sand yachting le touquet

Le Touquet, also known as Paris Plage

A short hop across the English Channel or a 3-hour drive from Paris, Le Touquet-Paris-Plage has it all. There are sandy beaches and water sports, cycle routes through the parks and leafy forest, tennis and golf, an excellent museum and a summer-long series of festivals.

Le Touquet has the dog-friendly “Toutourisme” certification , meaning dogs and dog owners are welcome and well taken care of.

Le Touquet has always exercised a seductive charm. By the 1920s it was the place to be for the rich and famous, writers, film stars and politicians. The British smart set and their French friends descended on the chic seaside resort for its golf, horse racing, and polo matches. They stayed in the grand hotels or in villas that range from Art Deco to neo classical, Gothic to Tudor, and gambled the night away in the casinos. Today’s visitors are mostly more low key, though you might spot French President Macron here!

Le Touquet best attractions

The Hôtel de Ville in Le Touquet is an appropriately striking building with its tall belfry, red brick Tudor details and neo gothic arches.

Financed by just one year’s profits from the town’s casino, it was opened on June 27, 1931.

A guided tour takes you into the building and the City Hall’s grand official salle d’honneur where the town dignitaries meet to keep Le Touquet on the fashionable map.

Post Office

Another of the landmarks of Le Touquet, the post office opened in 1927 on the site of the former 19th-century church of Saint-Jean.

Its triangular roof is deliberately ecclesiastical to recall its past, while the geometric design displays more than a touch of Art Deco.

It was designed by Jean Boissel after he won a competition organised by the town and the building became a historical monument in 1997.

The Racecourse Grandstands

The 1925 Hippodrome grandstands not only drew an international crowd to the chic resort, they were also renowned for their architectural innovations.

The project was one of the first by architects Georges-Henry Pingusson and Paul Furiet and the young team designed each grandstand with a state of the art single piece of reinforced concrete as an awning to cover the seats.

From the top rank of seats there’s a wonderful view over the course below and to the Canche river estuary beyond.

Town Hall – Le Touquet © Lydie Rault

Le Castel Villa – Le Touquet © Lydie Rault

Le Castel villa

Built in 1904, this white villa with its tall pointed tower and red brick window surrounds could have come out of a fairy tale. It’s one of the 20 or so Le Touquet buildings on the French Historic Monuments registry. Guided walks from the Tourist Office take in more of the architectural treasures of the town.

Casino Barrière le Touquet

The elegant casino in the Palais des Congrès was originally part of a villa built by Daloz, the founder of Le Touquet, in the 1860s. The expanded casino was used as a British military hospital in World War I then became the playground for the 1920s international jet set. The present casino was rebuilt in the 1950s in traditional Le Touquet style replacing the 1927 building. It particularly attracted the British whose gambling was restricted to member-only casinos at home. Ian Fleming used it as his model for Casino Royale, its high rollers as rich as the international set who frequented the gaming tables of the past.

Kiosk Serge Gainsbourg

Hidden in the Parc des Pins, the little music pavilion was opened in 1924 at the height of the roaring 20s. Used today by small bands during the summer festival season, it was renamed the Kiosk Serge Gainsbourg in 2001. The French singer-songwriter began his career as a crooner in Le Touquet and composed and first played one of his most famous song, Le Poinçonneur des Lilas, at the Club de la Forêt, now Le Flavio restaurant .

The Beach of le Touquet

Children build sandcastles, people walk their dogs along the 7 km-long stretch of golden sand, and in February, the famous Enduropale race sees some 1,000 motorbikes stream along the beach and through the dunes.

Sand yachting on the Opal Coast

Follow in the path of Louis Blériot who accelerated along the beach at Le Touquet in his aeroplage (beach plane) in 1910. A new sport was born though it wasn’t until the 1930s that Henry Demoury was renting out the land yachts he had built. You can learn the techniques to get you up to speed at the Base Nautique Sud and get some idea of the skill involved at the annual Blériot Cup held in May organised by the Blériot Club, which holds the honour of being the first char à voile club in the world.

Sand yacthing – Le Touquet © AS Flament

Le Touquet golf resort © Opengolfclub

Canche Nature Park

The park stretches over 42 hectares of protected dunes, pine trees and sandy beaches at the north tip of Le Touquet. Three walking routes wind through the park while a boardwalk leads to the observatory. Migratory birds like the nightjar, snipe and oyster catchers fly overhead; mammals and small creatures from wild boar to the common toad make the park their permanent home. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the occasional seal finding its way along the coast.

Le Touquet Golf Resort

Built in 1904, the Golf de la Forêt was from the start one of the best courses in Europe. It’s a 9-hole course, set among the dunes and forests, one of 3 golf courses in the resort. Le Manoir Hotel, just on the edge of the forest is clubby and very British.

Iconic Places to visit in Le Touquet

If you only have a short time, don’t miss these.

Museum – Le Touquet © Jean-David HESTIN

The Le Touquet Museum

Housed in the impressive Way Side villa built for a doctor in 1925 by Henri-Léon Bloch, the art collections of the Musée du Touquet-Paris-Plage cover the late nineteenth century to the present day. Unique to the museum, around 300 works from 1880 to 1914 show the Étaples post-Impressionist school. The works were produced by the 200 painters who flocked to the Opal coast from England, Germany, the USA, Australia and Scandinavia. Attracted by the seascapes, the clear luminescent light and the charming details of local life, their images run from intimate still lives to scenes where families, the women in long billowing skirts, stroll along the sandy beach. Black-and-white and sepia photographs depict major mid-20th century artists like Picasso and Cocteau and the celebrities such as Marcel Pagnol who flocked to the fashionable resort.

The Covered Market

In the Art Deco Marché couvert , stalls in the Poissonnerie section offer fish fresh off the local boats; elsewhere cheeses, vegetables and seasonal fruits vie for your attention. Designed by Henri-Léon Bloch and built between 1927 and 1932, this is the place where locals buy their preserves, local cheeses like the strong smelling Maroilles, strawberries in the spring and leeks and parsnips in winter. Visitors look through the books, clothes, linen tea towels and soaps in the stalls that spill out onto the surrounding spaces. Every Thursday and Saturday .

