Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Abbeville, France

A rickety train ride away from the Bay of the Somme, Abbeville is a historic city whose beauty is undiminished by the numerous conflicts that have impacted the region throughout the ages.

The UNESCO belfry and remarkable collegiate church serve as the primary attractions, often capturing headlines.

In addition, there are several smaller monuments, such as the 17th-century textile factory and the Carmelite convent, where visitors can uncover fascinating and largely forgotten chapters from Abbeville’s past.

The bay is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the world, with its beaches, medieval heritage, and expansive views just a short distance away.

Let us explore the top attractions in Abbeville:

1. Abbeville Belfry

Dating back to 1209, Abbeville’s belfry stands as one of the oldest in France.

It holds UNESCO World Heritage status as part of several significant belfries located throughout northern France and Flanders.

Few structures can rival its grandeur, reaching nearly 30 meters in height, with walls exceeding two meters at the base.

At the pinnacle, a pyramidal slate roof can be accessed via a spiral staircase.

Beneath, visitors will find the old dungeons, the assembly hall for Abbeville’s aldermen, and the treasury room where the town’s charter and seal are preserved.

2. Musée Boucher-de-Perthes

The belfry functions as an annex of Abbeville’s fine arts museum, situated in two post-war buildings adjacent.

The museum’s oldest collections belonged to Jacques Boucher de Crèvecoeur de Perthes, a 19th-century antiquarian and archaeologist who unearthed flint tools in the marshes of the Somme, evidencing the existence of Palaeolithic humans.

His groundbreaking discoveries are exhibited and include flints and fossilized creatures from the Quaternary period.

Additionally, visitors can view Bronze Age swords and axes, exquisite medieval polychrome sculptures, and paintings spanning the 1500s to the 1900s by artists such as Pieter van Mol, Fragonard, and Lethièere.

3. Église Saint-Vulfran

This church was constructed towards the close of the 15th century, during a period of local prosperity, which is reflected in the Flamboyant Gothic style adorning its western facade.

The intention was to create the most magnificent church in the feudal county of Ponthieu, and the intricate mouldings, traceries, pinnacles, and portal carvings may indeed leave visitors speechless.

Eugène Boudin painted the church in 1884, shortly before it suffered significant damage during the Second World War.

Restoration efforts beginning in the 1980s are still evident today, with information available within the church.

4. Parc de la Bouvaque

Among municipal parks, Abbeville’s is truly distinctive.

Encompassing 60 hectares in the northern suburbs, this wetland area formerly served as grazing land for cattle.

The park is designed around two large ponds, maintained in a semi-natural state, featuring small shelters where, with patience, one may observe waterfowl such as snipes, great crested grebes, and egrets.

In the summer, the water meadows bloom with irises and orchids, and one can find turquoise pools where natural springs rise from the earth.

Prior to the war, this water was channeled to the city’s sugar refinery.

5. Château de Bagatelle

During summer afternoons, this remarkable folly opens its doors, allowing guests to explore its stately interiors and stroll through its exquisitely designed French formal gardens.

The estate was constructed in the mid-1700s by a textile industrialist who enlisted a team of skilled craftsmen to complete its interiors.

Be sure to observe the wrought iron railing on the double revolution staircase, designed by the Austrian Simon Pfaff de Pfaffenhoffen, who also contributed to the Abbaye de Valloires in the Somme.

Marvel at the refined wooden paneling in the Salon Rond and visit the Salon de Musique, which at the turn of the 20th century hosted distinguished composers, including Vincent d’Indy and Erik Satie.

6. Parc d’Émonville

Prior to the French Revolution, this English-style park was part of Abbeville’s Benedictine priory grounds, later sold to a botanist named Arthur Fouques Émonville, who had a keen interest in camellias.

He established a hotel in the center, which subsequently transformed into the municipal library following his passing, while the gardens opened to the public after the war.

In keeping with the English tradition, the park features statues, a grotto, and a pond with a charming footbridge surrounded by lawns and flowerbeds.

The legacy from Émonville’s time remains evident in the diverse selection of unusual species, including Asian wingnut trees, sophoras, sweet gums, and bald cypress.

7. Manufacture des Rames

Situated in Abbeville’s Hocquet district is a historical linen factory established in 1665 by Dutch weaver Josse van Robais, who was recruited by Louis XIV’s Minister of Finance, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to create fabrics and tapestries for the French crown.

At its peak, this facility was one of France’s largest industrial enterprises, employing 3,000 individuals by 1724 and exporting goods to the courts of Europe.

Although not explicitly marketed as a tourist attraction, the striking baroque factory constructed in 1710 can be viewed, which consolidated various workshops around the city under one roof.

