Places to visit on the Opal Coast

🌿 Nature and gardens

St. Jean Bay Botanical Garden

Wimereux

A botanical garden located just a stone's throw from downtown. Worth visiting any time of year!

🌿 Nature and gardens

Grande-Synthe Public Park

Grande-Synthe

Take a stroll through these small gardens, which are open to everyone. They feature four playgrounds as well as collections of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees that are refreshed every year. It’s sure to be a lovely family outing.

🌿 Nature and gardens

Gardens of Liberty

Gravelines

The Jardin de la Liberté is a former 19th-century private garden that has retained all its charm. It features all the hallmarks of late 19th-century gardens: the gazebo, boxwood-lined paths, old rose bushes, the gloriette, and white arbors. The traditional floral displays give this site the air of a “guardian of traditions.”

🌿 Nature and gardens

Poudrière Gardens

Gravelines

The Jardin de la Poudrière, with its walkways, strikes a harmonious balance between the mineral and the vegetal. Designed on the layers of a former vegetable garden, in a historic setting where contemporary and traditional materials blend, this garden combines techniques, flowers, vegetables, and plants

🌿 Nature and gardens

The Dewulf Dune

Leffrinckoucke

Located on the northern coast east of Dunkirk, the 300 hectares that make up the Dewulf Dune make it one of the coast’s most remarkable natural sites, typical of the Dunes of Flanders. A mix of wooded dunes, wet dune slacks, and dry dunes, this area holds significant ecological value, despite its peri-urban location. Near the site’s entrance, the Fort des Dunes (a former fortified camp) showcases the area’s military history, with significant remnants still visible deep within the dunes themselves.

🌿 Nature and gardens

The Fossil Dune of Ghyvelde

Ghyvelde

Running parallel to the coast and sheltered from the wind by the Marchand Dune and the Perroquet Dunes, the fossil dune—also known as the “Pine Dune”—is the last remaining stretch of preserved fossil dunes. It is of great geological interest, as it marks the path of the shoreline as it existed 5,000 years ago. Covering an area of 112 hectares, its unique ecosystems—such as lichens and mosses—evoke exotic tundra landscapes dotted with a few lakes. Together with Lake Möeres, this area spans nearly 200 hectares, offering walkers peace and tranquility.

🌿 Nature and gardens

The Parrot Dune

Bray-Dunes

Here, the wind shapes and shapes this dune field spanning more than 600 hectares, stretching from Bray-Dunes to La Panne in Belgium. Characterized by their large, crescent-shaped dunes, these remarkable areas consist of a mosaic of habitats where short grasslands, wet dune slacks, and shrubby thickets intermingle, supporting a rich and diverse array of flora and fauna. They are home to more than 350 plant species and a highly distinctive fauna, including 70 species of birds that nest in the dunes.

🌿 Nature and gardens

La Grange Nature

Clairmarais

This nature park is a place for walking and exploration in the heart of the cultivated marshlands of the Clairmarais Forest and the Romelaëre Nature Reserve. Marked trails, discovery booklets, guided tours, and information and advice on the local flora and fauna are available to help you navigate this natural environment. This is an educational environment, offering more than 10 fun and educational programs designed for school groups, recreation centers, and adult groups. In addition, films about the day-to-day management of the site can be screened upon request. La Grange Nature also offers: * An opportunity to spend time with family * A chance to purchase unique gifts at the nature shop * Comprehensive information on outdoor activities and nature This site is accessible to people with limited mobility.