The Canche lighthouse

Originally two lighthouses constructed in the 1950s guarded this dangerous coastal stretch but they were destroyed by bombing in World War II. The present 57-metre high octagonal brick tower opened in 1951 by which time the lighthouse had been surrounded by the rapidly growing town. Climb the 274 steps to the top for a view over the elegant villas and the woods and dunes of the sparkling Opal coastline. On a clear day you can see north towards Calais, south to the Normandy cliffs, east to Montreuil and beyond and west to the white cliffs of Dover.

Lighthouse – Le Touquet © AS Flament

Town centre – Le Touquet © Yannick Cadart-CD62

Le Touquet is a shopper’s paradise. Don’t miss the covered market for fruit, vegetables, household goods and a great atmosphere. The surrounding streets house plenty of small antiques shops and homeware boutiques to help furnish the town’s gracious villas; top food boutiques cater to every taste.

The shops are clustered around the network of streets in the centre, with rue Saint-Jean taking the prize. For good leather handbags, gifts, watches from the big French names from Lancel to Longchamp, try La Mascotte in rue St Jean .

Upmarket souvenirs are on offer at the Boutique de Melanie in rue de Moscou which sells the officially branded and produced Le Touquet items. With an oriental influence in its range of homewares, it’s also a great place to get unusual Christmas decorations if you’re in the town in winter.

Beny Boutique in rue de Londres specialises in chic items that will definitely give you the French touch, like the iconic metal egg basket that every kitchen should have. There’s also a good selection of brocante objects, from vintage coat hangers to small wooden tables.

Touquet Antic Garden in rue de Metz spills out into a courtyard with an inspiring jumble of antique urns, lamps, iron wall pieces and the odd rusty bicycle.

There’s another good collection of rural chic items at Abaca. Everything at this mix of café and boutique is organic, fair trade or from artisans, from tea, coffee and drinks to odd shaped wooden cutting boards, cushions, baskets, vases and more. And everything is for sale, so if you fancy your chair, just buy it.

Food shopping

Tea Together in Avenue Georges Besse was started by an English couple in the 90s. Now it’s run by their son who continues the tradition of making jam from organic fruit, marmalades and honey, while also stocking ketchups and mustards from specialist suppliers. No need to go top hotels they supply like the Dorchester Hotel’s 45 Pak Lane for their summer pudding jam; buy it here.

Salted butter or pecan nut biscuits, ginger confit and more can be bought individually or in attractive packets at La Manufacture du Touquet in rue Saint-Louis – and you can watch the specialist artisan producers making them.

Elizabeth’s Tea Rooms in rue de Metz is as English as the name implies. Just the place for those on a nostalgic journey who come here for the scones, lemon curd, fairy cakes and sausage rolls.

You can’t miss Au Chat Bleu in rue Saint-Jean with its distinctive blue and white awning and famous graphic of a cat with chocolate in its mouth. Since 1912 the shop has been making chocolates with gold leaf, chocolates flavoured with pistachio, orange, ginger, plus crystallized fruits of the sort that great aunts used to give at Christmas (but so much better here). 

Chocolat Beussent Lachelle is a small chain of top chocolate shops in France. The bitter dark granache is irresistible…along with the bars of black chocolate from Tanzania beautifully packaged and the large selection of chocolate treats.

Perch at the oyster bar at Chez Perard in rue de Metz for a quick lunch, or buy your own crustaceans at the fish counter next door where you can also stock up on dishes of langoustines bouillabaisse or paella to take away.

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Base Nautique Sud

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Description of Base Nautique Sud

Base Nautique Sud invites you to come and try sand yachting in Le Touquet ! Go as fast as the wind on the fine sandy beaches offered by the club. In an incomparable natural space, you will have the opportunity to discover and improve your skills in sand yachting. The club offers you several options according to your wishes:

• Improvement
• Adult and junior courses (11 – 14 years old)
• Sports training

All in a fun and friendly spirit. Please note that the club team is led by Bertrand Lambert, 5 times world champions and holder of the speed record in sand yachting ! Do not hesitate to come and get to know them, or to contact them via a free, no-obligation information request for any questions. Base Nautique Sud , the spirit of sand yachting for wind lovers!

Reviews of Base Nautique Sud

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Review translated from French Excellent welcome, Nath and JP very professional and super nice. Nice try for a first, little wind at Force 5/6 on the final downwind sprint, great. See you next in development. Thank you for your business sense too, truncated session, price as well.

Review translated from French Very professional and friendly team ...

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YUMPING TRUST

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• 5 things to do in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage
• Things to do
• A different kind of weekend in the city

The seaside resort of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage  is famous for its natural sites and for its combination of dynamism and timeless charm has always had strong ties with Britain . Part of its fame is down to an Englishman, Sir John Whitby, who helped develop the resort in the 1880s.

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage is the perfect place to relax and recharge your batteries while enjoying a lively resort with a wide range of activities . To make the most of your stay in Le Touquet, read our five must-dos for the ‘Pearl of the Opal Coast’.

01. Get a breath of fresh air on the beaches

With almost seven miles of coastline , Le Touquet-Paris-Plage offers an opaline sea as far as the eye can see and forms the ideal playground for an array of outdoor activities. Thanks to its breezy weather, one of the resort’s main activities is sand-yachting , with several competitions held here every year. The resort’s two nautical centres, La Baie de Canche and La Manche Bertrand Lambert , both also offer other nautical activities such as surfing, sea-wading, waterskiing, windsurfing and wakeboarding .

• Try sand yachting at Le Touquet

02. Enjoy an active paradise

A stroll to the Canche estuary may well reward you with the chance to spot seals , and there are also many  cycle tracks along the coast and past the dunes, or in the calm of Le Touquet Paris-Plage’s pine forest. You can easily rent bikes in La Baleine Royale or one of the many other hire outlets in the resort. Why not go for a run along the beach and feel the soft touch of fine sand under your feet ? You’ll probably meet sand yachters taking over the beaches as soon as the wind rises. Then there’s the chance to end your day in style with a horse-ride on the beach while soaking up the last rays of sunshine. Tennis, soccer, hockey, athletics … There’s always something to do at this ‘ Sports Heaven ’!

