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 The
mediaeval village, crimped
with fortifications, dominates the bay. Large Anglo-Norman
villas stand between the ramparts and the sea. The small fishermen's
houses at le Courtgain rise up behind the port. Yachts are
moored along the channel, and the quays, filled with market
stalls on Sunday mornings, offer their wares to passers-by.
Which aspect of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme's history would you
remember?
 William
the Conqueror, who set off from here to conquer England;
Joan
of Arc, passing under the gates of the upper part of the
town; the large sailing ships supplying the salt warehouse;
the fishermen at sea or on dry land decking the town with
their nets during sea festivals?
What images would you take back with
you?  The
streets decked with flowers; the view of the Baie
de Somme or the marina; the salt meadow sheep grazing on
the other side of the river; the plume of steam from the railway;
your adventures on foot, horseback or kayaking in the bay? Probably
all of them, and the feeling of having experienced truly unforgettable
moments.
To discover
The
Baie de Somme *****
Classed as one of the most beautiful bays in the world, it
has been the inspiration of painters and writers. It is an
exceptional natural environment, to be discovered according
to your moods, on foot, on horseback, by sea kayak, but always
with friends. You will never forget its special light and
magical blend of clouds, sea, sand and salt meadows, where
seals live alongside birds and sheep.
The
Mediaeval Village ****
Discover in the upper town: the ramparts, the streets decked
with flowers, the Nevers gate from the XIVth century, the
Guillaume towers of the XIIth century where the view of the
bay is unrestricted, charming houses renovated with style…
The
Baie de Somme railway ****
A local steam or diesel train from the beginning of the century
dawdles around the Baie de Somme at the proud speed of 20
km/h, across fields and marshes, mollières and salt marshes.
Thanks to the efforts of a few enthusiasts, this small train
runs along a section of the former "Seaside spa" network between
le Crotoy, Noyelles-sur-Mer, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme and Cayeux-sur
Mer. All aboard!
The
Picarvie Museum ***
Life in Picardy "before the age of the motor car"
is lovingly recreated here, including twenty or so different
trades and professions from that time.
The herbarium ***
Located next to the ramparts, this mediaeval garden skillfully
blends flowers, simples (medicinal plants) and rare vegetables,
not forgetting plants from the Picardy coastline. Its colours
and perfumes will delight you, as well as the explanations
provided by an enthusiastic official. v
The
Commandant Charcot Boat
New: The "Le Commandant Charcot" boat,
with its very shallow draught (0.80 metres), offers trips
around the Baie de Somme.
Walks in the surrounding
area
The Bird
House ****
Come and spot the birds by their different shapes, movements
and colours in their natural habitat, the Picardy Coast. From
cliffs to
dunes, from
sandy beaches to tidal reservoirs, from ponds to copses –
more than 300 species of birds frequent these places during
migrations. Presenting an unusual collection of objects, whose
raw material is the feather, displayed by the ladies of the
Belle Époque.
From the observation post, you can
observe our visitors undisturbed on the lake: teals, shovelers…
Bird of prey display: 3 shows
per day, each lasting 45 minutes from April to November.
Nearby
Cayeux-sur-mer
et le Hourdel
Le
Crotoy
A bit of history
The past strategic position
of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, built on a limestone promontory
which dominates the Baie de Somme, has earned it a rich history.
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme was originally
called Leuconos, a Greek trading post then a Roman port and
camp. It was Gualaric (Valéry in French), an evangelist from
le Vimeu, who gave it its name. Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is
also known as William
the Conqueror's embarkation port in 1066 for the conquest
of England.
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme was a highly
disputed strategic position during the Hundred
Years War between 1346, date of the first English attack,
and 1470, when Louis XI gave the order to set fire to the
town, which was guilty of having supported the Bugundians.
Meanwhile, Joan
of Arc, prisoner of the English, passed through the town
in 1430, before being taken to jail in Rouen.
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
today 
The upper town preserves the memory of a rich past and offers
a beautiful example of a mediaeval
village hemmed in by beautiful ramparts and criss-crossed
with flower-bedecked streets.
An active military and
trading port in the 18th century, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme's
upper town still has a few buildings from this period.
The former tax farmers'
office and the salt warehouse are testimony to the intensity
of trading here when the town was importing salt from the
Vendée.
Behind the quays, you
can see a number of small houses which seem to be placed one
on top of the other. This is the "Courtgain", the fishermen's
district. Walking up to the sailors' calvary, you have a beautiful
view of the bay.
Everything about Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
invites you to explore: the lively shopping streets of the
lower town, the port, the brand new wooden landing stage of
Blavet quay, the mediaeval town and the linden-lined promenade
of the Joan
of Arc quay. Built in the bay during the canalization
of the Somme, this quay offers some beautiful examples of
villas with a very British charm.
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
also offers the chance to discover the Bay in a thousand and
one different ways, on foot, by kayak, on horseback, or on
the Baie
de Somme railway.
It is a lively town,
with a number of restaurants, antique shops, secondhand goods
dealers...
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme has inspired painters and poets: Degas,
Boudin, Seurat, Braquaval, Anatole France, Colette and Victor
Hugo who, it is said, thought up here his poem "Oceano Nox".
Road itineraries
Salt marshes and birds of Le Vimeu
Itinerary : Saint-Valery-sur-Somme,
Cayeux-sur-Mer, le Hourdel, Saint Blimont, Pendé, Mons Boubert,
Boismont, Pinchefalaise
Detailed itinerary available on request from the Somme Tourist
Board.
Activities
Bathing
• In the sea: Cayeux-sur-Mer - Beach supervised in summer
• Watersports center : Belle
Dune Aquaclub
Walks
The
D.Richard Guide in " 52 family walks around Amiens and
in the Somme " suggests a 2 1/2 hour circular walk "les Mollières",
starting from the tourist office.
"Walks
in the Baie de Somme", published by Dakota
Discovering
the Picardy coast
Cycling
There is a network of cycle paths on the Picardy coast, which
takes you right round the Baie de Somme.
The main sections are as follows:
• Saint-Valery-sur-Somme / Maison de l’Oiseau: 7 km
• Saint-Valery-sur-Somme / Noyelles sur Mer: 3.5 km
• Noyelles-sur-Mer / Le Crotoy / Saint-Firmin-les-Crotoy:
11 km
• Abbeville / Saint-Valery-sur-Somme (along the Somme canal):
13 km The Franck guide suggests a 4 hr circular ride "Les
Mollières", distance 14.5 km.
Moountain
bike hire
Horse riding
• Le Crotoy : le
val de Selle
• Morlay Ponthoile : Ferme
Relais de la Baie de Somme
• Belloy-sur-Mer –
80130 Friville Escarbotin : Le
Vimeu Horse riding
Sailing
• Le Crotoy : A.N.C.R.
Sailing club
Canoeing and sea kayaking
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme : Quesnoy
Leisure Association - Baie des Phoques
Fishing
• River fishing : Boismont
Golf
• Grand Laviers : Abbeville
Golf club
Flying
Abbeville :
Somme
Flying club
Ludair
Practical info
Markets
On Sunday mornings, place des pilotes, opposite the bay. A
small food market on Wednesday mornings in season, place du
jeu de battoir.
Tourist office
2 place Guillaume le Conquérant
80230 Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
Tel : +33 (0)3 22 60 93 50 – Fax : +33 (0)3
22 60 80 34
E-mail : officetourismestvalery.80@wanadoo.fr
Website : www.saint-valery-sur-somme.com
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme: pop. 2686 (Figures from INSEE
[French national institute for economic and statistical information]
– 1999 census)
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