At Le Crotoy, the campsite gives you its ideas for things to do, see and visit.
Seaside resort
In the heart of the Baie de Somme, Le Crotoy is a seaside resort renowned for its harbor, south-facing sandy beach and Belle Époque villas. Today, this former fishing village attracts thousands of visitors in search of authenticity, charm and tranquility.
Enjoy the beach at Le Crotoy
Le Crotoy is the only south-facing beach in the north of France. In summer, holidaymakers flock here to spread out their towels and soak up the sun. However, swimming has been banned for several years now. There’s no swimming, but the enchanting setting is perfect for a stroll.
Visit the port of Le Crotoy: fishing, boating and walking
The port of Le Crotoy may have lost some of its former bustle, but it still retains its charm. You can still see a few fishing boats bringing in shrimp. Nowadays, it’s the yachtsmen who drop anchor in the harbor, with just over a hundred boats moored here year-round. It’s an ideal place for a stroll, where fishermen’s cottages stand side by side with attractive holiday homes.
A boat trip in the Baie de Somme
If you feel like taking to the open sea, you can take a boat trip in the Baie de Somme. Come aboard the Commandant Charcot IV and sail to the Pointe du Hourdel. The pier and ticket office are located on the Quai Courbet. Or take a kayak or pirogue trip to see the bay’s famous seals.
What to see in Le Crotoy: historic villas and famous people
Le Crotoy is a charming town, known for its beautiful historic houses and villas. As you stroll around, you’ll discover bourgeois houses, Anglo-Norman villas and Swiss chalets. Many of these buildings are linked to famous personalities.
For example, the Duc de Morny, half-brother of Napoleon III, and perfumer Pierre Guerlain lived here. The city has also inspired artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec, Sisley and Seurat, as well as the novelist Colette.
Near the port, stop in front of “La Solitude”, where Jules Verne stayed. Further on, on the site of the former fortified castle, you’ll find the manor house and park belonging to the family of poet Charles-Hubert Millevoye.
Continuing your tour, you’ll come across the hotel-restaurant “Les Tourelles“, a 19th-century vacation home. A little further on, the bow-windowed chalet of the comic opera singer Taskin, a friend of Offenbach, also catches the eye.
Le Crotoy: the Somme Bay Railway
Leaving from Le Crotoy, the Chemin de fer de la Baie de Somme invites you to climb aboard a Belle Époque steam train and take a tour of the Baie de Somme. You’ll discover wild, verdant landscapes as you pass through Noyelles-sur-Mer and Saint-Valery-sur-Somme to arrive in Cayeux-sur-Mer.
Several possible routes:
- Le Crotoy Cayeux/Mer
- Le Crotoy Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
- Departure from Le Crotoy station: Avenue de la gare, 80550 Le Crotoy, more info at www.chemindefer-baiedesomme.fr.