The Hauts-de-France region is particularly well known for its castles (Chantilly, Pierrefonds and Compiègne), numerous medieval fortifications and cathedrals, especially those of Amiens, Beauvais, Laon and Soissons.

Although the return of Jews to the northern region was encouraged by the emancipation granted in the wake of the French Revolution, their presence goes back a very long way. In Lille, for example, which boasts a beautiful synagogue inaugurated in 1891, their presence dates back at least to the 11th century. It was probably a century later in Soissons, where many Righteous Among the Nations were recognised. Another place steeped in history linked to the Shoah is the Internment and Deportation Memorial at the former Royallieu camp in Compiègne.