An unusual chapter in the history of Equihen-Plage is the Quilles en l’air: fishermen’s houses made from overturned boats. Until the Second World War, they formed a separate neighborhood of around twenty units. The Quilles en l’air combine a distinctive architectural form with the town’s former residential and fishing history. The period mentioned clearly places the neighborhood in the past. If, when choosing a destination, you are interested in its local history as well as its landscape, this former type of dwelling offers a specific starting point.

Dunes d’Écault: trail and landscape features

The Dunes d’Écault stretch across Equihen-Plage and Saint-Étienne-au-Mont. A 4.7-kilometer dune trail runs through the area. It passes through embryonic, white, grey, scrub-covered and wooded dunes; the area is also home to a diverse range of plant and animal life. The trail length and dune types answer different questions: the distance describes the route, while the different forms offer several specific aspects of the landscape.

This makes it easier to get a more precise sense of the nature-focused experience than from the name of a dune area alone. The trail passes through several named types of dunes, while the plant and animal life adds another perspective on the landscape. Unlike the Quilles en l’air, the focus here is not on a historic type of dwelling, but on a natural area that extends across two municipalities.

Saint-Pierre: reconstruction and architecture

The present-day Saint-Pierre Church was designed by Robert Nédonchelle between 1955 and 1959, after its predecessor was destroyed during the war. Its structure is made of concrete, with the pillars left visible inside. The stained-glass windows in the baptistery were made by Juteau. The church thus brings together the history of reconstruction and specific architectural details: the concrete structure and visible pillars on the one hand, and the baptistery’s design on the other. For architecture enthusiasts, this offers a different way into the town’s history than the former fishermen’s houses.

Shellfish and local produce

By arrangement, Christophe Penel sells mussels, cockles and shrimp caught locally in the tidal zone in Equihen-Plage. Daily sales are possible from July to September. Mussels from the local beds can also be bought in front of some houses. The two options differ in scope: Christophe Penel offers cockles and shrimp as well as mussels, while the other sales are limited to mussels in front of some houses.

When planning, bear in mind that Christophe Penel’s offer requires an arrangement; the period from July to September also indicates when daily sales are possible seasonally. This connects the local produce with a specific time of year. Sales in front of some houses provide another option, focused on mussels.

Different interests, different experiences

A treasure hunt in Equihen-Plage is one of the family treasure hunts in the Boulonnais. This adds a different kind of activity to the landscape, architecture and local produce. The difference from the dune trail is clear: one takes you through various landscape features, while the other is a treasure hunt. The two activities appeal to different travel interests and do not need to be combined into a single route.

Discover more destinations: Sangatte, Surques, Maresville, Audrehem, Verchocq, Salperwick, Agnez-lès-Duisans, Landrethun-Le-Nord

For the broader travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.