A very present military architecture
If there is one tourist activity that is developing on the Opal Coast and the Bay of the Somme, it is the so-called "remembrance" tourism. Monuments, war relics, museums, cemeteries and military memorials still populate the coast and maintain our duty to remember. The coastal situation, the proximity with the Belgian border, the particular geography and the easy access made this region a place very affected by the two great world confrontations of the last century.
If we still count blockhouses everywhere on the coasts and inland, these tend to disappear. Of course, there are still those that have been rehabilitated, as in Eperlecques or Mimoyecques, and which now house museums or memorials. A former missile base in Helfaut, the Coupole, gives rise to exhibitions and the presentation of the scientific advances of both sides in the arms race.
Belfries, World Heritage of Humanity
Belfries are an essential part of our heritage. They were erected in the Middle Ages and offer a breathtaking view. On the Opal Coast, Dunkirk is the only city in France to have two belfries listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO: the belfry of the Saint-Eloi church (located in front of the church) and the belfry of the city hall. The first one was erected in 1440 to serve as a bell tower for the church and dedicated to Saint-Eloi. The panoramic view from the terrace is breathtaking. When the weather is good, you can see Mount Cassel! The second one, the one of the city hall, was built by the architect Louis-Marie Cordonnier (1901) and culminates at 75 meters. It is by the way by the balcony located at its base that the traditional smoked herrings during the carnival of Dunkerque.
Other belfries also point in our landscapes. The belfry of Bergues rebuilt identically after being destroyed twice, the belfry of Gravelines, the belfry of Aire-sur-la-Lys and its 236 steps, the one of the town hall of Calais classified as World Heritage by Unesco in 2005, the one of Hesdin and the one of Boulogne-sur-Mer, one of the oldest belfries in the region, because it has never been destroyed
Numerous fortified cities
The region has always been exposed to invasions and its military history can be seen in the architecture of its cities. On the Opal Coast, several fortified cities offer brick and stone, massive silhouettes and ramparts preserved over the centuries. These cities with their atypical architecture attract history buffs.
The famous Vauban has left his mark everywhere, from Gravelines to Montreuil-sur-Mer. Not all the fortified towns of the past have preserved their walls, but some pearls remain. Bergues has preserved its entire fortified enclosure. The ramparts of Gravelines, built by the Count of Flanders Thierry d'Alsace and later reinforced by Vauban, can be admired today from a boat. The city of Gravelines is the only one entirely surrounded by water. Further on, the 3,400 meters of walls of Montreuil-sur-Mer have remained intact. The old town of Boulogne-sur-Mer is also accessible only through four entrances. From city to city, the visitor can play at spotting the military remains of these ancient medieval cities.
Seaside resorts
What also characterizes the Opal Coast and the Bay of the Somme, are its numerous seaside resorts along the coastline. The seaside resort of Bray-Dunes is the first in France when you follow the coastline from Belgium. Continuing along the beach, you will arrive in Malo-les-Bains, particularly lively and pleasant to visit with its Belle Époque or Art Deco villas, its ice creams and its Swiss couques to be tasted at least once.
A chic seaside resort, located in the heart of the regional natural park of the Caps et Marais d'Opale, Wimereux was during the Belle Époque the holiday resort of the wealthy inhabitants of Lille and Paris and it is easy to understand why. You can still see on the seafront some beautiful villas dating from the beginning of the 20th century. Further on, Hardelot seduces with its natural setting and its famous castle worthy of a fairy tale.
But among our most famous seaside resorts, the reputation of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage is well established and the Roaring Twenties have a lot to do with it. The chic Rue Saint-Jean and its first signs, faithfully implanted, its delicacies and pretty stores establish the posh character of Le Touquet. Further south down to the Authie Bay, Berck and its kite festival.
South of the Authie Bay, Fort-Mahon-Plage is the first seaside resort of the natural region of Marquenterre. In the Bay of the Somme, you can also enjoy Le Crotoy, the medieval town of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, and Cayeux-sur-Mer, one of the oldest French seaside resorts.
