Le Crotoy is a unique south facing village
situated in the Baie de Somme on the Picardy
coastline, near the Normandy border.

The Baie de Somme is approximately a one and a half hour drive
southwards on the A16 Péage in the direction of Amiens and Paris.

It has four villages around it, Le Crotoy which is in the middle of the bay,
Noyelles, with the main line station to Amiens and Paris Gare du Nord
St Valery sur Somme
 at the southerly entrance to the Somme Canal
and rivers and Le Hourdel, another fishing village on the eastern top
entrance to The Bay. 

Le Crotoy is just a few kilometers south of Le Marquenterre, a bird
sanctuary set in the mountainous pine tree dunes and the huge lakes
on the north of the bay which is open to the public.

The wildlife in The Bay is extraordinary. Storks fly over Le Crotoy
searching the wetlands for fish, and nest in the high trees around
The Bay. Les Mouflon (wild goats) mix with the sheep that feed on the
Samphire beds.
 The lamb has a unique flavour due to a salty diet and
people travel from afar to enjoy this delicacy in the local restaurants. 

The Bay is the centre of all things seafood. Langoustine, scallops, whelks,
cockles, prawns, shrimps, oysters, crab, lobsters and of course moules are
served in giant Plateau de Fruits de Mer outside the seafood restaurants
in the village. The local fish are also a very popular dish from Turbotine to
Place, Bass
and Gurnard
, all
caught by the local boats (most of which are
ow
ned by the fish markets and restaurants).

There are so many places to visit around The Bay. Hill top towns such as
Eu
 
and St Riquier, the beautiful, vast Foret de Crecy, a large watermill on
the fast flowing trout river at Maintenay, the pretty rampart town of Montreuil
where Les Miserables was originated. The list is endless.

Oh! And we mustn't forget le Petit Train de la Baie de Somme! A beautiful
trip around the bay in an antique steam train. Not to be missed.