Getaway to Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme during your camping vacation in the Baie de Somme

There’s something magical about the light in the Baie de Somme. A soft, diffused light that helps magnify the sumptuous landscapes that have earned the Baie de Somme a place alongside San Francisco Bay and Halong Bay among the world’s most beautiful bays. It’s in this privileged setting, at the entrance to the Somme estuary, that Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme nestles. It’s one of the places we recommend visiting during your camping holiday in the Baie de Somme.

A rich history

If today British tourists cross the English Channel to visit Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme, it was in the other direction that William the Conqueror’s fleet sailed in 1066 when he set out to conquer England. Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme has preserved a medieval gateway named after the future King of England: the Porte Guillaume. On the heights of the upper town stands another testimony to the history of Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme. A collegiate church is dedicated to Saint Guénolé (Walaric in Latin), who gave his name to the town by founding a monastery here in the 7thᵉ century. The collegiate church tower, visible from afar, once served as a landmark for sailors. The site also offers a breathtaking view of Saint-Valéry and the Baie de Somme. Don’t miss a photo opportunity during your camping holiday in the Baie de Somme.

Upper town / Lower town

Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme is divided into two districts linked by steep staircases and cobbled streets: the upper town and the lower town. The upper town, or old town, is surrounded by brick and flint ramparts. This is the historic heart of Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme, where fishermen’s houses with their pastel-colored facades line the streets. From the ramparts, a new viewpoint over the Somme estuary awaits you. Depending on the time of day, the view is never the same, as the bay’s landscapes change with the tides and the light. The lower town is the lively heart of Saint-Valéry, with restaurants dotting the quayside and fishing boats returning to port in the late morning.

It was in the mid-19ᵉ century, thanks to the arrival of the train, that the town experienced a real boom in tourism. From this era, it inherited opulent villas that can still be admired today as you stroll along the quays.

A gourmet stopover in the Baie de Somme

The cuisine of Saint-Valéry is that of the sea and wetlands. The Baie de Somme’s culinary specialties include shrimp, nicknamed grasshoppers, and salicorne, a plant that grows in salty environments and can be eaten in salads or as a condiment. The ficelle picarde (a pancake filled with white ham, button mushrooms and crème fraîche) or the gâteau battu (a kind of high, cylindrical brioche) are two of the region’s emblematic recipes. You can sample them in Saint-Valéry’s restaurants and brasseries during your camping vacation in Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme.

A bike ride from your campsite in the Baie de Somme

From your campsite in the Baie de Somme, it’s easy to cycle to Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme (just over 10 km). Not far from the campsite, the Véloroute de la Vallée de Somme runs between Abbeville and Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme.