France – Grand-Fort-Philippe (En)
We headed to the Grand-Fort-Philippe area, as it is located right next to the beach. Situated at the mouth of the River Aa, where it meets the North Sea, the location offers the chance to explore historical sites, a major nature reserve, and several museums. What we enjoyed most was the Platier d’Oye National Nature Reserve, which is home to 230 bird species and features three marked hiking trails winding through dunes and wetlands. We walked along one of those three trails.
Where to stay
We stayed at Camping Casino (50.995998, 2.04679 lat, long.), located within the nature reserve. We paid €20, all-inclusive; payment must be made in cash. The campsite is excellent and very clean. The pitches are spacious, though there is little shade. The facilities are spotless; the toilets are equipped with seats and toilet paper. There are individual shower cubicles and a larger one with space for changing; the hot water is good and the pressure is adequate. The toilets and showers are unisex. There is a dishwashing area with hot water and a washing machine available for €3. The chemical toilet disposal point is located on the side of the amenities block, and there are potable water taps at the pitches; however, there is no grey water disposal area. There is an outdoor leisure area with a ping-pong table, football, and a petanque court. A restaurant—marking the start of one of the nature reserve’s trails—is located 200 meters away, and the beach can be reached in 20 minutes. There is a supermarket 2 km away, and the village of Grand-Fort-Philippe is a 15-minute bike ride away.
What to see
The first place we visited was the Platier d’Oye National Nature Reserve, a reserve that serves as a stopover for migratory birds and stretches across dunes and wetlands to a beach of fine sand.
The next day, we rode our motorcycle to Grand-Fort-Philippe and parked next to the Sailors’ Calvary, erected thanks to donations from sailors’ families. It is a really cool sort of chapel, located at the mouth of the River Aa.
We arrived at the port where the fish market is located, featuring striking murals on its walls.
We walked through the town’s streets until we reached the town hall square, where there was a very beautiful statue off to one side.
We ended our tour at the church—our favourite part—since the interior was decorated in a nautical style (all in blue and white) and looked beautiful.
Our final stop in France before crossing into England will be Calais Beach, a popular coastal destination featuring a modern seafront promenade and iconic landmarks like the Calais Dragon, which you can see in the next blog post.