🌿 Nature and gardens

La Maison du Marais

Saint-Martin-au-Laërt

Why not take a stroll through the Maison du Marais in Saint-Omer? Since July 1, 2014, the entire team at the Maison du Marais has been welcoming visitors. Discover this fun, nature-focused space, where you’ll find a permanent exhibition on the history of the marsh—featuring models, films, and photographs—as well as numerous temporary exhibitions. Once you step outside the building, hop aboard a “bacôve” and set sail with an expert guide who’ll share insights about the 5-hectare estate—from its inhabitants to its hidden secrets. The wildlife (including numerous birds, fish, and insects) and the flora (you’ll be able to admire magnificent, protected water lilies!) are incredibly diverse and will treat you to a peaceful moment on the water, rich in history that connects humanity with the natural world. Throughout the year, the site organizes numerous activities for the whole family, such as cooking workshops for the little ones and aquarium dives for older children. And when it’s time for a break, savor delicious local specialties at the dining area!

🌿 Nature and gardens

The Platier d'Oye Nature Reserve

Oye-Plage

Established in 1987 by ministerial decree, the Platier d'Oye Nature Reserve is located between Dunkirk and Calais and welcomes thousands of visitors each year. The Platier d’Oye is characterized by its great ecological diversity, stemming from the variety of natural habitats found across its 391 hectares (beach, white dunes, scrub-covered dunes, gray dunes, mudflats, wet meadows, and freshwater ponds...). In addition to its exceptional landscape, the site is home to numerous bird species such as shorebirds, ducks, gulls, and more, while its pastures are grazed by Highland cattle (hardy cattle native to Scotland). Designated a Natural Area of Ecological, Faunistic, and Floristic Interest, the Platier d’Oye is also a very important migration route. Located on the Aa Delta during the Gallo-Roman period, the Platier d’Oye was once covered by a vast swamp forest. The marine inundation of the 4th century completely destroyed it. Later, the sea receded, but in 1953, it raged once more and flooded the site. About one meter of saltwater covered the wet meadows. In 1970, developers purchased the land to carry out a large-scale real estate project: building a thousand homes. Technical difficulties encountered during the construction of the first houses brought the project to a halt. The government then decided to purchase the land through the Conservatoire du littoral for conservation purposes. The site regularly offers guided tours, but you can also explore the reserve’s natural beauty on your own by taking the time to enjoy the scenery.

🌿 Nature and gardens

The Bosselé Garden

Saint-Venant

Nestled in the heart of Saint-Venant, the Jardin Bosselé is a unique green space that showcases the landscape heritage of the Hauts-de-France region. This scenic spot invites residents and visitors alike to explore its well-preserved natural setting, which is ideal for a bucolic getaway.

🌿 Nature and gardens

The Beau Pays Botanical Garden

Marck

This private botanical garden offers a true breath of fresh air between Calais and Gravelines. Established in late 1999, owner Pierre Lavalée—a true enthusiast—continues to innovate and carefully cultivate this 10,000-square-meter space. In addition to the beautiful gardens, the farm also grows a variety of crops, such as potatoes, barley, wheat, and rapeseed oil.   Designated a “Jardin Remarquable” (Remarkable Garden), it is divided into 22 themed sections, including a clearing, a woodland area, an Australian greenhouse, a frog pond, and even a “water and music” area. A true haven combining a wide variety of flora and fauna, during your visit you’ll find yourself surrounded by insects (butterflies, ladybugs…), birds (robins, swallows…), small mammals (rabbits, weasels, etc.), and many others that have made their home in the heart of the Beau Pays Garden. This property also invites you to discover its tea room—another discovery, but this time a culinary one.

🌿 Nature and gardens

The Chériennes Garden

Chériennes

Let yourself be captivated by the Jardin des Lianes in Chériennes, a unique place where nature has reclaimed its rightful place, creating a romantic and untamed scene.

🌿 Nature and gardens

The Meditation Garden

Saint-Venant

This 5,000-square-meter haven of peace transports visitors to the Far East without ever leaving the Hauts-de-France region. Created and maintained by a passionate gardener, this Japanese-inspired landscaped space offers a rejuvenating escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

🌿 Nature and gardens

The Hayures Garden

Wail

In the heart of the town of Waïl, the Hayures Garden offers a lush green oasis where nature elegantly reclaims its place. This haven of peace invites visitors to immerse themselves in a bucolic setting where the flora blends harmoniously with the natural contours of the Ardennes landscape.

