Discover Pas-De-Calais from its long coastline to the water-rich Marais Audomarois. The département has 120 kilometres of coastline and 1,700 kilometres of protected walking trails. These figures point to different highlights for a trip: coastal landscapes, trails and an extensive marshland area.
Coastal paths and a pilgrimage route
The Grand Site des Deux-Caps is an exceptional, fragile and protected natural area stretching 23 kilometres. Its landscape includes preserved biodiversity, fishing villages and Belle Époque villas. The coastal paths also offer different perspectives: the GR 120 Sentier du Littoral is 170 kilometres long and connects the Belgian coast with the Baie d’Authie along the shoreline. The GR Pays Tour de l’Audomarois takes a different form: it is a 120-kilometre circular route starting in Saint-Omer. The contrast highlights the difference between a coastal route and a circular trail without treating them as the same.
History shapes another well-known route. The GR 145 Via Francigena is a medieval pilgrimage route that crosses France from Calais in the direction of Rome. So you can consider routes not only by their length, but also by their character: as a coastal route, circular trail or historic pilgrimage route. As route management can change, it is advisable to check the current route before setting out on a hike.
The Marais Audomarois: water, wildlife and cultivation
The Marais Audomarois covers more than 3,600 hectares and includes 700 kilometres of waterways. The extent of the wetland and its network of waterways make water a defining feature of this landscape. There are 2,600 known species in the area; more than 260 bird species live in or pass through the marsh. These figures therefore include both resident and migratory bird species.
One important condition to bear in mind when visiting: some areas of the Marais Audomarois are accessible only by boat. At the same time, the area is more than just a natural environment. It is considered France’s last cultivated and inhabited marshland, and vegetable growing there dates back to the 7th century. Nature, settlement and cultivation are thus among the defining features of the Marais.
Art and history
At the Louvre-Lens’s Galerie du temps, more than 200 works are displayed in a 3,000-square-metre chronological gallery. The timeline spans from the 4th millennium BC to the middle of the 21st century. The chronological arrangement offers a way to view works from many different eras. La Coupole houses a history and remembrance centre dedicated to the occupation, the Second World War and the history of space exploration.
The Maison du Port départemental d’Étaples also offers its own cultural highlight. Regular exhibitions there draw on the département’s collection and the artistic heritage of the Côte d’Opale. As the exhibition programme changes, it is worth checking the current dates before your visit.
Another discovery focuses on marine life: Nausicaá offers an experience centred on Europe’s largest aquarium, which recreates Malpelo Island off Colombia. The facility is home to more than 58,000 animals and supports the protection of marine ecosystems and sea life. The range of themes therefore extends from coastal landscapes and marshland to art, history and marine conservation.
Choose your focus
As you plan, you might first ask yourself whether you are most interested in coastal paths, the waterways of the Marais or cultural discoveries. For longer routes and changing exhibitions, it is a good idea to check the current route or dates in advance.
