FranceNovember 29, 2019, by Maartje

The ultimate Little Escape that you didn't see coming: The French Opal Coast, or: Côte d'Opale

By the sea, Remote Places
France, November 29, 2019, by Maartje

The ultimate Little Escape that you didn't see coming: The French Opal Coast, or: Côte d'Opale

Côte d'Opale, that doesn't sound nearly as familiar as the Côte d'Azur or the Languedoc, does it? Well, we thought so too, but the Opal Coast, in neat Dutch that is, turns out to be more surprising and, above all, much closer than you thought. Not only close in terms of distance, but also in terms of being 'not in your system': it is the French coast directly below Belgium, where you will find cities such as Dunkirk, Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. Ooooowww there! Yes, there :). And, don't tell anyone, it is all year long refuge of many Parisians. Because it is so wonderfully undiscovered. Oops. Anyway, on to the Opal Coast, you can get there in no time and it is beautiful.

THE TOUQUET PARIS PLAGE

THE TOUQUET PARIS PLAGE

En The Touquet, a cozy little seaside resort, can also be found in Northern France on the Opal Coast. Ever heard of it? We can imagine that Le Touquet is known for its wide beach and its fun nightlife. Hard to miss is the Phare Le Touquet, a red brick lighthouse that you can enter/enter. If you do that, you will look out over the sea and the French landscape for miles (never boring). Then spot the covered market in Art Deco style: you can go shopping there tonight. But first to the beach, because that's what we came for. That beach is no less than 7 kilometers long and wonderfully wide. And because Le Touquet is less known to most tourists, it is nice and quiet and a wonderful place to discover. Moreover, everything is organised, fun and child-related too. You can go horse riding, play tennis, play waves and sand surfing (we'll come back to that later).

The lodges

The lodges

All nice and cozy, but of course you first want to know where you will be staying. Logically yes. And we have an answer: namely at one of Les Lodges. Then you will stay in one of the houses in the forest that gives Le Touquet its face, together with the extremely long and wide beach. Lovely houses (which you can also rent from private individuals) that are fully equipped (perfect for a couple, but certainly also with children) with a private terrace in the greenery from which you can easily walk to the beach. Exactly what we love about a France holiday! Le Lodges

Summer at Le Touquet Paris Plage

Summer at Le Touquet Paris Plage

Nice, a beach-do-nothing-book-reading holiday, a bit of shopping for a change (the center of Le Touquet is really nice, by the way), but still... Sometimes we also want to do something. To do it. One of the best things here is a horseback ride of one and a half hours. You will then, of course, cross the beach of Le Touquet (the view from the Bay of Canche is a picture-perfect), through the forests and the dunes. Fun for everyone (from 12 years). Here you can find all the info.

Or go 'sailing' on the sand. But yes. Surfing is of course also possible, but sand yachting is secretly much more fun (and also fun to try once, which often goes less well with surfing). You ride on a surfboard on wheels on the beach, which can sometimes go very fast. Of course also from 12 years and up here read more about it.

THALASSOTHERAPY

THALASSOTHERAPY

Done enough? Agree. Time for the well-known me-time. Such as in the marine and spa center for thalassotherapy in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. Thala watte? It goes like this: thalasso comes from the Greek word thalassa and means 'sea'. Thalassa was a sea goddess from Greek mythology and stood as 'mother of all sea life'. Thalassotherapy uses everything from the sea: seawater, mud, algae, plankton, minerals, salts, sea air and the maritime climate itself. Ah! Also nice: despite the Greek origins of the word, the first thalasso spas were built on the French coast at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. At the Thalassa spa In Le Touquet you sit in a thick fluffy bathrobe with a view of the sea with your feet in the sand while being pampered by leading experts and hydrotherapists. An extensive treatment promises you a years younger look. Look, that's a holiday.

thalassa.com

And further?

And further?

Furthermore, as mentioned, Le Touquet Paris Plage is the mini-break haven of many Parisienes (because: what's in a name) and Brussels residents (no idea if that is correct Dutch but you get the point), precisely because the small town is also a nice place to be in the low season. Rue St Jean, the main street of the beautiful town, is a paradise for shoppers, anyone who loves good food, but does not want to go too far. Et voila, this is where you need to be. Bonus points: around Christmas the entire street is covered in Christmas atmosphere. If you bring small items, plan an extra day Aqualud, a huge indoor water amusement park. Nice and old-school and secretly always fun (also for yourself). Although you can especially use the Marche Couvert really don't miss it. This covered market is a feeder and attracts foodies like honey bees. There are a few stands with clothing: you can ignore them. You come here for the enormous range of fruit, vegetables and other (local) goodies.

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