Activities
All the charms of the Opal Coast within reach of your stay : Wimereux, Wissant, Hardelot, Saint-Omer, Calais, Le Touquet. Between green spaces, fine sandy beaches, outdoor activities and historic and cultural trails, you will be spoilt for choice.
Sport & outdoors
Move, breathe, disconnect
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Aa Golf Course
Golf lessons, day green fees, club house, shop and the Le Ristandel estaminet bar.
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Trail running, hiking & mountain biking
Maps and bike hire at the Lumbres tourist office. Dozens of kilometres of trails starting from the cottage.
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Horse riding
Les Ardents equestrian farm. Rides, lessons and introductory sessions for all levels.
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L'Aa Piscine
Aquatic centre of the Pays de Lumbres : indoor pool, ideal to cool off between two hikes.
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Sand yachting
The beaches of the Opal Coast offer some of the best sand yachting spots in Europe — introductory sessions and hire from age 8, at Berck, Hardelot and Wissant.
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Rando-Rail
9 km ride on the rails of the former railway line in the heart of the forest and valleys of the Pays de Lumbres. Trotti-Trail, net trails and treasure hunts also available.
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Olhain Park
200 ha of departmental forest: ponds, tree-top adventure, parcabout net park, year-round toboggan run, golf, outdoor pool and zip lines. An outdoor leisure base for the whole family.
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Trout fishing
Nielles Aventure: fitted-out ponds, equipment hire, ideal for families.
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Acro'Liane
Eco-adventure park in the heart of the Farjon woods: 4 tree-top trails, zip lines, Tibetan bridges, suspended bike and surfboard, 11 m jump. For all ages.
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Lumbres – Remilly-Wirquin greenway
5.3 km walk on foot, by bike or on roller skates along the former Calais-Anvin railway line, beside the river Aa. Suitable for the whole family.
Culture & heritage
History, science and beautiful discoveries
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Nausicaá
Europe's largest aquarium in Boulogne: a giant 10,000 m³ tank, manta rays, sharks and 58,000 marine animals. An immersive journey into the ocean and its protection.
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La Coupole d'Helfaut
History centre set inside a V2 bunker AND a 10K 3D planetarium (the most modern in the world, with 360° dome). A dive into WWII, the conquest of space and stargazing all at once.
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Saint-Omer
Gothic cathedral, cobbled streets, Sandelin museum and Saturday market: a city of art and history on the edge of the Audomarois marshes.
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Arras
Two UNESCO-listed baroque squares, 16th-century belfry, Wellington Quarry and Great War memorials. One of the most beautiful Christmas markets in France in December.
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Street Art in Boulogne and Calais
More than 100 monumental murals turn Boulogne-sur-Mer into an open-air museum (annual festival since 2016). In Calais, 90 works dot the streets. Free or guided tours in summer.
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Lille
Capital of Flanders: Grand-Place, Old Stock Exchange, Palais des Beaux-Arts (2nd largest museum in France) and the cobbled lanes of Vieux-Lille. Wazemmes market on Sundays.
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Craft breweries
Saint-Omer Brewery and Goudale Brewery in Arques: guided tours and tastings of beers from the Pas-de-Calais.
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Éperlecques Blockhouse
Former Nazi V2 launch base in a wooded historic park: a striking dive into the Second World War.
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Boulogne-sur-Mer
France's leading fishing port, 13th-century counts' castle, fortified old town and a long sandy beach. The grand port and its historic centre are best explored on foot.
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Desvres faience
Three centuries of ceramic tradition: open workshops, the Faïence museum and shops selling hand-decorated pieces from the Fourmaintraux, Des Rêves and Geo Martel manufactories.
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City of Lace and Fashion
In a former textile factory by the canal, the museum tells the story of Calais lace: working Leavers looms, haute couture creations and temporary exhibitions.
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Arques Crystal Works
Guided tour of the Arc International factory, world leader in glass tableware: discover behind the scenes of glass and crystal making, from the furnaces to the decoration workshops, on the world's largest glassmaking site.
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Lewarde Mines
The largest mining museum in France, set on the former Delloye pit: guided tour of the galleries rebuilt by former miners, locomotives, headframes and collections devoted to 3 centuries of coal history in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais basin (UNESCO).
Nature & landscapes
The hidden gems of the Pas-de-Calais
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Wimereux beach
Fine sandy beach facing England, renowned spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Belle Époque seafront promenade, skatepark and pump track for children.
