additional resources with useful information for planning your trip.
VISAS & IMMIGRATION.
How do you obtain a VISA for a stay in France – and what are the customs procedures? + Customs and Visas (france.fr)