Douai

Douai is a commune and subprefecture in the Nord department, in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It lies on the Scarpe river, about 25 kilometers southeast of Lille, and serves as an administrative and educational hub within the historic Artois area.

The city’s origins date to the Middle Ages, and it developed under the County of Flanders before passing to the Habsburg rule of the Spanish Netherlands and, in the late 17th century, to France. Douai hosted one of Europe’s early universities, the University of Douai, established in the 16th century, which played a significant role in Catholic education and scholarship and influenced academic life in the region for centuries.

Douai has a population of around 40,000 in the city proper, with a larger urban area. The local economy has transformed from traditional coal and metallurgy to services, education, healthcare, and logistics, supported by transport links and university presence.

Notable landmarks include the Belfry of Douai, a UNESCO-listed monument as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France. The city also preserves historic religious and civic architecture and houses the former Carthusian monastery that now hosts the Musée de la Chartreuse. These sites reflect Douai’s blend of medieval heritage and industrial-era development.

Education and transport are central to Douai’s contemporary profile. The city hosts campuses and institutes affiliated with the University of Lille, including the Douai campus and IUT Douai. It is connected by rail to Lille and Valenciennes and by roads and canals that support regional commerce and leisure boating.