Douai is a quiet town in the north of France, situated in the Nord-pas-de-Calais, near the border with Belgium. The area has a strong Flemish heritage and has been part of the Spanish Netherlands at one time in its history. The city has two waterways passing through it, which helped it to develop strong roots as a textile industry centre, beginning in the Middle Ages. The area was subject to heavy bombing during WWII, and suffered extensive damage. However, there are some parts of the old town, which remain.
Perhaps the most important mark on history that the city has made is with the Douai Bible. The city of Douai was home to a Catholic University, which was established in the 16th century. English Catholics seeking shelter from persecution, created their own English College at the university, and it was their translation of the bible in 1609, which became the Douai-Rheims bible, a text that was standard for 300 years.
The centrepiece of architecture in Douai is the Gothic belfry at the Chapelle Saint-Michel. The 6.35m spire is intricately carved, and features a memorial to the city's war dead, since 1870. When visiting the belfry, be sure to also see the Gothic Room of the city hall, a 15th century hall with a large, Gothic fireplace, and the Hall of Feasts, which became the village hall in the mid-19th century.
Douai has a number of beautiful parks and outdoor spaces. The Bertin park is a protected space with a wide variety of flora and fauna, and features a large lake. There are pathways along the banks of the Scarpe for cycling and jogging, and pontoons have been put in place for anglers.
One of the major industries of the area in the past couple of centuries has been coal mining. The Centre Historique Minier de Lewarde, in the nearby town of Lewarde, is a museum dedicated to the process of mining, as well as the lives of the miners.
