Everything that you always wanted to know about what makes le Touquet so special But were afraid to ask

Relax by the sea in one of the beach bars!

4/15/2019

Take advantage of your holiday to relax in one of the five bars on the waterfront.
Beach bars have returned to the beach on the first weekend of the Easter holidays, and will close by winter.

Take the "planches promenade", using the boards on the sand to go from bar to bar.

From the Base Sud to the North of the Aqualud, four modules with terrace (O'Safran, The Pirates, Waikiki and the Sand), plus the "Les Sports at the beach" bar have just opened. They offer drinks (on site or take away) and for some light catering.

Lets hope the season will be as sunny as the one of 2018!

The bars were set up in 2016, as an idea put forward by the City of le Touquet, with standard modules disappearing during winter.

They have proven to be a great success!

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A shipwreck on the beach re-appears after 100 years

5/24/2015

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This year, exceptionally low tides (109 for the "tide of the century" on March the 21), have meant that a 100 year old swhipwreck can actually be seen on the beach of le Touquet.

The loss of the British steamship " SOCOTRA " through stranding in 1915 was caused by human default. (Report of Court Caxton Hall, Westminster, 17th of February, 1916).

I join some of the photographs I took of what is left of the steamship, 100 years later. One does recognize one half of the ship, the remaining portion having rusted away, or having been blown apart (it was used as a target by the Germans during WWII).

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Le Touquet International Jumping - Equestrian Park May 2013

5/20/2013

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Approximately 5 minutes from the villa by bicycle, le Touquet Equestrian Park, on 65 hectares, is one of the most beautiful complexes in France. It includes the equestrian centre, the racecourse and the grounds jumping.
It was completely renovated from 2009 to 2011 to serve as an advance base for the national teams preparing for the London Olympics.
From the 9th to the 12th of May 2013, a CSI 3* international show was held on grass, with 26 nations represented.
Amongst the many world class participants, the British started by being dominant, but Jérome Hurel, on Premier de Falaise, won the 1.5m Grand Prix. He was ahead of Abdelkébir Ouaddar (Quickly de Kreisker) and of Michel Robert (Oh d'Eole).
The weather was perfect for the event, and riders were loudly cheered by the large crown of connoisseurs.

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Even if the villa is taking on a new look, and second floor and terrace construction have kept me busy, I have nevertheless taken a few photos this winter (it was a real winter!).

3/31/2011

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First Post! The Estuary Park

10/2/2010

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I love walking through the city or through the forest. It all started when we first had a dog, and instead of walking it with a leash, I trained it to follow me when I was running. This made me visit Le Touquet inside out, that it be:
- the city centre, a rectangle in between Boulevard Daloz, the covered market, the beach and rue Saint-Jean,
- the Quentovic district flanked by the Canche river on one side, and the centre on the other,
- the 800 hectare centennial pine forest linking the International Park (Equestrian Centre and racetrack) and the Airport - both along the Canche, through the Sports centre and the Palais de l’Europe, all the way to the Golf courses. This area of town can be said to be built in the forest, which forms gorgeous scenery to the great villas of Le Touquet.
When anything urban strikes me as being too much, and that I long for the feeling of being alone on this planet, I head for the northern part of the beach, to the area in between the last parking lot after the Aqualud water amusement park, and the Canche estuary.

The “Parc de l’Estuaire” is an amazing conservation area of 42 hectares, where one can wander along the beaches, the Oyat covered dunes and amidst the scent of pine trees. The views on the city, the forest, the sea and the mouth of the Canche River can be flabbergasting. Three marked discovery paths help discover this spot and make one’s walk easier.
Please do not walk on the grass ! The plants which grow on top of the dunes, and are known under the name of Oyats in French ( Marram or beach grass in English) are in fact a species of grass. They are native to the area, and very useful in that their long roots help stabilize the dunes. You are therefore asked to keep to the pathways.
The Canche estuary is an important site for passage and wintering ducks and gulls. According to Birdlife International, it holds up to 20,000 or more waterbirds in winter. Even if a lot of the birds will keep to the marshes and wet meadows of the 5000ha Canche estuary, of which the Estuary Park is just one part, one's chances to come across some interesting birds are high.

One should not forget that, not very long ago, developers had signed a program of 200 flats right in the middle of the area, and that it took nearly 15 years to have the conservation area enforced and the project abandoned. Probably the sons of the developers who took care of the wonderful seafront in the 60's and 70's !

As old as we may become, my dog and I will not spend time in le Touquet without going there.

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Author

Hi, my name is Daniel.
I lived in France, the US and the UK.
My love affair with le Touquet started a long time ago, well before I met the local beauty, who was to become my wife.
Our daughter was born in Cucq.
Through this blog, I will share with you some of the multiple "je ne sais quoi" which make le Touquet so special, including photographs.
If these posts make any of you want to go or return to this great resort (even without renting the villa :), I will not have wasted my time.

Relax by the sea in one of the beach bars!

A shipwreck on the beach re-appears after 100 years

This year, exceptionally low tides (109 for the "tide of the century" on March the 21), have meant that a 100 year old swhipwreck can actually be seen on the beach of le Touquet.

The loss of the British steamship " SOCOTRA " through stranding in 1915 was caused by human default. (Report of Court Caxton Hall, Westminster, 17th of February, 1916).

I join some of the photographs I took of what is left of the steamship, 100 years later. One does recognize one half of the ship, the remaining portion having rusted away, or having been blown apart (it was used as a target by the Germans during WWII).

Le Touquet International Jumping - Equestrian Park May 2013

Even if the villa is taking on a new look, and second floor and terrace construction have kept me busy, I have nevertheless taken a few photos this winter (it was a real winter!).

First Post! The Estuary Park

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