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Discovery of the Somme bay, le Crotoy and Saint-Valery-sur-Somme

This hike connects Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme to Le Crotoy by crossing the Somme Bay

The hike starts in the town of Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme and goes to the town of Le Crotoy through the bay of the Somme (it can be done in the other direction). The crossing is easy and is accessible to all. WARNING: the bay of the Somme is an environment in perpetual evolution and it is dangerous to venture alone if you don't know the place. Before leaving, it is necessary to look at the tide times, the crossing being done only at low tide. You should also bring boots or shoes that can go in the water. For all these reasons, it is better to go through guides who will also give you explanations on the life of the bay.

Once the crossing of the bay is over, you can come back to Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme by a tourist train.

The bay of the Somme is a beautiful place, you can even see seals sometimes. The visit of Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme and Le Crotoy is also worth the detour.

Interest: ratingvery good (1 user)
Difficulty: difficulty
Duration: 4 h.

Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme

Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme
Saint-Valery is a beautiful city, it is from this city that the Normans left to invade England in 1066. Following the victory of Hastings William, Duke of Normandy, was appointed King of England.

The city seen from the calvary of the sailors

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The city seen from the calvary of the sailors
A path takes you to a hill where there is a small chapel. The wives of the sailors used to come here to watch for the return of their husbands. Beautiful view on the bay of the Somme. You can see the town of Le Crotoy in front of you which is the goal of the walk.

The bay at low tide

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The bay at low tide
The marine surface of the bay is constantly decreasing. For a long time, men have been fighting to avoid the silting up of the bay by building dikes and locks. It is difficult to cross if you don't know the bay at all. There are many guides who offer guided crossings - expect to pay between 10 and 15 euros per person.

The bay after the storm

The bay after the storm
Magnificent view on the bay of the Somme. One would not say it but the masses of water put in play during each tide are impressive (from a hundred to more than 350 million m3 according to the tides).

Sample of halophilic flora

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Sample of halophilic flora
The halophyte or halophilic flora (from the Greek alos, salt and philein, to like) covers the part of the bay covered by the water during high tides. Glasswort can be eaten, the tender, crunchy and salty stems can be eaten in different forms. If you make the crossing with a guide he will show you the different plants.

The Tourelles Hotel

The Tourelles Hotel
On arrival you can visit the town of Le Crotoy. The hotel des tourelles is an old manor built in 1845 by Pierre Guerlain the famous perfumer. Guerlain was the perfumer attracted by a large part of the European aristocracy and the Empress Eugenie even had him appointed official perfumer of the Court of Napoleon III.

The beach of Le Crotoy

The beach of Le Crotoy
The beaches at low tide are immense. At least there is room to swim in peace. Le Crotoy has the only beach in the north facing south.

The steam train

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The steam train
The return to Saint-Valéry-de-Somme is done by steam train. Attention the train works especially during the beautiful season. By taking it, one becomes aware of the comfort and the speed of our current trains. It is an astonishing return to the past.

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