Between Land and Sea

27METRES TALL (BELFRY)
50TUFF CROSSES IN THE VIMEU
810HECTARES (REGNIÈRE-ECLUSE ESTATE)

Rue, capital of the Marquenterre

CHARM AND HERITAGE

This former port (!? Rue was a prosperous sea port up to the 14th century) boasts an impressive architectural heritage: the belfry (UNESCO World Heritage site), the Chapelle du Saint-Esprit (a remarkable example of flamboyant Gothic – like lacework carved in stone). Rue is also one of the cradles of aeronautics in Picardy, birthplace of the Caudron brothers, early birds of aviation. On Saturday mornings, on the large square in the centre, there's a lovely market where you can shop for food and wholesome local produce.

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At the heart of the Vimeu

NATURE AND PICARDY CULTURE

The Trie valley is a sturdy natural environment, combining countryside and seaside, where the spirit of Picardy is carefully preserved and handed down. It is in the Vimeu, for example, that the tradition of Picardy games is the most enduring. You can try out Fist ball, long palm, the plate game, javelin. In this rural setting you can also find a precious collection of 50 tuff crosses (tuff is a soft, shell-incrusted limestone rock) of various shapes: Roman, Templar, Maltese, etc. which keep alive a number of Picardy legends. The Vimeu is also the place where the traditional Picardy 'gâteau battu' was first created (a delicious type of local brioche).

A land of ingenuity, of age-old skills

The Vimeu is also a land of industry where locksmiths and plumbing manufacturers have thrived for decades. Local talents and skills can be admired in the Vimeu Industry museum with its collections of locks, padlocks & safes and reconstruction of old workshops.

Find out more about the Vimeu

Picardy games, 'gâteau battu', the locksmith industry, tuff crosses: heritage in the Vimeu is all around …

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Crécy-en-Ponthieu

FOREST: 4,300 HECTARES OF PEACE AND QUIET

Not far from the sea the largest forest in the Somme is mainly located at Crécy-en-Ponthieu but also encompasses the districts of Bernay-en-Ponthieu, Forest-Montiers, Forest-l'Abbaye and Canchy. Beech and oak trees predominate. Delight in the intoxicating smell of humus, absorb the nurturing power of trees.

BATTLE OF CRÉCY 1346
In and around the village you can find out about the famous battle of Crécy which marked the beginning of the Hundred Years War. Several monuments and a dedicated museum tell the story of this battle between the French and English armies.

Crécy, forest and battle
Château of Regnière-Ecluse
Nearby proudly stands the château of the Sleeping Beauty, at Regnière-Ecluse. Built in troubadour Gothic style, it boasts 815 hectares of magnificent landscaped grounds, open to the public. Ideal for an outing with family or friends, strolling along its lovely paths.