40 min -
The Audomarois Marshes
Boat trip in the last market-gardening marsh still cultivated in France, classified as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. In Clairmarais, Les Faiseurs de Bateaux keep the tradition of bacôves and escutes alive.
15 min -
La Maison du Marais (The Marshland House)
Gateway to the Audomarois Marshes: immersive exhibitions « Chez Capiau » and « L'Aventure Sous-Marais », guided trips on traditional boats, local produce shop and the Les Bols du Marais restaurant.
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Esquerdes Powder Works
Little-visited departmental natural area: 1.3 km easy trail around the ponds and wetlands, along the river Aa. Orchids, bats and birdsong guaranteed.
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Cap Blanc-Nez
Site of the Two Capes: spectacular chalk cliffs facing England, to discover on foot.
45 min -
Calais beach
Family sandy beach and long promenade now home to the Dragon. Play areas, skatepark and day ferry crossing to England.
35 min -
Acquin-Westbécourt & Wavrans Nature Reserve
Caves, chalk grasslands and protected slopes within walking distance of the cottage: orchids, bats and outstanding panoramas over the Aa valley.
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Berck beach
Vast sandy beach in the south of the Opal Coast, famous for its International Kite Meeting (April) — one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the world.
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Romelaëre ponds
108-ha national nature reserve: wooden walkways over the marshes, bird hides and easy walks. More than 240 bird species, including kingfishers and herons.
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Cap Gris-Nez
"Grand Site de France" (national heritage site), the closest point to England (28 km), with lighthouse and coastal paths.
45 min -
Bay of the Somme
One of the most beautiful bays in the world: seals on the sandbanks, salt meadows, the little steam train from Le Crotoy to Cayeux, and the Marquenterre park to watch migrating birds.
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Le Boulonnais
Hedgerow countryside, forests (Hardelot, Boulogne) and valleys where the majestic Boulonnais horse is bred.
35 min -
Hills of Flanders
Mount Cassel, Mount of the Cats: outstanding panoramas over the plain, windmills and Flemish villages.
1 h
Things to do
Leisure, evenings out and escape games
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Tourist train
On board a vintage locomotive, discover the Aa valley departing from Lumbres.
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Dragon of Calais
Climb aboard the Dragon, a monumental animated machine weighing 72 t and 27 m long, for a theatrical ride along the seafront. Calais is also full of murals and street art works to discover freely.
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Hôtel de la Gare – Escape Game
Step into a 1920s atmosphere: teams of 2 to 6, play detective or burglar and solve the puzzles of the legendary Hôtel de la Gare. By reservation, 7 days a week.
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The Vissery Riddles
The first escape game in Saint-Omer, 2 rooms: « Welcome to Marie Groët's » (the mystery of the marsh witch) and « The secret of Henri Dupuis » (puzzles from the museum of the same name).
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Dennlys Parc
Family amusement park on the banks of the Lys: more than 30 rides and thrills for all ages, from the little train to the Nitro rollercoaster and the new Draknor drop tower.
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Cinema
Multiplex in Saint-Omer for a dry evening out if rain sets in.
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Bagatelle Park
More than 40 family attractions on the Opal Coast: the Triops rollercoaster, rides for toddlers and shows in a landscaped park between Le Touquet and Berck.
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Les Belles Échappées
Discover the region behind the wheel of retro vehicles: Citroën 2CV, Volkswagen Combi, Méhari or Fiat 500. Day hire, rallies, Combeer Tour (brewery tour in a Combi), departing from the Abbey farm in Clairmarais.
Opal Coast & major cities
Beaches and cities of art within an hour
- Calais 35 min
- Wimereux 40 min
- Wissant 40 min
- Hardelot 45 min
- Le Touquet 45 min
- Saint-Omer 15 min
- Boulogne-sur-Mer 45 min
- Lille 1 h
- Arras 1 h
A day in England
Dover, Canterbury and Folkestone within reach
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Calais-Dover Ferry
DFDS, P&O: 1h30 crossing, you can take the car for a day in Canterbury, Dover or shopping.
35 min -
Eurotunnel Coquelles
35-minute crossing under the Channel to Folkestone, with your car on board the Shuttle.
40 min
Nearby
The essentials close at hand
- Restaurants & bars on site
- Leclerc, Super U 5 min
- Fast food 5 min
- Saint-Omer railway station 20 min
- RN42 dual carriageway 5 min
- A26 motorway 10 min