Exit Eurotunnel or the ferry at Calais and you have entered the charming realm of Hauts-de-France. The area is perfect for families – there is a variety of activities and accommodation to fit all budgets and Hauts-de-France is full of culture and France’s famous “art de vivre” – the art of living.
My teenage daughter and I spent a few days touring through mediaeval Saint-Valery-Sur-Somme, chic Le Touquet-Paris-Plage (where President Macron has a holiday home) and the seaport of Boulogne-Sur-Mer.
We were impressed by the choice of sustainable hotels and restaurants and the range of eco-responsible activities available for families from horseback riding to sand yachting to cycling. If you like wide sandy beaches, pine forests, seafood, estuaries and sea life, take some time to explore Hauts-de-France.
Enjoy the views at Les Tourelles Hotel Restaurant in Le Crotoy
Earning the European Eco label for its eco-sensitive approach, this 35-room 3* hotel is a real find. Set on the only south-facing beach in Northern France, the Baie de Somme is at your doorstep. The eco-mindset is apparent everywhere: discreet reminders ask guests if they’d like to help conserve water by reusing towels or use less energy by turning off lights when they leave. And the restaurant serves food from local producers; we enjoyed a terrine made with “vegetables of the sun” with a pesto d’herbes de la Baie from a producer in Le Crotoy!
Wow factor: The stunning sea view! The quaint terrace overlooks the ever-changing Baie des Sommes, where you can watch the light dance and sparkle across the water. Catch it at sunset and it’s simply magical.
http://www.lestourelles.com/
Enjoy amazing seafood at Le Chatillon in Boulogne-sur-Mer
Don’t let the appearance of this restaurant fool you! Located in Boulogne’s main fishing port, and tucked in between warehouses, Le Chatillion serves some of the freshest seafood in France. Inside, red vinyl bench seats, wood panelling and a ceiling made from sails makes you feel as if you are in a fishing trawler. But it’s the seafood that draws people to this Gault & Millau recommended restaurant. Dock workers and fishermen mix with businessmen and tourists who all come to enjoy the latest catch from Boulogne’s waters. It’s reasonably priced too; a set menu 28 Euros will get you a 3-course meal. Try the Fruit de mer plate with langoustines, oysters, and shrimp – it’s naturally salty from the sea and delicious. If you are in a hurry (highly recommend you aren’t – it’s France!) get something to take away. Packaging is recyclable and eco-responsible.
Wow factor: Seafood goes straight from the boat to the restaurant – it doesn’t get any fresher than this!
https://www.le-chatillon.com
Discover Le Touquet-Paris-Plage by bike
Leave your car and discover Le Touquet-Paris-Plage via bicycle! There are more than 10k of dedicated cycle paths to explore. You can rent bikes at La Baleine Royal or one of the other hire shops. Try one of the eco-friendly electric bikes which are so easy to use and give you an extra “push” when you need it.
The paths are mainly flat and take you through some of the most gorgeous parts of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. Cycle through pine forests, past the manicured seaside and windswept sand dunes, through the town (you’ll need to walk your bike in the centre) and stop to see the light house. You can take a break anytime to explore whatever takes your fancy. Have lunch overlooking the estuary at La Nord, ride out to the Equestrian Centre for a horse ride on the beach and then have drinks and dinner at Perard Tradition or Les Sports.
Wow factor: Park your bikes at Parc Nature de la Baie de Canche and stroll across the sand to see the seals!
Get excited about the Baie de Somme and nature with Maxim Marzi, tour guide
Maxim Marzi radiates enthusiasm. As a child he took the train from Reims to the Saint Valery-sur-Somme area to stay with grandparents. His holidays were spent with family in the seaside town of Cayeux-sur-mer and he fell in love with the Bay. His grandmother lived to be 101 and he attributes this to the local way of life and sea airs. Now Maxim runs tours of the area, using his local knowledge to educate people about the wonders of the Bay. He’s a naturalist and ecologically minded, stopping every few minutes to show his group a miracle of nature, such as soft-shell clams which can filter out planktons and sediment, and plants from the Bay that can be used in cooking.
Wow factor: Maxim will guide you through streams and quicksand and clay whilst sharing his love of nature and the Baie. It’s quite an adventure!
Be ecologically minded and “Leave it for the others”
A concept I learned on our walk across the Baie de Somme from Maxim Marzi is to “leave it for the others”. Maxim points out that a “beach is not just a beach; you must leave it for the others to enjoy.” And by others he doesn’t just mean just for other humans. There are many living creatures that inhabit the Baie de Somme, including lug worms, birds, seals, crabs, clams and cockles. They all play an important ecological role. Whilst you might not always see it unless you look and listen very carefully, there’s a complete delicate ecosystem in the Baie. Enjoy the bay, but tread carefully and don’t leave any trace.
Wow factor: You can learn how to enjoy nature whilst leaving it virtually untouched.
Written by A modern mother
By France.fr
The magazine of the destination unravels an unexpected France that revisits tradition and cultivates creativity. A France far beyond what you can imagine…
