First settled by a Gaul tribe, it became a Roman garrison called Atrebatum, but not before the local population had fought valiantly beside Vercingetorix and was among the last to be subdued by Julius Caesar. The province of Artois where it lied was frequently disputed between the French and the Dutch, ended up in French hands in the 17th century, but kept its strong trade links with Flanders. An important document was signed there in January 1579: the Union of Atrecht (Atrecht was the Dutch name of Arras), by which several of the Low Countries pledged allegiance to the Spanish king and Catholicism, while the remaining states formed the Union of Utrecht later the same month, renouncing the Habsburg rule and opting to profess Protestantism. 

During the Middle Ages, Arras was internationally famous for its tapestries. The Italian word for tapestries was arrazi, and they were even mentioned in Shakespeare's Hamlet!

The city was badly damaged by World War I as a number of battles were fought in the area. The French, however, managed to keep hold of it. The Germans occupied Arras during World War II and executed 240 alleged Resistance members in the citadel.

Two large squares for the city center: the Grand Square and the Heroes Square. They were originally marketplaces, the site of bustling trade activity. Today they are surrounded by nicely restored old buildings, the most remarkable among them being the Gothic Town Hall and the Cathedral. The Town Hall stands in the Heroes Square, its entrance hall houses a photographic exhibition and a set of festival giants. You can climb to the viewing platform of the large bell tower for a panoramic view.