Le Crotoy
A seaside town on the north shore of the Baie de Somme, said to have the only south-facing beach in northern France, where Jules Verne wrote part of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.
Le Crotoy lies on the north shore of the Baie de Somme, facing Saint-Valery across the bay. It has a beach often described as the only south-facing beach in northern France, making it a family holiday spot in summer. Jules Verne lived here from 1865 to 1870, and part of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea was written here. A plaque marks his former home in town. Joan of Arc was also imprisoned in the town's castle. At the harbour you can eat seafood and shellfish, and along the sea wall you can watch fishing boats and the rise and fall of the tide. The town is one of the terminals of the steam train, so you can ride it back to Saint-Valery or, at low tide, cross the bay on foot with a guide.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Baie de Somme
- Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
- Chemin de fer de la Baie de Somme
- Le Hourdel Seal Colony
- Rue: Chapelle du Saint-Esprit & Belfry
- Parc du Marquenterre
- Chinese Cemetery of Nolette
- Cayeux-sur-Mer