A must-see seaside resort on the Opal Coast, Berck-sur-Mer is located in the Pas-de-Calais department, Hauts-de-France region, between the major sites of the Baie de Somme and the 2 Caps Blanc-Nez Grey-Nose.
A fishing town from the Middle Ages until the 1970s, Berck-sur-Mer has been an important seaside resort since the 19th century since the opening of its renowned hospitals and the craze for sea bathing.
Its beach, one of the most beautiful on the Côte d'Opale, and the Baie d'Authie, a haven of unspoiled nature, are particularly popular with walkers, families and sports enthusiasts looking for wide open spaces.
The city lives all year round to the rhythm of major events, including the unmissable International Kite Meetings, a world-renowned event that makes the resort famous.
Visitors also enjoy dining in the town's many brasseries to taste the local bouchot mussels and regional specialities.
Opposite the nautical base, colonies of gray seals and sea calves are visible every day just a few dozen meters away at low tide (tide table available at the Tourist Office). On foot, by bike, by boat, by canoe, on horseback, with a guide… There are many ways to discover Authie Bay!
The Baie d'Authie dune path, a 1.6 km loop, will offer you a superb view of the Baie d'Authie from the belvedere on arrival.
To the north of the resort, the 1.1 km plain path recently laid out in the dunes will lead you to the Anse pond observatory.
The Baie d'Authie trail: this 10.5 km route will give you a good overview of the exceptional environment of the resort: its long fine sandy beach, the Baie d'Authie. Along the way, you can also discover the seaside architectural heritage and the Bois Magnier.
The Family Plus labeled resort has leading cultural and leisure facilities, there is something for everyone: the Bagatelle park, karting, laser tag, mini-golf, rides … Internships at sea (sailing, catamaran, kite-surfing) or on land (land yachting, horse riding, tennis) are also possible to learn or improve!
In the 18th century, the city had the largest beaching fleet in France, the flobarts, flat-bottomed boats, stopped directly on the beach to unload the fish.
The churches of Notre-Dame-des-Sables and Saint-Jean-Baptiste recall this past; the nave of one was made by marine carpenters, the bell tower of the other was the old lighthouse of the city.
The house of the current lighthouse, nicknamed "the sock", houses the Heritage House, a traditional Berckois habitat, where you can familiarize yourself with local habits and customs.
Testimony of the past of Berck-sur-mer and the daily life of the families of sailors of the city, the paintings of the Museum will transport you. These works, sometimes naturalistic, sometimes impressionistic, are a feast for the eyes of young and old.
In the 19th century, when Berck-sur-Mer had around a hundred flobarts, flat-bottomed boats, the great names of the Berckoise school such as Ludovic Napoléon-Lepic, Francis Tattegrain, Charles Roussel, Jan Lavezzari and many others have set up their easels on the beach to capture life scenes.
The daily life of these women and men, the beauty of the landscape surrounding them and the variations of Opaline colors were an inexhaustible source of inspiration for them.
The museum also houses an important archaeological collection. The showcases house discoveries from recent excavations carried out around the Canche and Authie valleys. Weapons, jewelry and coins, ceramics and glassware found in graves, or in coastal rivers, will guide you through some facets of local history from the Gallic era to the 18th century. Merovingian objects from the 6th and 7th centuries include a series of jewels of exceptional quality.
The Lhomel district and its villas dating from the end of the 19th or even the beginning of the 20th century with their assertive architectural style will not leave you indifferent.
Simple amateurs or experienced athletes will enjoy training or improving their skills in the dune paths by the sea or in the sports courses laid out in town (4.5 - 6.5 - 10 km). A simple jog in the open air alone or with friends is a real pleasure here, and becomes a complete workout when it is enhanced with these fitness modules. Thus, everyone can maintain their form according to their own pace and desires.
Sand yachting, synonymous with thrills and freedom, has always been associated with Berck-sur-Mer, invented here, it is the essential activity of the Côte d'Opale. Take a seat in one of these cars on the side of the north base and tame the wind during a simple initiation or an internship.