🌿 Nature and gardens

Lake Moeres

Ghyvelde

In this marshy region of the Dunkirk area, straddling the French-Belgian border, this polder lies entirely below sea level and is the lowest of all the areas reclaimed from the sea in France. A remarkable decalcified dune ecosystem located 5 km inland, Lake Möeres and its Fossil Dune cover nearly 200 hectares and offer walkers peace and tranquility. Cormorants nest there in complete tranquility…

🌿 Nature and gardens

The Audomarois Marshes

Clairmarais

Spanning 15 municipalities in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, this marshland is an exceptional place teeming with life—a true aquatic paradise (560 km of rivers and ditches) open to everyone. Moreover, with its unique landscape, it has become a true masterpiece, a historic monument. It is a man-made creation shaped by monks and generations of market gardeners. If you want to leave stress and the hustle and bustle behind, take a stroll through this marshland, where you’ll enter a realm of still waters and tranquil willows. A place where boundaries are blurred, borders are fluid, and when the mist rolls in, the scenery takes on a fantastical quality, blurring all sense of direction. Only a rowboat will allow you to reach the secluded shores. The subsoil, rich in peat, has given rise to a rich and diverse vegetation. It was the peat bogs that, through their constant erosion, shaped the marsh. The marsh is home, regardless of the season, to all kinds of bird species: wintering birds like the great cormorant, summer visitors like the cuckoo or the marsh harrier, and year-round residents such as owls, chickadees, and moorhens... Today, it is the only cultivated marsh in France, producing cauliflower in the summer (about 9 million heads each year) and endives in the winter. The best way to explore the marsh is by boat. In addition, guided tours will help you learn about the marsh’s landscape and human activities. ISNOR offers a one-hour cruise aboard a small aluminum catamaran, allowing you to explore the entire marsh and pass under the lowest bridges.

🌿 Nature and gardens

Richelieu Park

Calais

Located at the entrance to Rue Royale, right in the heart of the Calais Nord neighborhood, Richelieu Park offers a truly lush, open-air setting. It’s a place to relax and take a stroll, but it’s also an educational experience where you can learn about the different species of trees that grow throughout the park. Discover the little fish in the pond located at the back of the park on the right. A playground is available for children ages 6 to 12. At the park’s entrance on Place Maréchal Foch, you can admire the memorial to Albert Parenty; this is the same spot where the Monument to the Six Bourgeois once stood before it was moved in front of the former Calais Nord town hall on Place d’Armes.

🌿 Nature and gardens

The Blue Lake

Watten

This 13-hectare natural site consists of a large, deep-blue body of water—formed by rising groundwater and rainwater—surrounded by numerous woods and meadows. Formerly a marl quarry for the Tuileries du Nord, it is home to an exceptional variety of flora and fauna: dragonflies, ringed snakes, orchids… You’ll encounter them along the loop trail, where panoramic views of the hills of Artois and Flanders await you. Practical information: - The site is partially accessible to people with limited mobility. - Dogs are allowed on a leash. - Access to the lake’s shores and the lake itself is prohibited. - Swimming is prohibited.

🌿 Nature and gardens

The Tudor Gardens

Calais

The Tudor Gardens are a peaceful green oasis that celebrates the Franco-British bond forged over the centuries. This 2,500-square-meter landscaped space pays tribute to the shared history between Calais and England, evoking the Tudor era, which had a profound impact on the city’s identity.

🌿 Nature and gardens

The Gardens of La Manche in Le Touquet

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

Let yourself be enchanted by a magical getaway in the heart of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. A true oasis of greenery between land and sea, these exceptional sites invite you to relax and marvel, offering a new spectacle with every season.

