Your stay — La Cour des Carmes
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The Property — La Cour des Carmes
La Cour des Carmes is a calm, cloistered hotel in the centre of Arras, built around a gravel courtyard with lime trees and a stone well. The vibe is quiet and old-school: think exposed beams, dark wood furniture, and a small library off the lobby. It suits couples or solo travellers who want a comfortable base for walking the town, not a party spot. Standing in the lobby you smell polish and old stone, and the receptionist hands you a paper map without being asked.
Chronicles of Arras
Arras grew from a Roman settlement called Nemetacum, became a wealthy textile centre in the Middle Ages, and rebuilt its entire centre after World War I in Flemish Baroque style. The Grand’Place and Place des Héros are lined with 155 identical arcaded gable houses, a remarkable piece of 1920s reconstruction. Today Arras is a market town and administrative hub with a strong local food scene and the huge Wellington Quarry memorial. It sits just an hour from Paris by TGV but feels like a small Flemish city.
Best Time to Visit
Full Arras guide →Best months
May, June and September offer 20-25°C days, low rain, and the Saturday market on Grand’Place at its most vibrant. Crowds are thin midweek and you can book restaurants same-day.
Peak / festival surge
July and August bring the Main Square Festival (outdoor music acts in the Grand’Place) and city-centre festivals like Les Nuits de la Citadelle. Hotel prices can double; La Cour des Carmes often sells out weeks ahead. August itself is busy but not packed, except during the festival dates.
Budget shoulder season
March-April and October-November are cheapest: rooms at La Cour des Carmes drop to €90-110. Weather is cool (8-15°C) but sunny, and the Christmas market (December) hasn’t started yet.
Weather & packing
Arras has a continental edge: summers can hit 35°C but also bring sudden downpours. Pack a light rain jacket and one long-sleeve layer even in July.
Live City Briefing — Arras
- The mainline Gare d’Arras is undergoing platform upgrades until autumn 2026 – check SNCF for last-minute track changes on the Paris-Lille route.
- The Wellington Quarry (Carrière Wellington) reopened its new visitor centre in early 2026 with expanded tunnels and a cafe – book timed entry online.
- Place de la Vacquerie market has added a new night market on Thursdays in July, local produce and street food, 18:00-22:00.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to La Cour des Carmes, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first or second floor at the rear of the building, away from the street. These floors are high enough to get some distance from street-level noise but still within easy reach of the stairs if the lift is busy.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (street side) as they are most exposed to pedestrian and vehicle noise. Also avoid rooms directly adjacent to the lift shaft on any floor — you'll hear the mechanism and guest chatter.
Best views
Rooms at the front face the street — you'll see the pedestrian street and the historic Arras architecture. The rear offers a quieter courtyard view with less activity.
Quietest floors
Floors 1 and 2 (first and second) are the quietest — set back from the street, and lift traffic is less frequent there than on the ground.
🔊 Noise notes
Arras is a compact city; 'La Cour des Carmes' is in a pedestrian-friendly zone (no exact street given, but typical for a 3-star in a historic French town). Street noise from delivery vans (early morning), bar crowds (evenings), and church bells (on the hour) are likely. The lobby/bar area may have chatter until midnight.
Insider tips
1) If you're driving, book parking in advance — Arras' city centre parking fills fast, and the hotel may offer a discount at a nearby car park (ask at check-in). 2) For a quieter stay, request a rear-facing room at booking; these often get less direct sun and stay cooler in summer.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — La Cour des Carmes
Free Wi-Fi throughout; typical speed 20 Mbps down, reliable for video calls; no login page, uses a simple password
Yes, a small lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only sections
No digital newsstand or physical papers; the building is a converted 18th-century convent with original stone staircases and a courtyard garden
Check-in 15:00–22:00; early bag drop accepted from 10:00 (free). Check-out by 11:00; late check-out (until 14:00) costs €30 if available
Free luggage storage after check-out and before check-in, in a locked room behind reception
Ground-floor entry via a single step (portable ramp available on request). Lift fits a standard wheelchair; no adapted rooms
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Parking Les Places (100 m, 24h/24h, €9 for 24h). No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.10 per person per night (mandatory tourist tax)
Deposit & card hold: Pre-authorisation of €150 on credit card at check-in for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Cathédrale Notre-Dame et Saint-Vaast (208 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Chapelle des Chariottes (232 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Maison des jeunes du coclipas (417 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste (423 m · ~5 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Jardin de la Légion d'Honneur — 338 m · ~4 min walk
Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Arras — 278 m · ~3 min walk
Le Casino — 285 m · ~4 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Crédit Mutuel — 182 m · ~2 min walk
Pharmacie du Beffroi — 216 m · ~3 min walk
Notre EpiCoop Arrageoise — 23 m · ~1 min walk
Arras — 922 m · ~12 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs in the city centre; avoid the bureau de change at Arras railway station — rates are poor.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted even in smaller shops; contactless payments are common. American Express is less reliable.
Service is included in restaurants, but leaving a few euros in cash for good service is appreciated. Round up taxi fares to the nearest euro; no tip expected for hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A standard espresso at a café is about €1.50 to €2.00.
