Sussex Exclusive Magazine Issue 6 2023

TRAVEL
TRAVEL
Family-friendly France
– on your doorstep!
Explore a world of French possibilities, just a stone’s throw away
A
short trip across the English
Channel brings you to
the department of Pasde-Calais.
For centuries,
this area has been a
passing point for Brits keen to head to
the south for a spot of sunshine, great
wine and gastronomy. Janine Marsh, an
ex-Londoner who now lives in Pas-de-
Calais says – don’t pass through, stop and
discover the charms of this little-known
part of France.
Almost 200 years ago Charles Dickens,
who lived near Calais in Boulogne-sur-
Mer, wrote of the Pas-de-Calais “if it were
but 300 miles further off – how the English
would rave about it.”
Well, this northern department may not
have as much sunshine of the south, but
it does have less rain than Normandy and
Brittany, and - just a short hop across
the Channel, it has everything you want
from a day trip, weekend or affordable
holiday in France with the family.
There be dragons here
In the port city of Calais, along the
revamped seafront esplanade, a dragon
roams. The fire-breathing, eye-lit batting,
72-tonne dragon roams around the
historic sites of Calais several times a day
and lives in a glass lair on the beach. You
can take a 45-minute ride on the dragon’s
back (kids under 3 go free).
www.compagniedudragon.com/en
Beaches and countryside
All along the Opal Coast you’ll find
traditional little seaside villages where
the kids can dash up and down the sand
dunes, pootle about in the rock pools and
fly kites on the boundless breezy beaches.
The perfect outing for waterproof
children and patient parents.
At the seaside resort of Berck-sur-Mer,
head down to the water’s edge on the
south side of the beach on the Baie
d’Authie, to see a huge colony of more
than 100 wild seals splashing about in
the water, lazing about on the sandbanks,
and calling out to each other.
Wander or cycle along the coastal paths
of the Opal coast. Or head inland to
discover a glorious countryside which is
criss-crossed by a network of trails. There
are thousands of miles of maintained
and sign posted routes in the area. Pop
into any local tourist office for details
and maps and look for the Vélo © sign
which flags up bike-friendly restaurants,
accommodation, charging points, rental
and repair shops. Visit the Maison du
Site des Deux-Caps where you can
hire bikes and discover the history and
heritage of the area, the culture, and
traditions. You can leave your luggage in
lockers here, pick up maps for the area
and saddle up for a 118 km loop of the
route of the Velomaritime which runs
along the coast all the way from Dunkirk
to Roscoff.
Discover the ancient history of the
marshes, first dug out by monks in the
7th century and still a thriving market
garden of Saint Omer at the Maison
du Marais interpretive centre. Explore
the countryside on foot or by boat to
discover a horticultural wonderland and
a wealth of waterfowl and other wild
creatures.
Climb Napoleon’ Column in Wimille on
the outskirts of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Here,
in 1804 the great general and Emperor
of France mustered his forces and had
2000 ships built, in sight of England.
Though the planned invasion never took
place, Napoleon began the tradition of
the giving out Legion d’Honneur medals
here, and the moment is marked by
this immense column. Climb 296 steps
for eye-popping views over the English
Channel. (Free for 18 years and under).
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