Discover more destinations: Serques, Récourt, Mont-Saint-Éloi, Aubrometz, Berneville, Airon-Saint-Vaast, Audinghen, Campagne, Cormont, Coulogne, Courset, Dennebroeucq, Escalles, Guînes, Mouriez, Campagne-Lès-Hesdin, Recques-Sur-Hem, Saint-Inglevert, Saint-Josse, Saint-Omer, Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise, Wierre-Effroy, Wimereux, Zutkerque, Equihen-Plage, Beaumont, Éperlecques, Chériennes, Calais, Le Touquet, Saint-Martin-Boulogne, Rang-Du-Fliers, Noyelles-Godault, Montcavrel, Marquise, Marconne, Lumbres, Lens, Landrethun-Le-Nord, Hesdin-Lʼabbé, Gosnay, Fresnes-Lès-Montauban, Fouquières-Lès-Béthune, Étaples, Desvres, Cucq, Coquelles, Camiers, Bruay-La-Buissière, Boulogne-Sur-Mer, Beuvry, Beutin, Arras, Anzin-Saint-Aubin, Ambleteuse, Aire-Sur-La-Lys, Neufchâtel-Hardelot, Hardinghen, Sainte-Catherine, Acquin-Westbécourt, Fauquembergues, Sangatte, Le Wast, Coulomby, Condette, Oye-Plage, Montreuil-Sur-Mer, Busnes, Huby-Saint-Leu, Fléchin, Saint-Michel-Sous-Bois, Leulinghen-Bernes, Fresnoy-En-Gohelle, Clerques, Saint-Georges, Le Quesnoy-En-Artois, Saint-Etienne-Au-Mont, Caumont, Capelle-Lès-Hesdin, Gouy-Sous-Bellonne, Nœux-Les-Mines, Saint-Nicolas, Arques, Ligny-En-Cambrésis, Guisy, Maresville, Vendin-Le-Vieil, Salperwick, Humeroeuille, Licques, Fiennes, Wisques, Marant, Hesdin, Rinxent, Tournehem-Sur-La-Hem, Auchy-Lès-Hesdin, Le Portel, Halinghen, Contes, Béthune, Heuchin, Corbehem, Wissant, Gouy-Saint-André, Lépine, Marck, Dainville, Hauteville, Bermicourt, Beaurainville, Groffliers, Vieil-Hesdin, Cavron-Saint-Martin, Oppy, Willeman, Merlimont, Wimille, Peuplingues, Longvilliers, Sorrus, Lillers, Leubringhen, Couin, Bourthes, Verton, Beuvrequen, Richebourg, Belle-Et-Houllefort, Embry, Nuncq-Hautecôte, Wailly-Beaucamp, Blendecques, Hernicourt, Douvrin, Buire-Le-Sec, Carvin, Alembon, Saint-Venant, Wismes, Gonnehem, Brias, Hucqueliers, Berck, Bouvelinghem, Parenty, Lestrem, Marœuil, Grand-Rullecourt, Dannes, Beussent, Houdain, Gavrelle, Rivière, Estréelles, Lacres, Fillièvres, Warlincourt-Lès-Pas, Offrethun, Troisvaux, Le Sars, Beaurains, Ardres, Samer, Le Ponchel, Morval, Vaulx, Tortefontaine, Ficheux, Wirwignes, Aubin-Saint-Vaast, Buire-Au-Bois, Houlle, Ligny-Sur-Canche, Sachin, Pas-En-Artois, Thièvres, Hames-Boucres, Auxi-Le-Château, Vincly, Roquetoire, Blingel, Beauvois, Estrée-Wamin, Boubers-Sur-Canche, Vieil-Moutier, Lespinoy, Marles-Sur-Canche, Wamin, Maninghem, Fressin, Inxent, La Calotterie, Tingry, Airon-Notre-Dame, Reclinghem, Labroye, Campagne Lès Boulonnais, Willencourt, Monts-En-Ternois, Saint-Denœux, Aix-En-Ergny, Audincthun, Torcy, Tigny-Noyelle, Loison-Sur-Créquoise, Meurchin, Coyecques, Ligny-Lès-Aire, Ruminghem, Saint-Léonard, Blessy, Liévin, Hulluch, Ouve-Wirquin, Wanquetin, Maintenay, Écurie, Sains-Lès-Pernes, Bailleul-Sir-Berthoult, Ramecourt, Audembert, Audrehem, Fresnicourt-Le-Dolmen, Beauvoir-Wavans, Quiestède, Fampoux, La Capelle-Lès-Boulogne, Bécourt, Neuville-Sous-Montreuil, Souchez, Saint-Martin-Choquel, Autingues, Sanghen, Ergny, Isques, Sailly-Sur-La-Lys, Rodelinghem, Tilques, Conchil-Le-Temple, Bapaume, Fruges, Senlecques, Nempont-Saint-Firmin, Mazingarbe, Stella-Plage, Lisbourg, Acq, Enquin-les-Mines, Agnez-lès-Duisans, Maisoncelle, Billy-Berclau, Saulchoy, Bully-les-Mines, Fiefs, Saint-Laurent-Blangy, Gauchin-Verloingt, Hesmond, Ferques, Surques, Outreau, Beugny, Villers-Châtel, Roussent, Carly, Givenchy-en-Gohelle, Douriez, Ecques, Wierre-au-Bois, Colline-Beaumont, Bonningues-lès-Ardres, Lefaux, Grenay, Clairmarais, La Couture, Loos-en-Gohelle, Farbus, Lorgies, Violaines, Isbergues, Tilloy-lès-Mofflaines, Sallaumines, Carency, Bainghen, Estrée-Cauchy, Souastre, Pernes-lès-Boulogne, Courrières, Ytres, Wail, Longfossé, Warlus, Laventie, Cambligneul, Auchy-au-Bois, Les Attaques, Robecq, Valhuon, Matringhem, Baincthun, Coupelle-Vieille, Verchocq, Westrehem, Landrethun-lès-Ardres, Vieille-Chapelle, Sempy, Écuires, Hersin-Coupigny, Izel-lès-Équerchin, Marenla, Annay, Herly, Quœux-Haut-Maînil, Haucourt, Gouy-en-Ternois, Rety, Royon, Bourlon, Audresselles, Bouquehault, Audruicq, Colembert, Lebiez, Tramecourt, Écourt-Saint-Quentin, Croisilles
Go to the main travel overview: Nord Pas De Calais.
