Plage de Sangatte marks the transition between the sandy coastal landscape of Calais and the chalk landscapes associated with Cap Blanc-Nez. A 2.4-kilometre sea wall promenade runs along the beach to the semaphore station, offering a seaside walk. The stated length provides a specific point of reference for an outing by the water, while the change in landscape places the coast in a broader context.

Dunes and protected landscape

The Dunes du Fort Mahon are a 42.54-hectare protected area in Sangatte and are open to the public. They form a narrow strip of dunes with damp hollows and offer a discovery trail. The area’s size, protected status and landscape form each give it a distinct character: it is a clearly identified natural area whose hollows are among its striking features.

Walking trails on the heights

On the heights of Sangatte, trails pass through Les Noires Mottes towards Peuplingues and Cap Blanc-Nez. They are used for hiking and mountain biking. In addition, three walking trails in the commune of Sangatte have been recognised by the Fédération Française de Randonnée pédestre; they pass through remarkable or protected landscapes.

This information presents the trails from two angles: at Les Noires Mottes, the routes and their use for hiking or mountain biking take centre stage. The three recognised walking trails, by contrast, provide a specific number and run through distinctive landscapes. As the condition of individual trails can change, it is worth checking the latest trail conditions before setting out.

Water sports at the Descenderie

The Descenderie is a place for water sports in Sangatte. Windsurfers appreciate it on windy days. If you plan to go windsurfing, you can take the wind conditions on your chosen day into account. This brings another kind of activity into focus alongside seaside walks and trails on the heights: water sports with an explicit connection to the weather.

Historical traces

Fort Lapin became part of the Atlantic Wall. In 1941, the gable of an entrance to the redoubt was reinforced and concreted. The fort’s development points to its wider historical context; the dated structural change makes a specific detail of this history tangible.

A stele commemorating the famous aviator Louis Blériot stands on the D 940 in the village of Blériot-Plage. It offers a different emphasis from the history of Fort Lapin: here, the focus is on remembering a person, while there it is on the development of a structure in the context of the Atlantic Wall. Thus, both a historic structural feature and a memorial are among the different traces that shape Sangatte.

Choose your focus

When planning, you can choose a focus based on the activity you have in mind: the promenade offers a seaside walk of a stated length, the trails on the heights are used for hiking and mountain biking, and windsurfers appreciate windy days at the Descenderie. These differences help you match activities to your interests instead of grouping them all under a single outing theme.

Discover more destinations: Laventie, Wirwignes, Les Attaques, Mouriez, Mazingarbe, Ferques, Neuville-Sous-Montreuil, Ficheux.

Return to the main travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.