Opal Coast
Visit Montreuil sur Mer
The fortified gem, ten kilometres from Le Touquet
- Ramparts
- Citadel
- Gastronomy
- Upper town
Photo: Bruno Barral, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Montreuil sur Mer in brief
- How long
- Half a day for the ramparts walk and the centre, a full day with the citadel.
- When to go
- All year round. In summer, the town transforms for its show honouring Victor Hugo.
- Parking
- Place du Général de Gaulle, at the foot of the old town. Everything else is on foot.
- From
- Lille 1 h 45Paris 2 h 30Le Touquet 15 min
Just 10 km from Le Touquet Paris-Plage, the town of Montreuil-sur-Mer is an underrated gem! Rarely mentioned in guidebooks, it holds some lovely surprises for its visitors.
A medieval atmosphere, picturesque streets, 3 km of ramparts encircling the town and a handful of typical little restaurants are all on the menu during your stay in Montreuil.
Voted the 2nd most beautiful village in France in 2016, the town and its volunteer residents put on festivities every summer to bring its picturesque streets to life, including a show honouring Victor Hugo.
The 3 highlights
What to do in Montreuil-sur-Mer?
Le tour des remparts
Three kilometres of ramparts that make a full loop of the town, with a 360-degree view over the Canche valley.
La citadelle
A 16th-century fortress remodelled by Vauban, at the far end of the upper town.
La rue du Clape-en-Bas
A cobbled lane lined with low houses, Montreuil's postcard image.
And also
- The ramparts
- The citadel
- Saint-Saulve abbey church
- The Hôtel Dieu
- The Chartreuse Notre-Dame
- Le Petit Quentovic
- A stroll through the town centre
3 activities to book
What activities to do in Montreuil-sur-Mer?
Our favourite
For the town seen from above
Le tour des remparts
Three kilometres of ramparts and bastions around the upper town, open access.
1 h · on foot
For the history of the stronghold
La citadelle
Montreuil's citadel is open to visitors, with its underground passages and viewpoints over the Canche valley.
1 to 2 h · guided visit
For the countryside around the town
La vallée de la Course à vélo
Quiet roads and lanes in the valley, setting off from Montreuil.
Half a day · bike
Our 3 restaurants
Where to eat in Montreuil-sur-Mer?
Our favourite
For a proper gourmet meal
Le Château de Montreuil
Near the citadel, with a garden. The bistro menu is far more affordable than the evening one.
4 chaussée des Capucins, Montreuil
To eat in the cobbled lane
Le Pot du Clape
Rue du Clape-en-Bas, the town's prettiest street.
17 rue du Clape en Bas, Montreuil
For a table in the centre
Restaurant Cocquempot
Place de la Poissonnerie, in the heart of the upper town.
Place de la Poissonnerie, Montreuil
Other good addresses
- Le Monstroel21 Rue Carnot, Montreuil
- Le Patio17 Rue Pierre Ledent, Montreuil
Our 2 places to stay
Where to stay in Montreuil-sur-Mer?
Our favourite
To stay within the ramparts
Montreuil Appart Holidays
Sleeping in the upper town changes the visit: the cobbled streets are all yours in the morning.
Rental · Montreuil
For a room in town
La Mansarde
An address in the centre, within walking distance of the ramparts and the restaurants.
B&B · Montreuil
Getting there and parking
By car on the A16, Montreuil-sur-Mer exit. The town is ten kilometres from Le Touquet and a quarter of an hour from the sea.
By train to Étaples-Le Touquet, then a fifteen-minute drive. The upper town is entirely walkable.
The questions people ask before coming
Why isn't Montreuil-sur-Mer on the coast?
The bay silted up over the centuries and the shoreline retreated: it now sits about fifteen kilometres away. The name stayed, and so did the ramparts.
How long does it take to visit Montreuil?
Half a day for the ramparts walk and the centre. Allow a full day if you add the citadel and lunch.
What's the connection between Montreuil and Victor Hugo?
The town is the setting for part of Les Misérables. Every summer, residents put on a show in tribute to it.
Information about the town
Montreuil is our favourite spot on the Opal Coast! For a calm, natural break during your stay on the Opal Coast, Montreuil is the perfect town. Treat yourself to a memorable 360° view by walking the ramparts around the town, visit the citadel and wander the streets of the centre. Finish with an essential stop at one of the town's excellent restaurants.
Our tip: Le Château de Montreuil, near the citadel, has a gastronomic restaurant with fairly high prices for a modest budget — but it also offers a bistro menu at very accessible prices.
A starter-main-dessert menu of gastronomic quality for just €33, in a superb setting. In fine weather you can even have an aperitif in the château's beautiful garden. An opportunity not to miss.
Still on the gastronomic front, the 2-star restaurant of the famous chef Alexandre Gauthier is a few kilometres from Montreuil. A highly regarded restaurant, in a beautiful setting, but rather reserved for bigger budgets.
Lastly, a quirk of Montreuil: to enter the walled town, there are 2 options — the Porte de Boulogne to the north or the 'pied de bœuf' to the south.
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