Page 58 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

56 BACK ROADS FRANCE

Discovering the North Sangatte CALAIS
Escalles
The northern region of France has many charms
to explore. All along the coast there are fine Wissant St-Inglevert
Cap
beaches. Inland the broad downland is Gris-Nez Guînes Ardres
punctuated by hidden valleys with quick-
B o u l o n n a i s Tournehem-
flowing rivers and flower-filled villages. Marquise sur-la-Hem
This region has always played a major Ambleteuse Hardinghen Licques
role in European history and trade. In the Wimereux
20th century, this was one of the great Le Wast Journy
crucibles of World War I. To the south, BOULOGNE-SUR-MER
the Somme river enters into one of Le Portel Coulomby
Europe’s largest wetlands. Cuisine high- Équihen-
lights here include fine seafood and cheese. Plage Samer Desvres Drionville
Course
Hardelot- Fauquembergues
Plage
Doudeauville
Parenty VALLÉE DE
LA COURSE
Camiers
Frencq Beussent Maninghem
Le Touquet- Fruges
Paris-Plage Maisoncelle
Estréelles Créquy Ruisseauville
LES SEPT
Cucq Neuville- VALLÉES
sous-Montreuil
MONTREUIL Lebiez AZINCOURT
Marles- Fressin
sur-Canche
Beaurainville Blangy-sur-
Berck Ternoise
Rang-du-Fliers Canche
Le Parcq
HESDIN
Waben Maintenay Vieil-
Hesdin
Fort-Mahon- Nampont Douriez
Plage
Tortefontaine
Aubrometz
Authie
Quend Vron
Vironchaux Labroye
Rue Crécy-en-
Ponthieu
Auxi-le-Château
Forest-
P o n t h i e u
Above Picturesque village of Beussent in the Le Crotoy Montiers
Nouvion
Vallée de la Course, see pp58–9 BAIE DE LA SOMME
St-Valery- Noyelles-sur-Mer Canchy
Cayeux-sur-Mer sur-Somme
ACTIVITIES Brutelles Somme St-Riquier Bernaville
Saigneville
Take a stroll along the beach at Wimereux before Cambron Abbeville Ailly-le-Haut-
Friville-
sampling some seafood in one of its brasseries Escarbotin Clocher
Pont-Rémy
Hunt for the best cheeses, hand-made sausages Tours-en-
Vimeu
and other tempting delicacies in the shops and Flixecourt
Huppy Longpré
markets of Boulogne Bourdon
Hallencourt
Spend some time in a sleepy local café in the Airaines
Vallée de la Course to get the pace of village life
Oisemont Picquigny
Learn about the realities of trench life during
Molliens-
World War I at the top of Vimy Ridge Dreuil
Camps-en
Amiénois
Pick out all the many figures of medieval life
carved in the little medallions around the portals of Quevauvillers
cathedral of Amiens KEY
Drive route
Rent a bike in St-Valery-sur-Somme and ride around
the huge, flat bay, looking out for birds and seals