• Learn more about the Sport Heaven

03. Challenge yourself at Le Touquet Golf Resort

Voir cette publication sur Instagram   Une publication partagée par Le Touquet Golf Resort (@golf_du_touquet)

Offering an unforgettable golfing experience in a fantastic setting, this globally renowned course ranked among the top 100 best resorts in the world and the top 20 in Europe last year. Located between dunes and forest, it has three circuits: Le Manoir (9 holes; easy), La Forêt (18 holes; intermediate) and La Mer (18 holes; advanced). Named the best links course in France , the legendary La Mer was designed by British golf architects Harry Colt and Charles Hugh Alison in the 1930s. Recently redesigned, it offers breathtaking views from the heart of the dunes.

After a day full of birdies and swings, the three-star Le Manoire Hôtel and its gourmet restaurant provide the perfect place to recuperate and refuel.

• Discover the Le Touquet Golf Resort

04. Make the most of local produce

All that activity will leave you hungry – and happily Le Touquet-Paris-Plage is packed with great places to eat , including the many brasseries of Rue Saint-Jean – all convivial places to watch World Cup games. The resort’s 70-plus restaurants – some, including Le Pavillon , listed by the Michellin Guide – include something everyone will find to their taste. Don’t miss the iconic fish soup at Chez Perard .

And if you’re self-catering here, gather the fresh ingredients you need at the central indoor market , a listed monument where locals sell spanking-fresh seafood, lush fruits, tasty cheeses and more every Thursday and Saturday morning.

• Taste the fish soup at Chez Pérard

05. Dive into the historic glamour of the Casino Barrière

The ‘ casino de la forêt ’ (‘forest cathedral’) was created in 1907. Having started life as a castle in the late 1800s, and with an interlude as a military hospital for British soldiers during World War I, it became France’s most successful casino in 1927. As gambling was forbidden in England during the inter-war period, British people came in huge numbers to play in Europe’s most fashionable resort, and it’s particularly famous for having inspired Ian Fleming while he was writing Casino Royale.

• Enjoy your evening at the Casino

Voir cette publication sur Instagram   Une publication partagée par Resort Barrière Le Touquet (@letouquet.barriere)

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Etaples Millitary cemetery less than 10 minutes from Le Touquet – once a World War I military base camp and a hospital, now the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in France.

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Le Touquet Paris Plage - The star Resort of northern France

Discover upon arrival in Le Touquet an unusual forest landscape built of large residences surrounded by vegetation. Houses and green spaces alike are remarkably maintained. Wide sidewalks allow bicycles and cyclists to wander around quiet streets leading to the city centre. The waterfront is very lively on sunny days , strollers can enjoy the very large seawall, and vast car parks complete the set. One can only regret that the buildings built on the waterfront do not fit in with the landscape and only leave small room to the few beautiful homes "Belle Époque", which survived amidst more modern constructions.

Le Touquet Beach with numerous events and sand promenade

A few beautiful houses on the seafront in Le Touquet

Le Touquet Beach is beautiful; it is huge at low tide .  Strollers are fascinated by the waves at high tide in windy conditions. Bathing huts with colourful doors integrated in the seawall go along the beach without altering the landscape.

Bathing huts on the beach of the nautical center

Many sand yachts await fans when the sea retreats. In the direction of the northern part of the beach and up the seawall, the Aqualud awaits you in place of the old pool destroyed in 1985, as it was non compliant and too difficult to maintain, and of which remains the old diving board integrated into the new construction.

The Aqualud center

Aquatic Games on North Beach in Le Touquet

Sand yachting: the local sport on the beaches of northern France

If one wishes to go to the city centre, one can cross the famous Rue Saint-Jean , which is very crowded, and lined with chic boutiques and restaurants and cafes. Some perpendicular streets are also very lively.

Rue Saint-Jean: lots of shops

However, if one is looking for some peace and quiet, one won’t have far to go, the side streets are nice as beautiful Belle Époque residences are located there. These are very colourful buildings with wood painted balconies, cornices, and mosaic mouldings. One must remember that the Belle Époque period stretched from the late nineteenth century to the First World War, when the nations of current Europe were at peace and knew social, economic and technological progress.

The indoor market

The small town has a remarkable historical heritage ; the indoor market is classified, as a dozen of other buildings, in the inventory of historical monuments. It is held twice a week on Thursday and Saturday mornings, and on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays in summer. One can find local produce, fish, of course, and clothing and other goods there.

Le Touquet post office

The post office, painted yellow above the ground floor , is unusual with its bell tower, the town hall is an imposing building in Anglo-Norman style with a clock tower, the palace of Europe and its gardens are home to the tourism office, the Westminster Hotel in bricks and white stone are in Art Deco style, and one can always stay there. Finally, go to the lighthouse, which is surrounded by a square, and the Maison des Phares. It replaces since 1951 the two former lighthouses of Le Touquet destroyed during the Second World War. The caretaker’s house was spared, and this is the original building that one can see now.

Bay of Canche - Le Touquet

If one leaves the center and goes to the seafront, one can reach the Bay of Canche by the dunes at high tide and by the beach at low tide up north. One will come across the nautical base and the equestrian complex, large area where clubs, the racecourse, carousels and stables follow one another.

The spa center in Le Touquet

If one goes south, one can notice the curious architecture of the spa center , building opened in 1974 with a saltwater pool topped by a pyramid-shaped roof.

The southern beach of Le Touquet : a wild beach close to animations

The beach is completely wild at the spa center. It makes a stark contrast close to the city center. Dunes Beach (in the north towards Bay of Canche) is also very wild. A pedestrian cornice leads around it.

A stay at Le Touquet is both a stroll down memory lane thanks to the preserved architecture in the center, a disappointment in the face of the waterfront disfigured by buildings of debatable aesthetics, a bucolic walk in an inhabited forest, and a wonder when discovering the sea and the huge beach. Moreover, there are many activities; athletes will be initiated to sand yachting, horseback riding, golf, tennis, etc. Art lovers will visit the galleries downtown and the Museum of Le Touquet, which introduces modern and contemporary art exhibitions. Not to mention welfare with the spa center, which welcomes visitors for the day, for a longer stay.

There are many seaside resorts close to Le Touquet . Berck sur Mer near Bay of Authie and Picardy are worth a visit with its lively waterfront. Merlimont, Sainte-Cécile-Plage and Stella-Plage are human-scale family-oriented resorts. Further north, one can enjoy the seaside resort of Hardelot , which looks like Le Touquet but is quieter and less urbanized.

