CHANNEL HOP

DESPITE Brexit's best efforts, France continues to be one of our favourite holiday destinations.

- 

Of the 100 million international visitors to the Gallic nation last year, Brits made up a significant number. Vicinity is one factor - but the love affair runs much deeper. The landscapes are a big draw - ranging from sparkling, chateaux-lined rivers to mountains draped in a light worshipped by artists. Food also plays a crucial role in bringing visitors back. Then there's the desire to sample the joie de vivre for laid-back living. Here are a few more reasons to knock on our neighbour's doors this summer.

CULTURAL HAPPENINGS IN FRENCH FLANDERS

While the Louvre in Paris is about to undergo a major renaissance as part of a much-needed revamp, its little sister 300km north in Lens is firing on all cylinders.

The Galerie du Temps at the Louvre-Lens recently underwent a transformation in a bid to shed new light on its permanent collection of works.

Another highlight alternative for die-hard Paris fans is the "Pom Pom Pidou" exhibition at the Tripostal, a former mail sorting office transformed into a cultural hub. The show will feature a selection of works from the capital's Pompidou Centre, which will close from September for renovation and won't open until 2030.

Find pieces by Robert Delaunay, Italian futurists, Marcel Duchamp and a light projection by Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson.