Area: 12,412 km2 [8278 square miles]

Population: 3,985,000

Regional capital: Lille

The Province, France's major industrial region in the 19th century (thanks to the coal and textile industries) and the most heavily populated.

In recent years has had to fend with the closure of mines, decrepitude of the steel industry and problems in the textile industry.

However, the region is now developing modern industries with new opportunities offered by the Channel tunnel and the TGV-Nord high speed train service.

Towns in Nord Pas-de-Calais

Arras

Berck Sur Mer

Calais