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Sand yachting in Le Touquet

Between dunes and sea, discover the tremendous sensations that sand yachting offers in the immensity of fine sand of the beach of Le Touquet.

This discipline is accessible to all can be practiced as of the age of 8. The team of qualified instructors of this school offers sessions adapted to each level for the discovery of the joys of piloting.

The lessons are adapted to the level and wishes of the trainees. 5-day courses are also organized for young people (under 12) and adults throughout the year.

• Accessible to everyone from the age of 8
• Lessons from 1:30 to 2 hours
• Combinations and helmets provided
• Club House sea views, changing rooms and showers
• Open all year

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Travel , North

15 best things to do in le touquet, france.

Are you visiting Northern France soon and looking for the best things to do in Le Touquet? We are here to help!

Le Touquet is a charming town on the coast of northern France, near the city of Calais.

It’s particularly popular with tourists and for good reason. There’s something for everyone in this pretty town.

From the museums and churches to the fabulous beaches and restaurants, Le Touquet is a true little piece of heaven.

So if you’re looking for ideas on what to do during your visit, here are 15 of the best things in Le Touquet.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!

Table of Contents

Relaxing at Le Touquet Beach

One of the most popular things to do in Le Touquet is to spend the day at the beach.

The town’s main beach, Le Touquet Beach, is simply beautiful. It’s perfect for a relaxing day by the sea with friends or family.

It’s located between the town centre and the Canche Bay nature park. Here you will discover 12 kilometres of sandy beach. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches in Northern France and on the Opal Coast.

There are many things you can do on this beach but if you are visiting in summer, one of the most obvious activities is swimming and relaxing.

There are many colourful beach huts along the beach as well as several beach bars.

PRO TIP: There are large carparks right by the beach but you will have to pay for these. If you are willing to walk 10 minutes, you will find free on-street parking in the more residential parts of the town.

Sand Yachting on the beach

If you are looking for a more active thing to do on the beach, why not try sand yachting? It’s a very popular activity in Le Touquet and such a unique thing to do!

Sand yachting is basically like sailing but on sand instead of water. You can hire a sand yacht from one of the many companies in Le Touquet.

Most of them will give you a short lesson on how to control the yacht before setting you off. It’s great fun and a wonderful way to see the beaches of Le Touquet from a different perspective.

Roam around the town centre

Le Touquet’s town centre is lovely and definitely worth exploring. It’s very pedestrian-friendly with plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants to discover.

The houses are incredibly cute and unique.

Since the town centre is quite small, you can easily explore it on foot. Take some time to do what the French call “flâner” which means relaxing while strolling around.

The Rue Saint-Jean is the main street in Le Touquet but make sure to also spend some time in the smaller streets where you can find unique pieces of architecture.

There are also some beautiful parks and gardens in the town centre, such as the parc de l’Estuaire.

Go to the covered market

If you are in town on a Thursday, Saturday or Monday, make sure to visit the covered market of Le Touquet.

It’s located in the town centre and is one of the cutest markets in Northern France. There are stalls selling fresh produce, cheese, meat, fish, and much more.

Musée du Touquet

If you are looking for some cheap things to do in Le Touquet, visiting Le Touquet museum will be an excellent option.

It’s located in the town centre and is very easy to find. The museum is housed in a beautiful building which used to be a private mansion. There are gorgeous timber frames as well.

It’s a nice museum to visit because you will find gorgeous examples of local paintings and photos.

The most remarkable collection in the museum is the colonie d’Etaples which consists of 300 paintings made by French painters who used to go to Le Touquet and the Opal Coast.

Check out the Villa Monéjan

This one is a bit of a unique site since it’s not a landmark you can visit but it’s still interesting to mention it.

The Villa Monéjan has become famous since 2017 the most famous house in Le Touquet. Why? Because it belongs to Brigitte Macron, France’s first lady.

If you follow a bit of French politics, you may know that Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, love Le Touquet and they spend a great deal of time here.

The Villa Monéjan was actually the holiday house where Brigitte Macron used to spend her holidays as a child.

It now becomes to her and the couple is known for visiting often.

They even came here to vote for the presidential election in April 2022.

The house is located at the very top of the Rue Saint-Jean, near the lighthouse and in what is nicknamed the golden triangle of Le Touquet.

You can easily get there on foot and admire it from the outside.

Visiting Le Touquet Lighthouse

Le Touquet Lighthouse is one of the most famous landmarks in town. It’s located at the very top of the Rue Saint-Jean and offers stunning views over the town and beaches.

It was built in the 40s and is 45 metres high.

The lighthouse is open to visitors and there is a small museum inside which tells the story of how it was built and operated over the years. You can also join one of the local guided tours for 6 euros.

There are 274 steps to the top. From there you will discover breath-taking views over Le Touquet, the Opal Coast and can see as far as Normandy !

Casino Barrière Le Touquet

Want to have some fun? Then head to the Casino Barrière Le Touquet.

It’s located in the town centre and is a beautiful building. You will find all sorts of the table and slot games as well as a bar and a restaurant.

It’s a fun place to visit in the evening if you want to have some fun and enjoy some games.

Horse Riding in Le Touquet

Le Touquet is also an excellent place if you love horse riding. It’s one of the rare places where you get to ride on the beach.

Since Le Touquet Beach is so wide and long, it makes the perfect place for a horse riding trek. It’s so much fun and the scenery is second to none.

You can book your discovery or sporty trek directly from the horse riding centre, the Centre Équestre Du Touquet .

The treks can be 1 or 2 hours but also half days, full days and even full weekends so no matter what your level is, you will find something that will suit you.

Visiting the Canche Bay Nature Park

The Canche Bay Nature Park is located just outside of Le Touquet and is a great place to spend a day if you love nature.

This nature park is located at the mouth of the river Canche and is a true piece of heaven.

There are hiking trails, bird watching, and even canoeing and kayaking.

You will find several easy walking trails that will allow you to walk around the dunes and discover this beautiful environment.

The most popular ones are:

• Le Chemin des Molières – 3.2km return
• La Butte aux Signaux – 2.2km loop
• La Boucle du Tadorne – 2.2km loop

It’s called parc naturel de la Baie de Canche in French and most of the information available online is in French so if you have any doubts about the activities you can do there, head to the visitor centre of Le Touquet or Etaples.

