sand and pebbles
our
beaches cliffs
Our beaches: cliffs, sand and pebbles
- 70kmof coastline
- 2kms
of boardwalk at Cayeux - 14kmof sandy beach to the north
The Picardy Coast
FRANCE’S MOST DIVERSE COASTLINE
From the Vallée de la Bresle (south) to the Baie d’Authie (north), via the estuary of the Baie de Somme estuarythe Côte Picarde rolls out its diverse landscapes over (only!) 70 km. From the softness of blond sand to the perfection of round, bluish pebbles, from the immensity of towering cliffs to the land-water landscapes of the Baie de Somme estuary.
All along this maritime fringe, 7 seaside resorts are full of charm and surprises!
From north to south : Fort-Mahon-Plage, Quend-Plage, Le Crotoy, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, Cayeux-sur-Mer, Ault-Onival, Mers-les-Bains.
The Somme Bay
FROM POINTE DU HOURDEL TO ST-QUENTIN-EN-TOURMONT
The Somme River flows into the English Channel, forming a wide indentation covering 72 km². This estuary opens up between the Pointe du Hourdel in the south and the Pointe de St-Quentin-en-Tourmont in the north, in the heart of the Marquenterre.
- Cayeux-sur-Mer Cayeux-sur-Mer: Here, you can walk along the longest boardwalk in Europe, hemmed in by 400 beach cabins, just like in the Belle Epoque. It’s also the place to go for kite-surfing, paddle, surfcastingor the new trendy activity : longe-côte (!).
The nearby Pointe du Hourdel is the starting point for all walks to observe the seals of the seals of the Baie de Somme. - In Saint-Valery-sur-Sommeyou can wander through the narrow cobbled streets of this medieval city of William the Conqueror. Embark in a pirogue or sea-kayak to observe seals from the sea, playing in the estuary or resting on the sandbanks.
- In Le Crotoyis a charming little fishing port, with a long sandy beach (the only south-facing one) and the sweep of the ‘sauterelliers‘, the fishing boats that bring our little grey shrimp back to the market. It’s also a fisherman’s paradise, where you can collect cockles and samphire on the beach known as Plage de la Maye.
Also worth discovering:
> Saint-Valery-sur-Somme Tourist Office: 03 22 60 93 50
> Cayeux-sur-Mer Tourist Office: 03 22 26 61 15
> Le Crotoy Tourist Office : 03 22 23 62 65
> Quend-Plage-les-Pins Tourist Office : 03 22 23 62 65
> Fort-Mahon-Plage Tourist Office : 03 22 23 36 00
> Ault-Onival Tourist Office : 02 35 86 05 69
> Mers-les-Bains Tourist Office : 02 35 86 05 69
On 70 km of coastline, you can move from sand to pebbles, from dunes to cliffs…
South and north of the Bay
AT THE BIRTH OF THE GREAT NORMANDY CLIFFS
It’s in the south of the Picardy Coast, from Ault-Onival to Mers-les-Bains, passing through the Bois de Cisethe great cliffs of the Pays de Caux. Reaching heights of almost 80 metres, these living chalk monuments impose their abrupt silhouettes on the English Channel.
- In Mers-les-Bains, celebrateArt Nouveau and admire the decorative exuberance of Belle Epoque villas.
THE GREAT DUNE MASSIF OF MARQUENTERRE
To the north, the Marquenterre dune massif extends over 3,000 ha. It’s the largest dune complex in northern France, virtually undeveloped. The variety of landscapes is due, in part, to the different types of vegetation that cover the dunes: from moss to oyats and often thorny shrubs likeSea Buckthorn to orange berries rich in vitamin C. To be tasted!
- In Quend-Plage-les-Pins and Fort-Mahon-Plage, you’ll enjoy long sandy beaches as far as the eye can see and walks in the dunes, by bike in the pine forest to reach the Parc Ornithologique du Marquent Parc Ornithologique du Marquenterre.
This is the place to come to discover or practice sand yachting14km of fine sandy beach for an exhilarating ride (!).
Where to swim?
- Fort-Mahon-Plage
- Quend-Plage
- Le Crotoy (at high tide)
- Cayeux-sur-Mer
- Ault and Onival
- Mers-les-Bains
Kitesurf spots
Sailboat spots
- Quend-Plage:
Ozone, sand yachting
- In Fort-Mahon-Plage :
EOLIA
Aéris Char à Voile