🌿 Nature and gardens

The Aa Clay Pit

Nieurlet

Once a clay quarry—the raw material for the region’s roof tiles and bricks—this 16-hectare natural site in the Audomarois marshes features a body of water that has naturally formed within the clay layers. Nature has reclaimed the area, and your stroll will be brightened by the sheep—the site’s friendly caretakers—and the beautiful, rare plants that grow there.

🌿 Nature and gardens

Saint Pierre Park

Calais

The park takes its name from the former municipality of Saint Pierre, which, after merging with other towns, gave rise to our beautiful town hall, which commemorates this union. And it is right across from this building that we find ourselves in this space dating back to 1963—let yourself be tempted by a stroll that offers more than just a lush green setting. The park holds many surprises, such as the “Three Graces” Fountain—a stunning bronze fountain installed when the park opened—a sculpture by Mougin, and an aquarium area open to all where you can discover aquatic flora and fauna. There’s also a bit of history to explore at the blockhouse, a former 94-meter-long bunker that now serves as the Museum of World War II Memory. This rich and varied park promises an afternoon filled with discovery and relaxation.

🌿 Nature and gardens

Peylouse Park and Garden

Saint-Venant

Nestled in the heart of Saint-Venant, between Artois and Flanders, this 3-hectare historic park features a remarkable botanical collection along the banks of the Lys River. The site combines two historical legacies: a military bastion built in 1669 and an Art Nouveau landscape redesign dating from 1877.

🌿 Nature and gardens

Conteval Park and Gardens

La Capelle-lès-Boulogne

Let yourself be enchanted by the timeless beauty of Conteval Park and Gardens, a true haven of peace where history meets the art of landscape design. This exceptional green oasis, designated a “Remarkable Garden,” is the ideal place for a stroll that feels like stepping back in time.

🌿 Nature and gardens

Marchand Dune Nature Reserve

Zuydcoote

Created on December 11, 1974, by the Nord Departmental Council, this 83-hectare nature reserve is located between the towns of Zuydcoote and Bray-Dunes. A 9.3-kilometer trail will guide you on a walk lasting about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Reconnect with nature along the 8-kilometer-long shifting dune, and discover more than 400 plant species (beach grass, sea buckthorn, sand elymia, etc.), and its equally rich fauna (dragonflies, birds, amphibians, etc.). A tour that takes you from a farm to the sanatorium—now a maritime hospital—passing by the blockhouses along the way. A discovery walk for everyone in a landscape shaped by war, blending history and nature.

🌿 Nature and gardens

Canche Bay National Nature Reserve

Étaples

The exceptional natural heritage of the Baie de Canche National Nature Reserve, maintained year-round, invites you to enjoy wonderful encounters with nature, featuring… a rich diversity of flora and fauna, as well as the presence of remarkable species. Covering part of the right bank of the Canche River, this 505-hectare protected area is characterized by two distinct habitats: the estuary on one side and the dunes on the other, which rise up like natural barriers. Thus, between sand and water, the local and remarkable flora and fauna constitute an astonishing wealth of biodiversity. The site’s botanical significance lies in a collection of more than 600 recorded plant species. Among the rarest are Loesel’s twayblade, an endangered orchid; the dune pansy, a true treasure of the region; and the round-leaved wintergreen. As for wildlife, the nature reserve is home to mammals such as wild boar, roe deer, badgers, foxes, martens, squirrels, dormice, and occasionally harbor seals. Amphibians are well represented, with four species of newts (crested, alpine, spotted, and palmate), the natterjack toad, and the green tree frog… The birdlife is a true treasure of the reserve, with a large population of breeding birds that colonize the dunes to reproduce, such as the shelduck, the nightjar, the woodlark, and the red-flanked bunting, along with numerous passerines. The site serves as a stopover for tens of thousands of migratory birds, including, among others, the ruddy shelduck, the silver plover, and the chaffinch. The woodcock is the typical winter visitor, not to mention a few merlin falcons.