The staff will be more than happy to answer all your questions.

Also, don’t hesitate to ask them about their themed guided tours of the nature park. They are offered during the high season and include 2 to 3 hours of a fun guided tour with a naturalist.

Laby’Parc Touquet

Laby’Parc Touquet is an outdoor adventure park that is perfect for a family day out.

It only takes 7 minutes to get there.

There are over 25 challenges spread across different courses. The courses are designed for different age groups (4-7 years old, 8-12 years old, and 13 years old and up) so everyone can have fun.

Some of the courses are in the trees and include zip-lines, rope bridges, and Tarzan swings.

You will also find some water activities with slides and water balls.

Basically, it’s the perfect thing to do in Le Touquet with kids.

Parc Bagatelle

Parc Bagatelle is another amusement park near Le Touquet.

It’s located near the town of Berck, which is about 20 minutes from Le Touquet.

This is another great activity for families near Le Touquet. You will find all sorts of roller coasters including for younger kids.

It’s also a cheaper option compared to Disneyland Paris or the Parc Astérix (both are near Paris).

PRO TIP: Book your ticket in advance on the official website , it’s a bit cheaper that at the gate.

Discover the local restaurants and cafes

If you want to discover more typical French delicacies, Le Touquet will be the perfect place to do so.

The Opal Coast is home to some of the best restaurants and there are loads of dishes to try.

Seafood is big here and if you want to try something a bit unique, opt for the mussels with Maroilles cheese sauce.

This is a cheese from Northern France and it got pretty famous in recent years because it was featured in the movie Bienvenue Chez Les Ch’tis (Welcome to the Sticks).

You will also find loads of local snacks like chocolate or orangettes .

If you head to Rue de Metz or Rue Saint-Jean, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to food. You can get a delicious meal in one of the local restaurants or even bring back some foodie souvenirs that you can buy in the boutiques.

Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church

This is one of the most beautiful landmarks in Le Touquet and it’s definitely worth a visit.

The church was built at the beginning of the 20th century and it’s located on Boulevard Daloz.

It is quite an important church because it was the first one to be dedicated to Joan D’Arc.

As you may know, she was burnt at the stake and was only recognised for what she really was centuries later.

This church in Le Touquet was the first one to be dedicated to her and that’s what makes it such an important landmark.

Another important one (and the biggest) is the one in Rouen but it was built much later.

Walking along the promenade

If you want to admire the beach in all its beauty, you can also head to the promenade (called Esplanade) and walk along the beach.

If you have some roller skates, it will be the perfect place to take them out.

The promenade is long and flat so it’s particularly practical. It’s also very pretty at sunset.

Le Touquet is a charming town with plenty to offer tourists. Whether you’re looking for outdoor activities, amusement parks, or restaurants and cafes, Le Touquet has something for everyone. So if you’re planning on visiting this pretty town on the coast of France, be sure to add these activities to your list!

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Things to do in Le Touquet: Sand Yachting

There are all kinds of things to do in Le Touquet, but for those in search of an adrenaline rush, sand yachting on its amazing beaches is a must.

• 00:00, 31 May 2009
• Updated 09:13, 20 Jul 2015

First I have to put on a very unattractive squeaky plastic boiler suit. It's set off with an equally unalluring and uncomfortable crash helmet.

But now I'm all set to go sand-yachting. At least I will be after some instruction.

"Put your feet on the bar and don't take them off whatever," says my teacher Jeff in his thick French accent. "If you take them off you will break your legs." Crikey!

Then I learn that if I want to go left I must push my right foot and if I want to go right then the left foot does the work. At the same time - thank goodness I'm a woman and can multi-task - I have a rope attached to the sail to deal with.

If I pull it tight I will go fast, and I just let it out to slow down. And if I want to stop? "Just turn into the wind and let go of the rope. Simple."

Simple! Jeff perches precariously on the side of my one-man contraption - a go-kart with a sail - as a ferocious wind off the sea at Le Touquet slams into my sail and we're off... at a rate of knots.

Incompetence and terror make me pull the rope too hard, and only Jeff's weight anchors the wheels on terra firma as we hurtle across the huge expanse of sand. I'm hanging on to the rope for dear life so Jeff has to coax me into letting it out slowly and suddenly I seem to have some kind of control.

Jeff leaps off and I'm going solo. Wow! I really think I've got the hang of it.

I'm supposed to follow a course round some traffic cones - I only knock down two before my confidence soars and I scream in exhilaration.

Apparently the world record sand-yachting speed of nearly 95mph was achieved in Le Touquet. I'm sure I've just beaten it.

It's an experience not to be missed, especially as you can learn to do it in a matter of minutes (just under £40 for a two-hour lesson).

But with so many things to do in Le Touquet you don't have to be an adrenaline junkie to enjoy a weekend in this delightful French resort. Earlier in the day I took a cookery lesson with the incorrigible Jean Marc Carelle, 43, owner of local restaurant Ricochet.

Le Touquet Restaurant

He's very much a dip-your-fingers-in-thefood-to-taste-it kind of chef, he talks 19 to the baker's dozen and is full of fascinating stories about his life which he regales in excellent English with a permanent cheeky grin on his face.

As we learned how to make tomato condiment and caesar dressing to accompany deep-fried squid, along with Thai chicken and chocolate soufflé, he entertained us with stories about his other passion, motocross, and how he's always injuring himself. Indeed he clutched his side from time to time - because of two broken ribs.

Last year he broke nine!

And he told us how he learned his Thai cookery from a woman who taught him when he couldn't move for three months because his leg was broken in "10,000 places"...

Thankfully his restaurant and cookery classes (£44pp for two hours including lunch) are far more successful than his motocross, and I can tell you his cuisine is to die for. Indeed, I'm likely to go off pop after all the eating I did on this weekend break. The restaurants I tried were all truly wonderful. If you're a dessert devotee, then you must go to Restaurant Le Jardin ( www.restaurant-lejardin.com ).

Order a creme brûlée and you'll get three, choose the apple tart and it will cover your (huge) plate and if, like me, you go for the chocolate option be prepared to eat three scoops of ice cream, chocolate brownies AND chocolate mousse.

