Beutin can be explored through several specific themes: the Le Robinson walking trail runs along the banks of the Canche, and the Beutin wreck now lies in the active river channel. There is also the architecture of the Église Saint-Léger and chocolate from Campagne & Chocolat. For planning your trip, this brings together landscape, archaeology, architecture and a culinary visit as distinct points of interest.
Le Robinson: Riverbanks, Plains and Marshland
Starting in Beutin, the Le Robinson walking trail runs along the banks of the Canche and through landscapes of plains and marshland. If you want to spend most of your stay outdoors, this offers a clear focus for outdoor activities: the route includes riverbanks and two distinct types of landscape. Le Robinson is marked in yellow; the GR® is marked in white and red.
The car park at the start of the walking trail is at the Salle des Fêtes in Beutin, described as a former railway station. The official 2020/2021 tourism guide gives Le Robinson’s length as 10 km and describes it as suitable for mountain bikes. Check trail conditions before your trip.
The Wreck and the History of the Canche
The Beutin wreck was discovered by recreational divers in Beutin in 1989, five kilometres upstream from the port of Étaples-sur-Mer. This year refers to when it was discovered, not to the dating of the vessel: that ranges from the end of the 15th century to the middle of the 17th century. The wreck is 14 metres long and belongs to a flat-bottomed vessel. Its length and construction describe the vessel; the date range places it in time.
The wreck now lies in the active course of the Canche. In the 15th century, the river course and its estuary were wider than they are today. The find’s present location and the river landscape’s historical form therefore represent two different periods.
Église Saint-Léger: Two Periods of Construction
The Église Saint-Léger offers another story of construction: its choir dates from the 15th century, and its nave from the 19th century. A brick bell gable crowns the building. The keystones of the vaults are decorated with coats of arms that have not been identified. The two dates refer to different parts of the building: they do not describe a single construction phase, but an architectural history spanning several centuries. Keystones are the stones at the apex of a vault, so the coats of arms are located on a clearly defined architectural feature. Access to the Église Saint-Léger is regulated; check the access conditions before visiting.
Chocolate at Campagne & Chocolat
At Campagne & Chocolat, chocolate is made by hand from organic and Fair Trade cocoa beans. Visitors can sample the products and watch the chocolate being made. The offering combines the product with the production process, rather than focusing only on finished chocolate. As business details may change, check in advance about current visiting options.
Discover more destinations: Ligny-En-Cambrésis, Mouriez, Écourt-Saint-Quentin, Lespinoy, Anzin-Saint-Aubin, Ramecourt, Marquise, Lépine.
For the wider travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.
