Le Crotoy Travel Guide

 
by frankayak
 
  •   Le Crotoy
    by frankayak
  • The gang at Le Ridin.
      The gang at Le Ridin.
    by Daisyday
  • Anik, Linda, Sarah and me
      Anik, Linda, Sarah and me
    by Muya
  •   Le Crotoy
    by ptitetoile
  • The bay at low tide
      The bay at low tide
    by Muya
 

Explore Le Crotoy

Things to Do  

Cathedral de Notre Dame, at Amiens

Cathedral de Notre Dame, at Amiens, Le Crotoy

 Daisyday Says:  Well worth the drive inland to the City of Amiens is the largest gothic cathedral in France. This magnificent edifice was finished in 1269, and was declared a World Heritage site in 1981. The cathedral is illuminated by a powerful light show which displays the frontal facade... 

Narrow Gauge Steam Railway

Narrow Gauge Steam Railway, Le Crotoy

 Daisyday Says:  We couldn't resist a trip on the narrow gauge railway which travels around the bay to St. Valery several times a day. The train leaves the station at Le Crotoy and wends it's way through farmland and marshes, over level crossings and bridges, to arrive at St. Valery an hour... 

The beaches on the Baie de Somme

The beaches on the Baie de Somme, Le Crotoy

 Daisyday Says:  We spent quite some time on the beach, just outside the town of Le Crotoy. When the tide goes out, the whole bay virtually empties of water, leaving a small channel running through the middle of what is to all intents and purposes a desert.If like me you tire of sitting... 

"Things to Eat" :-)

"Things to Eat"   :-), Le Crotoy

 Tinternetterke Says:  When in Le Crotoy you should try the "pré-salé" lamb. It tastes delicious. (They feed on the herbs in de valley and those are flooded by the sea a few times per year).The seafood is great too.And last but not least, the prices are democratic. 

Walking the bay at low tide

Walking the bay at low tide, Le Crotoy

 Muya Says:  We parked the car somewhere near a beach and decided to reach Le Crotoy by walking through the bay. The late afternoon was quite windy but we enjoyed the walk and marveled at the strange vegetation that grows there ! Actually, the sea withdraws for a certain amount of time... 

Hotels  

Le Ridin: Le Ridin France

Le Ridin: Le Ridin France, Le Crotoy

 1066campers Says:  We have just got back from a stay at Le Ridin campsite near Le Cretoy in Northern France. We booked through the Internet, and what a mistake. Harvest machinery until midnight the first night, then gravel pit machinery rest of week. Website said there was badminton - there... 

Camping Le Ridin: Worst Campsite so far!

Camping Le Ridin: Worst Campsite so far!, Le Crotoy

 Daisyday Says:  A pleasant enough campsite on the face of it, but unfortunately run by idiots.There are rules posted on site, including those concerning noise. These are routinely ignored by young french campers, who proceed to play bass-heavy 'boom boxes' at all hours. Management (if you... 

Restaurants  

Le Crotoy: Mussels in the Town Square

Le Crotoy: Mussels in the Town Square, Le Crotoy

 Daisyday Says:  We had Moules et Frites in the square in Le Crotoy, laid on by the local Pompiers, proceeds to their funds. As ever, very tasty! We ate from trays on wooden tables and benches laid out under the trees.My friend Malcolm is pictured enjoying the seafood, a treat we never miss... 

Mussels and fries, just like home :-)

Mussels and fries, just like home :-), Le Crotoy

 Muya Says:   August 15th is often the occasion for some festivities. The firemen of Le Crotoy had organized a giant open-air event, where we could eat mussels and fries, or grilled sausages for a really small price !We all sat around huge wooden tables under the trees and facing the... 

Transportation  

Steam Train Around The Bay

Steam Train Around The Bay, Le Crotoy

 JohnnySpangles Says:  There's an historical train line called the chemin de fer de la baie de la somme that travels to Le Crotoy from Noyelles or St Valery which are further around the bay. Its not particularly cheap either...works out about 40 euros for a family of four. However if money is no... 

Local Customs  

Ficelles Picardes ?

Ficelles Picardes ?, Le Crotoy

 Muya Says:  Ficelles picardes are a culinary specialty of Picardy... but does this really look like a Picardian specialty to you ? Well, our friend Anik thought that Sarah and I looked pretty much like Ficelles Picardes in our sleeping bags :-)For real tips on the Ficelle Picarde, see... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Dancing in the rain !

Dancing in the rain !, Le Crotoy

 Muya Says:  As I said in my restaurant tip, we went to an open-air event organized by the firemen of Le Crotoy. After the eating was over, the DJ started to raise the music...and no one danced because of the rain. But we were drenched already, so we decided to have fun and dance under... 

That's how seals do...

That's how seals do..., Le Crotoy

 Muya Says:  Well, the presence of seals in the bay is something I wouldn't have imagined... They are usually visible at low tide, when they rest on the sand banks after they went fishing. However it is better to observe them from a distance to avoid perturbing them.But even though we... 

Favorites  

When the tide goes in

When the tide goes in, Le Crotoy

 Muya Says:  A funny phenomenon to observe... when the tide goes in, water seems to push forward a bundle of foam, that totters its way through the bay :-) The picture unfortunately doesn't completely reflect the "ploup ploup" of the foam :-)You must be careful though, because the sea is... 

Typical vegetation

Typical vegetation, Le Crotoy

 Muya Says:  The grasswort, or salicorne in French, is a typical plant of salt marshes or beaches which is very common in the Baie de Somme. They have the time to develop when the bay is emptying and are then totally recovered by the sea at high tide. At the end of the summer, the plant... 

Le Crotoy

Le Crotoy, Le Crotoy

 hvdvoorde Says:

The Place

Plan a Le Crotoy vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Le Crotoy locals

Experience Le Crotoy
  •   17 Tips and Reviews
  •  31 Photos
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Map of Le Crotoy
 

The People

 
Our Members Say
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 Well, the presence of seals in the bay is something I wouldn't have imagined... They are usually visible at low tide, when they rest on the sand banks after... 

 

Questions and Answers

pdoherty profile photo

Q:  Are dogs allowed on the beach? 

bekerovka profile photo

A: Hy, In Le Crotoy dogs can go on the beach only before 09.00 and after 19.00. For other beaches dog frendly in Somme region, take a look here:... 

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Top Le Crotoy Writers

1

Le Crotoy in the Baie de Somme

Muya profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Le Crotoy. I'd love to share with you the 7 tips I've written, the 12 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

2

Le Crotoy caravan holiday, August 2005

Daisyday profile photo

 We spent a fortnight with friends, in caravans and tents at Le Ridin campsite. We travelled by ferry, Dover to Calais, and motored down from there. We were a party of 21 in all, ranging from age 2 to... 

3

Le Crotoy: Ou Est La Plage?

JohnnySpangles profile photo

 Le Crotoy is famous for its huge, south-facing beach. This is a clever trick if you are a seaside town on the northern French coast. This makes it sound like it is well worth a visit as Picardy is...... 

4

Le Crotoy

ptitetoile profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Le Crotoy. I'd love to share with you the 0 tips I've written, the 1 photo uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

5

The Baie at its best!

frankayak profile photo

 After a small drive from Le Crotoy (a bit of a maze, it's worth it though) you will find a protected natural beauty area which hosts migratory birds and others in the summer months. You can enjoy and... 

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