Eating out here is not cheap with the exchange rate against us - expect to pay around £26pp for a three-course meal. But the portion sizes are so generous you need to eat only once a day. Unless you're me, of course.

Westminster Le Touquet

Indulge yourself further at the new spa at the Hotel Westminster ( www.westminster.fr ). I can recommend a massage - the girls use a very gentle but effective technique. If "le shopping" is more your bag, you won't be disappointed. On Saturdays and Thursdays (and Mondays in peak season) the town centre is taken over by a huge market. The food section is especially tantalising.

But one of my favourite shops is Le Marche de la Porcelaine, which sells white chinaware. You'll find every size and shape of plate, bowl and dish you can possibly think of and many more besides.

I came home with two butter dishes, a milk jug, two pairs of coffee cups on a heart-shaped saucer and a box of 12 glasses - all for the grand total of £22.

There are specialist shops offering cheese and chocolate, homeware outlets full of quirky ideas and a choice of fashion stores - some trendy, some dubious.

I take my purchases back to the comfortable Hotel Bristol, my base for the weekend. It's just up the road from the sea, less than a minute's walk from the shops and market, and ideally placed for bars and restaurants too.

I end my weekend with a guided cycle tour (£4.40, kids and concessions £2.20, under-fives free). We ride past the equestrian centre and the tennis club and whizz along roads lined with historic houses. Then it's down to the seafront where we stop to watch the sand-yachters.

They're all out to beat my record.

What's the deal?

Le Touquet is just an hour's drive from Calais. Go to www.letouquet.com for details on the resort and www.pas-de-calais.com for info on the region.

Hotel Bristol ( www.hotelbristol.fr ) has rooms from £40pp when two share, breakfast £10.

Cross with P& O Ferries ( www.poferries.com ) for the day from £30 return and from £60 return for longer stays.

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

Inspiration

Northern France Nature and Outdoor Activities Coastal

Reading time: 0 min Published on 15 March 2024, updated on 1 June 2024

Située sur la Côte d’Opale, dans le Pas-de-Calais, à 2 heures de Paris, Lille et Londres, la station balnéaire du Touquet-Paris-Plage séduit par son style de vie, à la fois familial et festif. Des années 30 qui ont façonné son identité, la station du Touquet-Paris-Plage a su garder toute l’élégance et un goût certain pour l’art de vivre. Notre sélection de 6 expériences à tester pour lâcher prise...

Feel Le Touquet-Paris-Plage with our top 5 sensory experiences…

See the panoramic views from the top of the 274-step spiral staircase in the lighthouse

Hear a vibrant show or concert at the Casino Barrière

Smell pine trees on the 103-year-old La Forêt golf course meanders through the forest

Taste the nutty flavour of a Ratte du Touquet potato, grown on the Opal Coast and a favourite among several Michelin-starred chefs including Alexandre Gautier and Christian Germain

Touch the helm of a sand yacht as you scud across the beach from the Blériot Club, which offers two-hour introductory sessions.

Situated on the Opal Coast in Pas-de-Calais just two hours from Paris, Lille and London, the seaside resort of Touquet-Paris-Plage has plenty to offer visitors throughout the year, thanks to its superb setting as well as its high-quality shops and restaurants adapted to the needs of its discerning clientèle. You can't help but be taken in by all that Touquet-Paris-Plage has to offer; it caters for all, with entertainment for families as well as fabulous nightlife. There are guided architectural bike tours and horse rides on the beach… and how about climbing the lighthouse to enjoy the fantastic views? Sports fans can indulge their passions in Le Touquet , with its three superb golf courses amid the forest and dunes, 33 tennis courts, a fully renovated equestrian centre and sand-yachting on the vast sandy beach. Or simply sunbathe or have fun building sandcastles. At sunrise, what better way to start the day than with a stroll through the Canche Bay Nature Park? Here you can hear the breeze through the grass and the waves softly crashing in the distance. Watch the rays lighting up the Opal Coast and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Buy a few treats from one of Le Touquet’s 136 boutiques and sip a café crème on the harbour front. If you wander through the market you can take in a whole host of local produce, from jars of honey to the famous Ratte du Touquet potato. There’s a wide choice of restaurants in Le Touquet – most overlooking the sea – and the resort buzzes with life after dark with bars, clubs and casinos available to entertain you till the early hours. There are regular art and music festivals in Le Touquet as well as international sporting events, shows, concerts and exhibitions. Every summer the resort organises a host of free shows as part of its children’s festival; young visitors are entertained by a succession of storytellers, magicians, puppeteers, stilt-walkers and jugglers as part of these performances and interactive events.

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• TWITTER - Le Touquet-Paris-Plage
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Astrid's Guide to Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

Welcome to Le Touquet-Paris-Plage , where OUATE treatments have been designed and where you may have the chance to meet Astrid on her sand yacht! ⛵

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage beach hosts activities for children and adults that are as entertaining as they are sporty . 👪

An emblematic discipline of Le Touquet, sand yachting is an ancestral practice on the Côte d'Opale, and when the beach turns into a real race track, you are simply amazed. Notice to all sports enthusiasts , you will be amazed: witnessing the breathtaking speed of this little cart, which, propelled by a sail, advances according to the breath of the wind, is simply astonishing!

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage has other fun activities in store for you; so for those who have not yet had the opportunity to discover this exotic city, let yourself be guided by our favorite addresses and favorite activities.✨

Sleep and wake up in paradise

In the middle of a vast 6,000 m² park, a stone's throw from the town centre, Haec Cotia is a warm and refined guest house in the typical style of Le Touquet. As a family, you can opt for a suite or a family apartment. 👪

Les Tchanquées a bed&breakfast with swimming pool in a wooden architect's villa, it is an immersion in the heart of the forest of Le Touquet.

For adventurers, pitch your tent on Avenue de l'hippodrome and sleep under the stars at the   Motorhome .

At the Westminster 5-star hotel of Groupe Barrière, its art deco facade is an enchanting place. Located in the heart of the Pearl of the Côte d'Opale, it is a real jewel of Le Touquet.