8. Carmel

From July to September, guided tours of Abbeville’s former Carmelite Convent can be arranged through the city’s tourist office.

The Carmelite order maintained a lasting connection with the town, having been displaced from their original convent on Rue Saint-Gilles and spending 30 years without a permanent residence before relocating to these splendid 17th-century structures adjacent to the Parc d’Émonville in 1821. They remained here until 1998 when the city acquired the property to safeguard its peaceful gardens and historical architecture.

9. Château d’Eaucourt-sur-Somme

Just minutes beyond the southern borders of Abbeville are the remains of a castle constructed around the early 15th century.

This property was highly contested throughout the medieval period but has remained unoccupied since the end of the 18th century.

Since the 1980s, the site has been transformed into a feudal activity center during the summer months, allowing children to engage with traditional crafts such as stonemasonry, metalworking, and carpentry.

Young visitors can also don medieval armor and practice with a crossbow.

10. Véloroute Vallée de Somme

Bringing your bicycle to Abbeville is highly advisable, as the city lies on a 120-kilometer trail that follows the Somme River, providing an easy, family-friendly route to historic towns and magnificent natural landscapes.

For a full day of exploration, consider traveling east to Amiens, enjoying a ride through the famous Hortillonages, historic market gardens interspersed with canals.

For those intrigued by World War I, the surrounding countryside is replete with significant sites and monuments located further east.

In total, there are 26 designated viewpoints along the trail, supported by eight “valley houses” that serve as rest stops for cyclists to enjoy refreshments or light meals.

11. Saint-Riquier

A brief ten-minute journey will take you to this village located just east of Abbeville.

Reason for this short excursion includes visiting the abbey, founded as early as 625. In its formative years, King Dagobert I in the 800s, and subsequently Angilbert, a son-in-law of Charlemagne, served as abbots.

The 15th-century Gothic facade can be compared to the one at Saint-Vulfran in Abbeville, while the adjacent park is enchanting, hosting around 300 fruit trees, including walnut, plum, cherry, pear, apple, hazel, and peach.

For those on the UNESCO belfry trail, Saint-Riquier presents a significant example, established in 1283 and undergoing several renovations due to sieges and warfare.

12. Baie de Somme

Abbeville is known as the “Gateway to the Bay of the Somme,” where the river converges with the English Channel.

Here, one will find an extensive array of ponds and salt marshes ideal for contemplation amid vast skies and expansive horizons.

This region is a prime habitat for France’s largest colony of harbor seals and serves as a rest stop for thousands of migratory birds from over 300 distinct species.

Artists and authors such as Degas, Sisley, Camille Corot, and Jules Verne were captivated by the bay, establishing residences in the area.

Beyond the estuary, the landscapes are notably varied: a short drive down the coast leads to the extensive chalk cliffs of Ault, while Fort-Mahon features expansive sandy beaches bordered by dunes.

13. Chemin Fer de la Baie de Somme

Plan for a 15-minute trip to Noyelles on the Somme Estuary, where you can journey around the bay as Degas and Jules Verne would have during the Belle Époque.

The railway line from Noyelles to Saint-Valery was established in the 1850s and connected with Crotoy on the north bank of the estuary in 1887. Following predominantly freight usage after World War II, the railway fell into disrepair during the 1960s.

Nevertheless, the line was revitalized in the 1970s and now operates a collection of splendid steam locomotives dating back a century or more.

14. Saint-Valery-sur-Somme

One can step off the train at this charming town by the water.

Saint-Valery’s limestone ridge stands as a unique feature in the flat landscape, rendering the town a strategic objective for numerous armies over the years.

Historical figures such as William the Conqueror, Harold Godwinson, and Joan of Arc all frequented this elevated location, where ancient towers, medieval walls, and an abbey church provide captivating insights into its rich history.

By the waterfront lies the Courtgain quarter, characterized by historic sailors’ houses lining a boardwalk that extends for miles.

Moreover, a closer inspection of the sea lock reveals its role in regulating the flow of the Somme.

15. Forêt de Crécy

The largest forest in the Somme department encompasses a 4,000-hectare expanse of ancient beech and oak woodlands that have been witnesses to significant historical events.

This site marks the commencement of the 100 Years’ War, during which Philip of Valois’ forces were decisively defeated by Edward III of England in the Battle of Crécy in 1346. The battlefield is commemorated by a wooden belvedere situated at the precise location of a historical mill where Edward once surveyed the land.

Visitors can also discover 20 “remarkable trees” that are over 600 years old, accessible via eight different hiking trails.