Le Crotoy on the Bay of the Somme / North of France
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Le Crotoy Somme Bay
© Lionel Pupin

Le Crotoy, facing directly south

  • 1846first bathing authority
  • 66hectares of hunting grounds
  • 60%second homes

A little fishing port

pretty as a picture

Take the scenic route north of the bay, to Le Crotoy. You'll soon spot the emblematic outline of two red and white towers. 

In the 17th century, Le Crotoy was one of the biggest fishing ports along the Channel coast. It is no longer as busy, in particular due to coastal silting. However the resort has retained all the charm of the little fishing port with typical fishing boats moored there, ready to fish for shrimp. 

The fishermen's houses intermingle with holiday homes. The long sandy beach is the only one in the north of France that faces south.

 

Les Tourelles au Crotoy, Somme© Rémi Feuillette
Plage, le Crotoy, Somme©SommeTourisme
Pêcheur le Crotoy, Somme©Lionel Pupin
le Crotoy, Somme©FLeonardi
pirogue, vue sur Le Crotoy, Somme©Nicolas Bryant
le Crotoy la bassee, Somme©SommeTourisme

Perfumers and painters  

crowning Le Crotoy with glory 

Le Crotoy owes its hour of glory to Guerlain, the famous perfumer, who wanted to share the joys of bathing in the sea in Le Crotoy with his Parisian friends. 

Somme Bay colours have oft fuelled artists with inspiration. Facing directly south, Le Crotoy is an ideal place to capture the reflections until sundown. Famous writers and painters have made the most of the light to explore their talent.

Manessier, Jules Verne, Colette, Sisley and Seurat all came to admire and describe the landscape with its endless shades of blue, grey and orange.

 

Le Crotoy Tourist Information Office 
1 rue Carnot 
80550 Le Crotoy 
Tel.: +33 (0)3 22 27 05 25 

 

 

Website

"The still dewy Somme Bay reflects a dark Egyptian sky with touches of red, turquoise and ash green". Colette
belvedere du crotoy, Somme© Philippe Sergeant
le Crotoy, Somme©ADRT80-JL
le crotoy la Maye, Somme©SommeTourisme
Kitesurf en Baie de Somme©Nicolas Bryant

Outdoor leisure activities 

Crossing the bay, boat rides

Horse-riding on the beach, stand-up paddling etc.

There's plenty to do when in Le Crotoy. Just remember to find out about the tide times! Because you need to beware of high tides which can come in very suddenly. 

In fact, everything hinges on the tide in the Somme Bay. You can endlessly explore the beach during low tide, enjoying walks, horse-riding and sandcastle competitions, then when the tide is high you can go boating, kayaking or kite-surfing!

What about when the wind gets up? Why not board the little Somme Bay train or head inland on your bike!

Let's talk ToChristine Manessier

Alfred Manessier's daughter

"As a child, my father spent his holidays in the little resort of Le Crotoy. He learned to train his eye with the colours, light and sand, and went on to become a painter".

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