Saint-Valery-sur-Somme travel guide

Visit Saint-Valery-sur-Somme (Hauts-de-France, France)

The town of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is to the west of the Somme department of Picardy and south of Le Crotoy on the estuary of the Somme river. along with Le Crotoy and Le Hourdel it is one of three ports on the Somme Bay.

The town has various historical sites to discover, and is also close to the important natural environment of the Somme Bay, making St-Valery-sur-Somme one of the most visited towns in the region.

Exploring Saint-Valery-sur-Somme

France This Way review: St-Valery-sur-Somme is one of our favourite towns in the area. The main pleasure of a visit is simply the chance to explore the historic centre of St-Valery, with its medieval houses and narrow streets.

The most interesting part of the town is just behind the harbour in the streets where the sailors and fishermen traditionally had their homes in small colourful cottages: this area is known as the Courtgain quarter. You will also find a good number of cafes and other facilities, and if you can arrange your visit for a Wednesday or Sunday the local market is held and the town at its most lively.

Below the main town you can stroll along the water front promenade looking out across the water on one side and admiring some beautiful houses on the other. Walk a little further to see the boats in the town pleasure-boats harbour. All in all this is a lovely walk.

The most imposing medieval site in Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is the 'Guillame Towers', two substantial stone towers that stand either side of a stone gateway into the town.

You can also see the stone base that is all that remains of a tower where it is said that King Harold was held prisoner in the 11th century. It is called the Tour Harold after this event, and there is another impressive medieval building above the Porte de Nevers in the town.

The garden called the Herbarium des Remparts, concealed next to the ramparts of the town, is officially classified as a French 'remarkable garden' and has a remarkable range of plants and flowers squeezed into what is really quite a small garden.

The enthusiasm for gardening spreads into the streets of the town where you will see lots of baskets of flowers and hanging baskets, adding a great deal of colour to a visit - the town is officially classified as a 3* Town in Bloom ('ville fleurie').

Among the religious landmarks,the most important is the Church of Saint-Martin, in an unusual design constructed in part from alternating white and black rocks to create a patterened effect. The Chapel des Marins in Saint-Valery-sur-Somme also has this unusual design.

There is a famous 60 year old boat called the Somme II (officially classified as a Historic Monument!) that departs from Saint-Valery-sur-Somme with passengers to tour the Somme Bay during the summer months.

Attractions nearby

After you have explored Saint-Valery-sur-Somme we suggest you explore the Bay of the Somme, either on a boat trip or by following one of the many marked trails or cycle routes around the bay. The Bay of the Somme has been classified as a "Grand Site of France" because of its importance as a wetland habitat.

You will also want to visit Le Crotoy during your stay near the Bay of the Somme.

Explore elsewhere in the North East France. You can find more travel ideas in the Somme guide and the Picardy guide.