Étaples offers several ways to explore its maritime history: the Musée de la Marine displays boats and work tools, traditional wooden boatbuilding takes place at Chantier Leprêtre, and Maréis combines a museum and aquarium. These themes are complemented by guided walks through the fishing town, an annual maritime commemoration, and nature and sailing activities. When planning your visit, consider not only your interests but also the different types of visits and their dates.
Maritime collections and craftsmanship
The Musée de la Marine displays full-size boats, boat models, fishing equipment and tools used by maritime tradespeople in the past. Visitors can explore the museum independently year-round, except for its annual closure in January. Check the seasonal visiting arrangements before your trip.
Chantier Leprêtre has carried out traditional wooden boatbuilding since 1951, including the construction and restoration of traditional boats. On a 45-minute guided tour, you can learn about the techniques used at this working boatyard. Booking periods are seasonal, so plan your visit accordingly. Unlike at the museum, the focus here is on craftsmanship: you can learn how traditional boats are built and restored.
Fishing and marine life at Maréis
Maréis is a visitor centre in Étaples-sur-Mer that combines a museum and aquarium. It explores the fishermen of Étaples and the marine life of the English Channel and the North Sea. On a guided tour lasting almost two hours, you follow the fish’s journey from the North Sea’s sandy and rocky seabeds to the port of Étaples. The tour also includes the bridge of a reconstructed trawler.
The tours at Chantier Leprêtre and Maréis differ considerably in length: one lasts 45 minutes, while the other takes almost two hours. These details help you estimate how much time to allow for each visit and choose suitable time slots for the different formats.
Town history and maritime commemoration
Guided town tours introduce you to Étaples’ history and take you through its streets. Along the way, you can discover the picturesque architecture of the fishing town and its key historical sites. Unlike visits to individual collections, these tours focus on the townscape and its historic landmarks.
Every year, a procession and a blessing of the sea commemorate sailors who died at sea. Both are organised by the Association Sauvegarde et Souvenir des Traditions des Marins-Pêcheurs Étaplois (ASSTMPE). The date varies from year to year; if you would like to include this commemoration in your trip, plan around the date for that particular year. Another historic site is the Étaples Military Cemetery, France’s largest Commonwealth war cemetery and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nature and sailing
The Baie de Canche nature reserve is open to the public via its trails. The GR du littoral coastal trail crosses the reserve for 10.7 kilometres. Alongside the maritime collections and town history, it offers a nature-focused perspective on your trip.
The Centre Nautique de la Canche offers sailing trips for all levels through its École de Voile. Dates depend on the season and the tides. This is a different kind of activity from land-based visits: both the time of year and the tidal cycle are relevant when planning a sailing trip.
Keep visiting times in mind
The activities are subject to different scheduling conditions. The Musée de la Marine closes annually in January, while guided tours at Chantier Leprêtre have seasonal booking periods. Sailing trips are scheduled according to the season and the tides; the date of the procession and blessing of the sea varies from year to year. If you are visiting Étaples for a particular activity, plan your trip around its schedule.
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