Church architecture spanning several centuries and the Circuit de Morlay offer contrasting highlights for a trip to Favières. The architecture of the Church of Saint John the Baptist and the Chapel of Saint Corneille offers tangible insights into building history. On the Circuit, you can choose to walk, cycle or ride. Guided nature and bay outings are also available, each with its own format and conditions.
Churches and chapels: building history in Favières
Dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste has a single-nave body, a bell-tower porch and a three-sided apse with a side chapel. The choir dates from the second third of the 16th century. Its rubble stone is made of chalk; at the low plinth, sandstone and flint alternate in a chequerboard pattern. This brings together a simple overall form and a striking material pattern in the same part of the building.
Two dates are associated with the church’s early history: a church in Favières is mentioned as early as the 7th century; another account dates the first church to the 11th century or possibly earlier. This historical uncertainty remains part of the tradition and cannot be reduced to a single founding date.
The Chapel of Saint-Corneille stands in Hamelet, near Favières. Its choir was rebuilt around 1570. The flat apse is designed in the Flamboyant Gothic style and made of local chalk rubble stone. Here, too, a plinth of alternating sandstone and flint creates a striking contrast with the pale stone. The chapel also has a devotional well. Its origins probably date back to the 11th century; it was built on a coastal island rising out of the water.
Another landmark in Hamelet is the Oratory of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes. A family had it built after returning from a pilgrimage to Lourdes; the year 1877 is inscribed on the oratory. The church, chapel and oratory thus tell different stories: from the early presence of a church to architectural changes and a later pilgrimage.
The Circuit de Morlay: three ways to enjoy a circular route
The Circuit de Morlay starts and ends in Favières; the starting point is the church car park. The route is suitable for walking, cycling and horse riding.
One distinctive feature of the route is on the way back to Favières: a section crosses the railway line used by the Baie de Somme steam train. For those who like to choose routes based on specific waypoints, this provides another notable planning detail alongside the starting point.
Nature and guided outings
The Mare de Quesnel à Favières is another point of interest for nature enthusiasts: the ZNIEFF type I site Mare de Quesnel à Favières lies within the ZNIEFF type II site Plaine maritime picarde. If you are looking for explanations of nature-related topics rather than choosing your own route, several guided formats are available. Rando Baie de Somme Découverte offers guided nature outings with commentary throughout the year. The provider is based at 403 Rue de Mazurette, 80120 Favières; check operational details before your trip.
The guided outings offered by Promenade en Baie de Somme provide insights into the wildlife and plant life of the Baie de Somme. VTC Baie de Somme offers full- and half-day guided tours of the bay by vehicle; confirm reservations. The company also offers, by reservation, transport in both directions between Cayeux-sur-Mer, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, Noyelles-sur-Mer and Le Crotoy. These are different services to consider when planning: nature commentary, guided tours and transport connections between the named places that require a reservation.
Picnics and local products
The tour Unusual Gourmet Tourcombines a picnic in the heart of the Baie de Somme with a tasting of local products from the bay. It is available on request, so it requires a different kind of planning from a nature outing listed as available year-round or a circular route starting in Favières. Sortie Baie de Somme is based at 1195 Rue de Romaine, 80120 Favières. If a shared picnic and regional products are the main focus, factor the request in as a separate planning step.
Discover more destinations: Regnière-Écluse, Machy, Camon, Saigneville, Mesnil-Domqueur, Estrébœuf, Berny-En-Santerre, Cahon.
For the regional travel overview: Somme.
