Crécy-En-Ponthieu brings together nature and cultural heritage with the history of the Battle of Crécy. The forest is home to a Natura 2000 site and marked horse-riding and mountain biking trails; historic buildings, memorial sites and the observation tower offer other points of interest. This lets you shape your stay around the landscape, architecture or history.
Forest and trails
At the heart of the Crécy-en-Ponthieu forest lies the Natura 2000 site “Massif forestier de Crécy-en-Ponthieu”. The forest also has almost 50 kilometres of marked horse-riding and mountain biking trails. This combines a natural setting with a specific offering for two activities: the trails are marked for horse riders and mountain bikers.
If you would rather focus your trip on nature and outdoor activities, the forest provides a distinct focus alongside the historical sites. The figure of almost 50 kilometres describes the total length of the marked trails; it is not the length of a single route. When choosing an outing, it is therefore also worth considering which of the two activities interests you.
Church and local history
The Church of Saint-Séverin was fully listed as a historic monument by decree dated 24 May 2023. It is also a 16th-century example of Flamboyant Gothic architecture. Its monument status and architectural classification offer two distinct points of interest: one concerns its recognition as a historic monument, the other its architecture and period.
La Croix du bourg is a mysterious brick structure in the centre of Crécy-en-Ponthieu. Unlike the church, whose style and century are specified, La Croix is characterised by its brick construction and mysterious nature. Those interested in local buildings will encounter two very different descriptions, without reducing them both to the same architectural history.
In the market square, the Monument de Jean de Luxembourg commemorates Jean de Luxembourg and his companions-in-arms, who died for France at Crécy in 1346. The memorial site links the remembrance of the battle to a specific historical group and year. A commemorative gathering takes place at the monument every year during the medieval Saint-Louis festival. If you would like to include this event in your trip, check that year's programme.
Battlefield and the Middle Ages
The Édouard III observation tower offers sweeping panoramic views over the battlefield and its surroundings. Since 2024, visitors have been able to view artworks about the history of the battle in the sculpture garden at the Édouard III battlefield site. The viewpoint and the garden offer different perspectives: one looks out over the terrain, while the other presents an artistic exploration of its history. Check the local access conditions for the sculpture garden before your visit.
The Centre Historique Crécy la bataille is an interpretation centre about the Middle Ages. It complements the specific memorial sites and the battlefield with a broader focus on the medieval period. This gives you a choice of different historical themes for your stay: remembrance of those who died in 1346, the history of the battlefield or its place in the Middle Ages. Together with the forest and its marked trails, this makes for a clear choice between nature and culture, rather than treating all activities as if they catered to the same travel interest.
To plan your trip, it helps to first decide what you would like to focus on. If you mainly want to spend time outdoors, you can consider the marked horse-riding and mountain biking trails. For architectural history and remembrance, Saint-Séverin, La Croix du bourg and the Monument de Jean de Luxembourg offer different themes. By contrast, the observation tower, sculpture garden and Centre Historique Crécy la bataille bring the battlefield and the Middle Ages to the fore.
Discover more destinations: Camps-En-Amiénois, Franleu, Frise, Chépy, Lucheux, Hem-Hardinval, Boves, Bray-sur-Somme
For the regional travel overview: Somme.
