St Omer is worth a visit on market day - as is the walled town of Cassels which is nearby and has the only long distance views in that part of norther France. The Blockhaus at Eperleques is very near, and a very moving experience. The beaches at Wimereux are lovely, and you must look across the channel from Cap Gris Nez. The old walled citadel, and the old town of Boulogne are also worth visiting, and you're within a half-day outing of the bunkers and battlefields and other WW1 sites, notably the Menin Gate in Ypres where there is a ceremony where the Last Post is played every day at 8.00 pm.
Have a meal in the restaurant at Gandspette - the regional specialities are great. Have a good holiday.
We stopped for 3 nights on way home last year and have to say thought it was a lovely site and very friendly staff. As someone has mentioned above the WW2 bunker called the blockhouse not sure of spelling we walked to it and took about 10 mins at most but found it to be very interesting and worth the visit.
A wee tip about the pools on site our friends have stayed for a few years and the pool to the left as you go in the gate allways seems to be freezing so if taking kids dont tell them and race them to get in thats what our friends did and i was back out before i hit the bottom lol. It is a lovely site though and a lovely wee resturant and also a carry out.
Gerry
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Make sure they don't pitch you on the sloping pitches at the side of the pool. I nearly burnt the clutch out trying to reverse the van up the slope - smoke billowing from under the bonnet!
I would imagine that if it's wet you'd have no chance without a 4x4.
As all have said, the Eperlecques bunker is a must. My 30-something daughter, with no particular interest in history until then, was completely stunned by it, and has developed an abiding interest in WW2 (and WWI) as a result.
Good markets (mornings only) at: charming walled town of Bergues, SE of Dunkerque (Mon); Arques, E of St Omer (Tues); Audruicq, NW of Eperlecques (Wed); Ardres (Thurs); Gravelines, another nice walled town, W of Dunkerque (Fri); St-Omer and Boulogne (Sat).
There's a very good Emmaus (huge charity junk shop) at St Martin au Laert, between Eperlecques and St Omer (Tues-Sat 2.30-5pm; take Salperwick road from junct of N43 and N42). An upstairs section (open Wed and Sat only) has good textiles.
You can tour a distillery at Houlle (quite near the campsite), or the famous Arc glassworks at Arques. (Need to book in advance for these).
Great boat trips with Isnor boats, from Clairmarais in the marshland north of St Omer.
You don't say if you have children with you, but there are lots of possibilities for them too...
Yes I'd agree. Don't miss the Blockhaus it brings a lump to your throat. St Omer lovely. Oye Plage (nature reserve and largest beach in Europe apparantly) is gorgeous too - about 20 mins drive towards Calais. There is pony trekking nearby but didn't try it. Gandspette restaurant lovely indeed. Try the Coc au Vin with a little jug of house red -mmmmm wish I was there now
Pam
------------- Sometimes You're the windscreen; sometimes the fly
Many thanks for all the tips cant wait to go, yes we do have kids with us a 15 year old and a two year old. Im planing on going to as many WWII sites as poss.
WWII: Ah, then Marc you will want to add to the list: Musee 1939-1945 at Ambleteuse, and Batterie Todt, both on (or just off) the scenic coastal D940 between Boulogne and Calais. Calais itself has a Musee de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale inside a German bunker, that is semi-hidden under creeper in a park opposite the enormous brick-built belfry. You will find a V1 and its launching ramp at Eperlecques bunker. At La Coupole you will see a V1 bomb and a V2 rocket hanging up indoors. I would not recommend the Coupole for the 2 y-o, by the way; he/she would be bored out of mind, and those of you passionate about WWII will want to be there for hours (I spent 6 hours in there myself!) It's in two halves: one about the development of rockets by the Germans, at Peenemunde, and their manufacture by prisoners from Dora concentration camp. The other is about life in the north of France under the Occupation, when the region was governed from Germany. If you want a really scary experience, go to the V3 site at Mimoyecques, near Marquise. You have to trudge along a long tunnel into the hillside to look at the "supergun" with which Hitler planned to bombard London. Totally fascinating, also, is the "Memorial du Souvenir" museum at Dunkerque; you would never guess from the name, but it is all about the Dunkirk evacuation. It's open daily 10-12 and 2-5.30; I think the afternoon is better, as you have a bit longer to take it all in; you would be pushed to do so on a morning visit. There are a couple of sites where the SS massacred BEF troops who were trying to hold them back to enable others to make it to Dunkirk. Particularly poignant is the Grange aux Fusilles that lies in the middle of the countryside 1km SW of Esquelbecq, on Rue des Dunkirk Veterans.
Angela
I know it's really WWI, but maybe you could make a visit to Ypres (Ieper in Dutch, on the signposts) to attend the "Last Post" ceremony one evening? It's on the dot of 8pm, under the Menin Gate, which is just off the picturesque main square, Grote Markt.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Chateau du Gandspette