Titillate your taste buds

The Pirate Beach   for a lunch with your feet in the sand, let yourself be carried away by the sound of the waves while the children build their most beautiful castles. 🏖

O'Safran   for the live show of surfers 🏄 ♀️ and kitesurfers! (near south nautical base)

The North Base   to admire a breathtaking 180° view of the Baie de la Canche. 😎

Perard   essential address for its seafood. An opportunity to introduce children to brown crab!

Enjoy the best sweets 🧁🍦

The delicious ice creams   Koko a, choose as you wish from the 101 perfumes offered by this Master Glacier 🍧 who has been offering unique perfumes for more than 42 years. 🍡

Appointment at the Sweets   who will prepare the best pancakes for you. We recommend the salted butter caramel one, just extraordinary!

For lovers of good chocolate, Le Chat Bleu has been the emblematic chocolate maker since 1912, it is particularly known for its "mini blue cats" which Astrid loves.

For sports enthusiasts, water sports with guaranteed sensations!

Kite surfing, sand yachting, kayaking, paddleboarding… The Touquettois wind will instill momentum to enjoy activities around the beauty offered by the Baie de la Canche.

For the more down to earth

For riders,   horseback riding 🏇 around the bay of Canche, in the forest and in the middle of the dunes will perhaps give you the chance to see   the seals of Authie Bay!   Exhilarating sensations of freedom guaranteed when you gallop on the beach.

For lovers of   golf , its hilly terrain of pines and facing the dunes overlooking the English Channel offers courses that will take your breath away. 🏌🏻‍♂️

For fans of   tennis , hit some balls at the Le Touquet club where Suzanne Lenglen, the first French tennis player, had her first successes.

Culture too!

Nestled in the heart of the forest and housed in a 1930s residence, where nearly 800 works by artists from the region are exhibited, the   Le Touquet-Paris-Plage Museum   houses paintings, photographs, drawings and sculptures from the 19th century to the present day.

Introduce your children to the joys of seaside activities

The beach club   Joy of Living   welcomes children from 2 1/2 years old to 16 years old and offers various entertainment and activities directed under the leadership of cheerful instructors: free games in the club structures, work of   motor skills   through a bit of gym,   sport   in the morning for the older ones…

Souvenirs to take home

Of course   OUATE care products   which you will find in several pharmacies in Le Touquet (Pharmacie des 4 saisons and Pharmacie de la Côte d'Opale) but also at the Tourist Office shop and at Petit Cube.

For more details, click here

How to get there?

From Paris: 3h by car or 2h07 by train from Gare du Nord. 🚂 By car from Bordeaux: 7h, Lyon: 6h30, Strasbourg: 5h50.

How long to stay there to enjoy

A weekend, a week or a lifetime! 🥰

A weekend or a holiday in Le Touquet Paris-Plage is a destination   discovering a wild, exotic and captivating region   which will, we guarantee, delight young and old adventurers alike.

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Do you have your sea legs? Le Touquet is a watersports heaven that invites you to take a deep breath of sea air. No less than two watersports centres attract both curious beginners and seasoned seafarers throughout the year, for a whole range of activities. Follow the guide!

As the sun comes up, a thousand colourful reflections dance on the waters of Canche Bay. This choice natural setting is where you’ll find one of Le Touquet’s watersports centres.

Canche Bay watersports centre

If you want to obtain your coastal boating licence or simply rent out a kayak, canoe, paddleboard, giant paddleboard, pedalo, catamaran, sailing dinghy or windsurf board, the Canche Bay watersports centre is the place to be.

The site is particularly family-friendly, as children can partake in many watersports, such as sailing in Optismist dinghies, for example.

The instructors also organise guided kayak trips for an energising and totally safe exploration of Canche Bay. The experience is well worth the effort: once you reach the main arm of the river, you’ll let yourself glide to the sea, before returning to the watersports centre with the help of the marine currents. An excursion full of discoveries, contemplative moments and, with a little luck, some wonderful encounters. Indeed, Canche Bay is home to a few seals who enjoy basking on the sand banks at low tide. Not forgetting the many birds that come to nest in the area during the migratory period. Click here for further information about Canche Bay Watersports Centre

Bertrand Lambert Manche watersports centre

Located at the southern end of the beach, the Bertrand Lambert Manche watersports centre focusses more specifically on sand-yachting.

Introductory paddleboarding, surfing and kitesurfing sessions are also available for adrenalin seekers who are keen to ride the wind and the waves. Le Touquet-Paris-Plage is indeed an ideal surf spot that’s very accessible even to beginners.

Sea-wading, which involves walking along the coast but in the water, is another option at the Manche watersports centre. Suitable for anyone aged 16 years and up, sea-wading is an excellent activity for cardio-vascular health, balance and muscle tone. Enthusiasts take note: for safety reasons, this physically challenging sport is done only in groups. Don’t forget your wetsuit and water shoes for maximum comfort.

A sand yacht to harness the wind

Exploring the dunes

Seashore magic

Also…

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Discover Le Touquet: A coastal Haven in Northern France

Last Updated:  23 November 2023

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage , often referred to as Le Touquet, is a picturesque coastal town located in France, less than 3 hours from Paris, Lille, Brussels and London. This charming destination, known for its sandy beaches, lush surroundings, and a wide array of activities, is a perfect retreat for travellers seeking a delightful blend of relaxation and adventure. In this article, we will  explore the wonders of Le Touquet  and its surroundings, as well as guide you to the best accommodation options in the area.

Unwind on the sandy shores

Le Touquet boasts expansive beaches that beckon visitors to relax and soak up the sun. The town's main beach, Plage du Touquet, is a golden stretch of sand that's ideal for leisurely strolls and sunbathing. Depending on the weather and the tides, the shallow waters make it perfect for families with children, offering safe and enjoyable swimming conditions. The beach also has amenities such as toilets, beach bars, kids' clubs, etc.

Sea front of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. Source: Depositphotos.com

Golfing paradise of Le Touquet

If you are an avid golfer, Le Touquet is the perfect place for you. The region is home to some of the finest golf courses in France. The renowned architect Harry Colt designed the Golf du Touquet and offers two stunning courses: La Forêt and La Mer. Golf enthusiasts can test their skills against the backdrop of dunes, forests and the rugged coastline, providing an exceptional golfing experience. There are other well-known golf courses in the surrounding area, such as Hardelot and Wimereux.

