Described as the “Real France, Really Close”, the Opal Coast is that part of France that runs west and south from the Belgian border to the estuary of the River Somme. The map shows its location and some of the main features we can see on a Knobbly Stick holiday there.
The coast is a mixture of dunes, magnificent sandy beaches, low cliffs and the majestic chalk headland of Cap Blanc Nez. It also has the well-known channel ports of Dunkirk (Dunkerque), Calais and Boulogne and the holiday resorts of Wimereux and the still chic town of Le Touquet, which is well worth a visit for the architectural styles of some of its grand houses. But there’s more – the nature reserve of the Platier d’Oye; the unspoiled fishing village of Audreselles, where you can still see fishermen hauling their traditional wooden boats (flobards) out of the water; and the fishing town of Etaples. And there are the fortifications – from the ruined medieval castle at Hardelot to Vauban’s fort at Ambleteuse, and the gently disintegrating WWII gun emplacements which act as stark reminders of the turbulent times in the not too distant past.
Despite its name, though, the Opal Coast is much more than just a coast line. A hinterland of pleasantly wooded rolling chalk downs and shy valleys is just waiting to be explored, and there are interesting towns that repay a leisurely exploration – St Omer with its smart shops, and superb old cathedral; Montreuil with its cobbled market place and still intact walls; and, further north, the hilltop town of Cassel and the nearby Mont des Cats, giving fabulous views across the Flanders plain.
A little further afield, but still within easy travelling distance of our hotel, is the Agincourt visitor centre, which commemorates the events of St Crispin’s Day in 1415 – you know, Henry V and Shakespeare, not to mention Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh. A little further south, in Picardy, is the valley of the Somme and the city of Amiens, notable for its astonishing Gothic cathedral. We were there once on the day before Good Friday and the organist was preparing for his big day with a virtuoso performance that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. Fantastic!
| Hotel: | The Château des Tourelles in le Wast near Boulogne |
| Dates: | Saturday 11th October to Saturday 18th October |
| Price: | £760 per person This includes the following:
The price does not include:
N.B. We do not charge a single supplement on this holiday. |
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