Gamaches is a village in the Somme, in the Hauts-de-France region, 25 kilometers south-west of Abbeville, bordering Seine-Maritime and the Normandy region.
The municipal area of about 10 km² is located on the right bank of the Bresle, at its confluence with the Vimeuse, about fifteen kilometers from the coast.
To the west of the formerly fortified town, on the right bank of the Bresle, the landscape is dotted with ponds formed for many old sand pits.
Already occupied during the ancient times, the Romans having built two bridges to ensure the connection between Amiens and the Normandy coast, Gamaches develops in the Middle Ages when a charter is granted to the inhabitants (twelfth century). Very affected in the fifteenth century during the conflicts between French and Burgundians, the village is recovering under the Ancien Régime via agriculture and the glass industry.
Now with nearly 2,700 inhabitants, the town has a pleasant living environment and has highlighted its proximity to the beaches (Mers-les-Bains and Le Tréport are 10 minutes, the Baie de Somme 20 minutes). A leisure center has been developed and the small city at the crossroads of the coast, the Eu forest and the Picardy plateau is popular with lovers of green tourism, including fishermen.
In terms of built heritage, a discovery of the town can begin with the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, built in the twelfth century before paying a heavy price to armed conflict of the fifteenth and to be restored in the sixteenth century. A new restoration campaign was initiated in the 19th century, particularly at the façade, which dates from that time. On the inside, you will notice the semicircular arches and the broken arches of the nave as well as the vaulted choir. Note also that the base of the bell tower, dating from the sixteenth century, opens onto a porch with doors decorated with flamboyant Gothic style. The church contains baptismal fonts and a 16th century Calvary, while in the choir the 16th century furniture comes from the Lieu-Dieu abbey. Several wooden statues are sheltered.
The remains of the old castle are the other heritage of the city. We will observe two round towers of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the second having been reworked, and some older buildings including a portal of the seventeenth.
On the natural side, it is the nautical base on the shores of a 50-hectare stretch of water that is the main asset of Gamaches. Many sports and water sports can be practiced: sailing, canoeing or more simply paddle and paddle... Instructors are present from mid-January to mid-December. Out of the summer season, it is advisable to contact +33 9 71 55 42 40 for these nautical activities. An ATV circuit and an archery stand are also available.
This lake, like the other ponds and rivers that cross the territory, is a real paradise for fishing enthusiasts. Contact the local association on +33 6 22 28 69 06 to know the adapted sites and the regulations to respect.
These different heritage and natural sites are ideal for hiking. Many circuits have been designed centered on the territory or can lead, for some of them, to the edge of the coast or the forest of Eu. Documentation and information on +33 3 22 61 24 60 and +33 3 22 71 22 71.
In another register, note that the media library Jean Ferrat regularly programs artistic exhibitions and reading animations. Information on +33 3 22 61 30 43.
The second Sunday of May, garage sale and floral.
The first weekend of July, patronal feast with fairground attractions, flea market, fishing contest, parade of tanks from the campsite on the edge of the water to the city center.
Faithful to its past as a commercial village, the city also hosts a weekly market on Saturday morning and two annual fairs, May 1 and second Sunday in October. A good opportunity to discover the riches of the terroir of the region.
The city is close to both the land and the Glass Valley, but also of the sea, including chalk cliffs and the Somme.