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage Golf © Floflo62 - licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Exploring nature in Le Touquet

An abundance of natural beauty surrounds Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. The nearby Baie de Canche is a protected natural area, teeming with wildlife, making it a fantastic spot for birdwatching and hiking. The Parc Naturel Régional des Caps et Marais d'Opale is also a short drive away and it is one of the most beautiful areas in Northern France. You will love this region for its authenticity and its diverse landscapes, including cliffs, wetlands and rolling hills.

Sand dunes of Le Touquet. Source: Depositphotos.com

Adventure beyond the Coast

While nature lovers will surely find what they are looking for, Le Touquet has a range of other activities. For those seeking adventure, you will love horseback riding along the beach, sand yachting, or even windsurfing. You can also explore the charming town on a bicycle, discovering its lovely French architecture, its quaint streets and lively markets.

Restaurants and cafés Source: Depositphotos.com

The picturesque centre of the resort. Source: Depositphotos.com

Accommodation in Le Touquet

The town offers diverse accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets. You will find luxury hotels such as the Hôtel Le Westminster, mid-range boutique hotels and holiday apartments, which are ideal for families and groups. You can also find the perfect accommodation near Le Touquet at the 4-star Evancy hotel residence in Camiers Sainte Cécile, which offers comfortable flats and a heated outdoor swimming pool.

Hotel Le Westminster Le Touquet © Lycoon - licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Whether you're looking for a romantic getaway, a family-friendly vacation, or a golfer's paradise, Le Touquet has something for everyone, promising unforgettable memories and experiences by the sea. It's a must-visit destination in northern France!

About the illustrations in the article

Most of the photos are ours (© French Moments). However, I have selected some photos (including the Featured Image of this article) from Depositphotos , a commercial platform that brings authors of high-quality licensed stock photos, graphics, vectors and videos together with appreciative buyers. 

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The Royal Picardy Hotel Le Touquet Paris-Plage

• Janine Marsh
• French Style , Nord-Pas de Calais

The incredible story of the biggest and most luxurious hotel in the world, built in France in the 1920s – a place so grand that the apartments in it had their own private swimming pools – it would go down in history long after it had disappeared…

I recently stayed at the lovely art deco style Westminster Hote l in Le Touquet Paris-Plage – a very swish place indeed. It is considered one of the grandest luxury hotels of the north of France, so I was intrigued when someone told me that there used to be a hotel in Le Touquet which in its day was even bigger and better. In fact it was in its day, the most luxurious hotel in the world.

The Royal Picardy Hotel, Le Touquet

Le Touquet became a magnet for the wealthy of the world, grand villas were built there, fabulous sports facilities, a race course, golf course, beach sports, this chic little resort was cutting edge gorgeous for its day. It was a prototype for resorts of the future – it was there that architects and designers tried out new ideas for hotels and facilities.

Royal families, Maharajas, politicians, Hollywood stars and millionaires – in those days, if you were famous or rich, then you stayed at Le Touquet which was in its heyday throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

And if you were disgustingly rich, you stayed at The Royal Picardy hotel.

The world’s most luxurious hotel

The Royal Picardy Hotel had 500 bedrooms. Every bedroom had a private bathroom, at a time when this was hardly heard of. Every room had a telephone in the rooms, the absolute last word in luxury in those days.

There were 120 lounges for guests.

A heated swimming pool and state of the art gym was available to the those who wanted to take a spot of exercise.

The hotel was 9 floors high, and in additionto the bars, restaurants, 120 lounges and 500 bedrooms – it also had  had 50 apartments.

Very nice, but not,  you might think, that luxurious.

But,  what if I told you that those 50 apartments were so large that every one of them had its own  swimming pool?! The apartments also had their own kitchen with rooms for the butler which of course one couldn’t live without. In fact the apartments had up to 10 rooms each, giving the hotel more than 1000 rooms which for that day and age was was quite unheard of, and made it the biggest, most hedonistic and luxurious hotel in the world.

The hotel of choice for the rich and famous

When The Royal Picardy opened in 1930 to great fanfare, the wealthy flocked to book rooms. This was the absolutely flavour du jour of the privileged classes from all around the world.

PG Wodehouse of Jeeves and Wooster fame rented a room there and wrote a book of short stories with Guy Plum – one of which was the basis for the Hollywood film “Anything Goes”. Cole Porter stayed at Le Royal Picardy and wrote the music for “Anything  Goes” – on the piano at the casino across the road. That casino was later to be the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s James Bond thriller Casino Royale.

Le Royal Picardy was a masterpiece of design based on plans by Louis Debrouwer and Pierre Drobrec. A mix of 15 th Century French and English Gothic, a bit of Norman and Flemish style thrown in for good measure. It was majestic, splendid and grandiose on a supersized scale. The developers named it Le Royal Picardy after a famous regiment in Louis XIV’s army and wall frescoes depicting their heroic actions were created in the hotel.

1200 workers from 87 trades toiled on the building.

But such an undertaking doesn’t come cheap. The developers overstretched their budget and when the financial crisis of 1929 took hold across the world the worst happened. Just one year after the hotel had opened in 1930 with such promise, the owners filed for bankruptcy and the world’s biggest and most luxurious hotel was closed.

The end of a hotel era

Le Royal Picardy was put up for sale. Six months later there was no interest in taking on a hotel which even full, would struggle to meet its costs. The owners decided the only way to recuperate some of the money was to re-open.

To everyone’s surprise it was a huge success. The rich and famous clamoured to enjoy the excesses of the legendary hotel. The Prince of Wales stayed there, American billionaires loved its excess, royal families of the East and Asia were at home in the opulent surroundings. It seemed as if The Royal Picardy would at last be able to achieve the heights of success it deserved. And for a few years this incredible hotel was the height of luxury and fame.

Alas, more bad news was to come. When war broke out, the hotel was commandeered by the German army. It was rumoured that Hitler held a conference there, and the hotel was bombed several times. After the war ended it was discovered that bunkers had been built in the 6 hectare private park and the beautiful state of the art heated swimming pool had mines floating in it.

Only 86 rooms remained of the original  more than 1000 rooms. The days of grandeur were lost forever and in 1951 the hotel closed. The town of Le Touquet purchased the ruins which were finally demolished in 1968. In its place a hotel school was built, perhaps a fitting end to the hotel that set the bar for all others to follow…

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