France – Saint-Valery-sur-Somme (En)
We read that Saint-Valery-sur-Somme was one of the most beautiful towns in the Hauts-de-France region, so we headed there. It is a medieval port town notable for its ramparts and colourful fishermen’s quarter. William the Conqueror set sail from here with his fleet for England in 1066, and Joan of Arc was held prisoner here in 1431. The town is located on the Bay of the Somme, home to a large seal colony, though we didn’t see any.
Where to stay
We stayed at the local motorhome parking area (coordinates: 50.182201, 1.62898), close to the town centre. It costs 12 euros per day; pay before leaving at the machine located at the entrance/exit. You can pay before leaving to avoid queues. The site has two sections; the one closest to the entrance offers electricity. The service point is located in the second section, past the roundabout. In the mornings, starting at 9:30, queues form to use the services and exit. We arrived early—before 9 a.m.—so we filled and emptied our tanks without waiting and secured a spot with electricity.
What to see
We set out to explore the walled medieval city. Access is via two gates: the Nevers Gate at the lower end and the Joan of Arc Gate at the upper end. We entered through the Nevers Gate, which features a vaulted passageway where you can see the portcullis and the drawbridge mechanisms, as well as the entrance to the old dungeon.
You step out onto a street leading to Saint Martín Square, formerly flanked by houses perched on the edge of the cliff. You can still see the sea-facing facades, destroyed in World War II. The square is home to the Church of San Martín, dating from 1586, which we were able to visit inside.
On the way to the Joan of Arc Gate and the William Towers, the half-timbered houses and narrow streets preserve the atmosphere of a small medieval town. The Joan of Arc Gate and the two towers are quite impressive. From the William Towers, one could see the city baths and the Pichón Pier. This wooden pier, over 800 meters long, extended along the harbour entrance channel on the seaward side.
We walked down a steep flight of stairs to the Bay of Somme, where we strolled along the waterfront avenue lined with impressive houses. There is supposed to be a colony of seals, but we didn’t see any.
We headed back to the centre, through the Porte de Nevers again and seeing some beautiful horses.
Next stop: Criel-sur-Mer, a charming coastal village featuring the highest chalk cliffs in Europe (106 m), which you’ll see in the next blog post.
