Le Touquet Paris-Plage  -  A Resort for All Seasons.

Le Touquet benefits from 2 natural resources:

- the invigorating and exciting action of air charged with iodine.
- the soothing power of its pine forests so beneficial to physical activities

For further information about Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, read this page in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
 

Le Touquet – Paris Plage (or Paris by the sea) is renowned as a top resort with good reason.  Le Touquet is THE major resort along the Opale Coast and has been since the 1930’s when it was the seasonal haunt of the English as well as the French upper classes (Edward & Mrs Simpson were often discreet houseguests).  Its shops and restaurants reflect its heyday and still continue to cater to the tastes of the majority of today’s holidaymakers and second homeowners – the Parisians.  Here you will find the latest in fashion, eateries, and all manner of sporting facilities & events, concerts and exhibitions throughout the year.  Unlike other beach resorts Le Touquet is open all year.  

From its pristine villas discreetly hidden behind pine trees and manicured lawns to the ½ timbered Edwardian villas that line the back roads close to the centre,  Le Touquet has a well worn charm of its own.  

After dark the centre is alive with outdoor dining, cafes, music bars, nightclubs, casinos and concerts – even the Aqualud has an evening session staying open to midnight.

Le Touquet Beach

Le Touquet beach is unsurpassed in the region.  Mile upon mile of white sand backed at either end by undulating sand dunes.  If, like the French, your taste is for crowds, lots of beachside activities, snack bars, restaurants and of course, the omnipotent Aqualud, then you need go no farther than the centre of the beach to find it all – in spades!
During the Summer months Le Touquet Beach is home to many  kids clubs  run by French students & teachers you can leave your kids for an hour or book a whole morning or afternoon.  Kids club activities in Le Touquet are focused on sporty activities so make sure you leave plenty of drink for your child. Costs vary but generally its pretty cheap and very safe as each club is well secured within a gated area on the beach.

If on the other hand you hanker after an unspoilt natural coastline away from the crowds with lots of secluded corners amongst the dunes just take yourself to the North Beach for one of Le Touquet’s best surprises. 

Here where the estuary meets the sea you will share a wild and wonderful, almost New England-like, landscape with windsurfers and sailing dinghies venturing out from the bay’s yachting club.   Just take a look at the photos here and ask yourself how far you would have to go to find a more naturally perfect spot to fly your kite.

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Large parties - Need more accommodation?  Why not combine Le Mascaret (sleeps 4/5) with nearby L'Opale or St Andre Villas (sleeps 10- 14)?  
Both available through Le Touquet Holidays.
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Local Art & Relaxation

(painting by  Pascal Lecocq 
Examples of some of Pascal's famous paintings are permanently exhibited at the Nausicaa the French National sealife centre in Boulogne. His gallery is in Honfleur.)

A perfect resort for tourists and also there is...
the thalassotherapy centre,where you might wish to relieve painful articulation or muscles, recover lost mobility after a traumatism or operation, loosen up a body that has become stiff with age, or simply unwind, recover your strength, replenish your body with vital energy and take care of yourself. But more than anything else, you want to be pampered. Thalassa Le Touquet is all about helping you recapture and regenerate the health that is inside you. Devised and controlled by specialized paramedical teams, the therapy provided by Thalassa Le Touquet is your passport to a new way of living.  The development of Thallassotherapy as both a preventive and curative therapeutic concept stems from three essential factors : the discovery of the biological wealth of seawater, the scientific demonstration of the chemical similarly between blood plasma and seawater, and the parallel evolution in the techniques of using water and seaweed. Read The Guardian article 

Le Touquet Today

The Aqualud  is open for 9 months of the year; it is a water playground enclosed within a glass pyramid right on Le Touquet Beach, the temperature is set at a lazy 27°C,  and water at a wonderful comfortable 29°C. Giant toboggan, sparkling rivers, 4000 sq meter wave pool, jaccuzi...anytime you will be surprised by the Aqualud.

When summer comes, the large outdoor pool is opened up from the large 4000 square metre pyramid. You will enjoy the toboggan, cascades and bubbling water. For the 21st century, the Aqualud has two new attractions on offer which are unique in Europe: the state of the art Black Hole and Twister. Exit from the Twister and you have absolutely no idea what direction you are traveling in Great Fun! Children less than 1 metre tall can gain free entry to the Aqualud, please visit the website for opening times and ticket information. When they are too tired to make it back to le Mascaret then jump on the electric bus.

Le Touquet Golf

Le Touquet has it's own international golf course and is a big favourite with British golfers.  Often the venue of international competitions, the green fees still manage to be lower than their counterparts in England. Le Touquet offers two 18-hole courses and a 9-hole course:

More Le Touquet Golf Information.

"La Mer" reminiscent of Scottish links which is laid out amongst sand dunes,
 
and "La Forêt", a peaceful alternative, where fairways weave their way through pinetrees. 

also "Le Manoir"  9-hole course, ideal for beginners, features all the difficulties and the situations of the game.  Le Manoir website;  courses and bookings

Equestrian Centre

Sight-seeing and excursions

Pas de Calais Tourist office website

Ornithological park of MARQUENTERRE and earthenware of Desvres

Abbey of VALLOIRES (18th century)

BOULOGNE - SUR - MER (fishing harbour, city walls, Nausicaa)

AMIENS( cathedral, Picardy museum)

Chateau of BAGATELLE (18th century) in ABBEVILLE

ARRAS (cathedral, ancient abbey of St Vaast)  

View from Speedferries Boat approaching Nausica

DESVRES; The area of Desvres has all the raw materials for making pottery -clay, water and wood for firing, and potters were working here before the Romans came.

The first earthenware factory in Desvres was founded in 1764 by Jean-François Sta, a Desvres lawyer, using local smaterials. Starting in 1804, François Fourmaintraux brought prosperity by copying popular products from the Delft, Moustiers, Nevers, Strasbourg or Rouen porcelain works.

During the 19th century, the Fourmaintraux dynasty made Desvres the most important earthenware centre in northern France - producing decorated earthenware: dishes, vases, plates, etc. They started making decorated tiles in the 1860s.

round trip MONTREUIL countryside and city walls (old town), antique shops and auctions

Valley of COURSE (earthenware of DESVRES. museum)

Discovery of PICARDY, ARTOIS, and BOULONNAIS regions

Valley of the CANCHE (MONTREUIL, VIEIL HESDIN, CHATEAU of FLERS)

Cliff road ‘Cote d’Opale’ (BOULOGNE, CAP GRIZ NEZ, CAP BLANC NEZ)

Valley of the SOMME (ABBEVILLE, AMIENS).