Gamaches offers several reasons to visit: water activities, cycling routes and historic buildings. Depending on your interests, you can focus on a ride towards the coast, time spent by the water or the history of its architecture. A local tradition and community facilities also feature among the discoveries that make the town what it is.
Water and cycling routes
The Gamaches Plein Air water recreation centre is located in the Bresle Valley on the site of a former gravel pit and covers 45 hectares. Activities on the water include pedal boating, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing and sailing dinghies. Availability may vary seasonally, so check what is on offer during your travel dates before you visit.
Gamaches Plein Air also rents out bicycles and mountain bikes for trips around the ponds or in the forest. Rental bike availability may also vary. For anyone planning a cycling trip, this is another way to explore Gamaches and its surroundings on two wheels, in addition to the activities on the water.
Two different details can help you choose a route. The « entre Verre et Mer » cycle path runs from Gamaches via Eu to the coast at Mers or Le Tréport. The Circuit des Croisettes is a 42-kilometre, level 2 cycling route that starts and ends in Gamaches. One route is defined by its path to the coast, while the other is defined by its stated length and its start and finish in Gamaches. Check the route details and current conditions before setting off.
Architectural history and local tradition
Two round stone towers remain of the Ancien château, the former castle of Gamaches. One is a ruin, while the other was extensively altered in the 19th century. The two towers were partially protected as historic monuments on 16 December 1986. Their differing states reveal the building’s history in two ways: as a preserved ruin and as a tower that was later altered.
The Church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul also has its own historical significance. It is classified as a historic monument, with this protection in place since 1862. It is also considered a 13th-century church. Alongside the former castle, it stands as a building with a long history of protection and a church whose classification dates it to the 13th century.
The Circuit des Croisettes is also associated with a tradition in the Vimeu that is still upheld today. Wooden crosses are laid down at the roadside calvaries passed by a funeral procession. As well as being a cycling route, the circuit therefore has a cultural dimension: its name is linked to a local custom that continues to be observed.
Fishing and community facilities
Gamaches is known for fishing tourism. Fishing is possible at numerous ponds bordering the municipality. For those interested in fishing, this offers another connection to the water, distinct from the activities at the water recreation centre.
The Médiathèque Jean Ferrat lends books, magazines, CDs and DVDs, and offers computers, Wi-Fi and regularly organised events. As facilities and programmes may change, it is advisable to check the current offering before planning a visit.
Discover more destinations: Corbie, Villers-Bocage, Ailly-Sur-Noye, Saint-Riquier, Assevillers, Cerisy-Buleux, Ailly-Le-Haut-Clocher, Naours
For the regional travel overview: Somme.