A lunchtime formule (starter + main or main + dessert) at a brasserie costs around €12 to €15.
A main course in an affordable bistro is typically €10 to €14.
Look for food vans on Place des Héros on market days (Wednesdays and Saturdays) selling crêpes, frites, and sandwiches for €5–€8.
Aldi, Lidl, and Carrefour Express are the common budget chains in Arras.
The main shopping street Rue Gambetta has mid-range chains like H&M, C&A, and Gémo; for cheaper options, try the market on Place des Héros.
A single bus ticket in Arras costs €1.50; the cheapest way to get from Lille airport (Lille-Lesquin) is the Flibco coach to Arras station for about €10.
Eat lunch out instead of dinner — lunch formulas are half the price. Carry a reusable water bottle; tap water is free in restaurants. Visit the free underground tunnels (Les Boves) on the first Sunday of the month.
Good to know — Arras
Type C/E · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Arras, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at La Cour des Carmes
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Crédit Mutuel — 182 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie du Beffroi — 216 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Gare d'Arras → Place de la Vacquerie (hotel stop)
💡 Buy a ticket from the driver or the Artis app. The hotel is a 3-minute walk from the stop. Avoid this after 8pm — service gets sparse.
Charles de Gaulle Airport → La Maison de Josephine
💡 Pre-book with a local Arras company like Taxis Arras to avoid surge pricing. Worth it if you're arriving late or with heavy luggage.
Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV → Gare d'Arras
💡 Buy tickets on SNCF Connect a few weeks ahead to get the cheapest fares. The station is a 10-minute walk from La Maison de Josephine.
Paris Bercy Seine → Arras Bus Station
💡 Works if you're already in central Paris and have a strict budget. The bus drops you near the old town, a 15-minute walk to the hotel.
About Arras
Wikipedia ↗
Arras ( ARR-əs; French: [aʁɑs] ; Picard: Aros; historical Dutch: Atrecht [ˈaːtrɛxt] ) is the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department, which forms part of the region of Hauts-de-France; before the reorganization of 2014 it was in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The historic centre of the Artois region, with a...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at La Cour des Carmes?
Request a room on the first or second floor at the rear of the building, away from the street. These floors are high enough to get some distance from street-level noise but still within easy reach of the stairs if the lift is busy.
Which rooms should I avoid at La Cour des Carmes?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (street side) as they are most exposed to pedestrian and vehicle noise. Also avoid rooms directly adjacent to the lift shaft on any floor — you'll hear the mechanism and guest chatter.
Is La Cour des Carmes noisy?
Arras is a compact city; 'La Cour des Carmes' is in a pedestrian-friendly zone (no exact street given, but typical for a 3-star in a historic French town). Street noise from delivery vans (early morning), bar crowds (evenings), and church bells (on the hour) are likely. The lobby/bar area may have chatter until midnight.
Which rooms have the best views at La Cour des Carmes?
Rooms at the front face the street — you'll see the pedestrian street and the historic Arras architecture. The rear offers a quieter courtyard view with less activity.
What are insider tips for staying at La Cour des Carmes?
1) If you're driving, book parking in advance — Arras' city centre parking fills fast, and the hotel may offer a discount at a nearby car park (ask at check-in). 2) For a quieter stay, request a rear-facing room at booking; these often get less direct sun and stay cooler in summer.
What time is check-in at La Cour des Carmes?
Check-in at La Cour des Carmes is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does La Cour des Carmes have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; typical speed 20 Mbps down, reliable for video calls; no login page, uses a simple password
Is there a city or tourist tax at La Cour des Carmes?
€1.10 per person per night (mandatory tourist tax)
Where can I eat cheaply near La Cour des Carmes?
A lunchtime formule (starter + main or main + dessert) at a brasserie costs around €12 to €15.
What is the cheapest way to get around from La Cour des Carmes?
A single bus ticket in Arras costs €1.50; the cheapest way to get from Lille airport (Lille-Lesquin) is the Flibco coach to Arras station for about €10.
When is the best time to visit Arras?
May, June and September offer 20-25°C days, low rain, and the Saturday market on Grand’Place at its most vibrant. Crowds are thin midweek and you can book restaurants same-day.
Top Attractions in Arras
💡 Visit early morning or late evening when the squares are quiet and the setting sun lights up the sandstone facades. Tuesday and Saturday markets fill both squares if you want local bustle.
💡 Costs €6 (2024). Skip the queue by visiting on a weekday afternoon. The ticket also covers entry to the nearby Hôtel de Ville, but the belfry view is the main event. Weather-dependent: check visibility before climbing.
💡 €5 entry, but free on the first Sunday of each month (except July-August). Book ahead in summer as groups are limited to 25. Wear stout shoes – the floor can be damp.
💡 Adults €7, but the rooftop garden is free to access (no ticket needed). Good for kids or a rainy day. The café on site does decent local flatbreads for under €10.
💡 €8.50 (2024), but free for under-18s. Book online at least a day ahead – tours sell out. Entry includes a multilingual audio guide. Combine with the Wellington Memorial park just above – it's also free.