{"id":3045,"date":"2026-07-16T15:51:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T13:51:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotelaultia.test7.eu\/que-faire-a-ault\/"},"modified":"2026-08-04T18:46:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T16:46:22","slug":"things-to-do-in-ault","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotelaultia.test7.eu\/en\/things-to-do-in-ault\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to Do in Ault: A Guide to an Unspoilt Seaside Resort on the Baie de Somme"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the southern tip of the Picardy coast, where the Baie de Somme gives way to great walls of chalk, Ault keeps watch over the sea from its clifftop. There are no crowded promenades here and no packed beaches \u2014 just a village clinging to the cliff, Belle \u00c9poque villas, a windswept seafront and open countryside a few steps away. It is this unspoilt character, untouched by mass tourism, that gives Ault its charm. Here is everything there is to discover, all on foot from the H\u00f4tel Aultia.<\/p>\n

Wandering the clifftop village<\/h2>\n

Take your time exploring Ault’s narrow lanes, lined with old fishermen’s cottages and Belle \u00c9poque villas whose fa\u00e7ades are decorated with ceramic tiles. Pause at the church of Saint-Pierre, whose origins reach back to the Middle Ages, then carry on to the lighthouse standing high above the cliff: Victor Hugo loved to walk here and never tired of the shifting light. Along the way you will also pass a memorial by the sculptor Paul Landowski. On market day the square comes to life, with stalls given over to seafood and local produce.<\/p>\n

The seafront and Onival beach<\/h2>\n

The view from the sea wall is a striking one: at high tide and at low, the white of the cliffs plays against the deep blue of the Channel. Below, the shingle beach at Onival stretches north for several kilometres. It is a favourite for sand yachting, for gathering shellfish at low tide and for long walks facing the open sea. At sunset, the clifftop road gives you one of the finest views on this coast.<\/p>\n

The H\u00e2ble d’Ault, a paradise for birdwatchers<\/h2>\n

A few minutes from the centre, the H\u00e2ble d’Ault is a former lagoon held back from the sea by a fragile bank of shingle. This wetland is a major bird reserve, home to close to 300 species over the course of the migration seasons: swans, herons, coots and many more. Bring binoculars and take in the calm of this wild landscape, one of the most unspoilt in the region.<\/p>\n

The Bois de Cise, a green hollow in the cliffs<\/h2>\n

Just south of Ault, the Bois de Cise fills a wooded valleuse \u2014 a dry valley carved down through the chalk \u2014 and it is the only one of its kind on this stretch of coast. Beneath the beeches and oaks stand handsome Belle \u00c9poque villas in the Anglo-Norman style, the modest chapel of Sainte-Edith and a maze of lanes with beautifully poetic names. At low tide, a flight of steps leads down to a sheltered little beach at the foot of the chalk. It is one of the most romantic and most peaceful places in the area.<\/p>\n

Walking the coastal path<\/h2>\n

The cliffs at Ault mark the beginning of the great chalk wall that runs on into Normandy’s C\u00f4te d’Alb\u00e2tre, the Alabaster Coast. The coastal path, clearly waymarked in yellow, links Ault to Mers-les-Bains by way of the Bois de Cise, a walk of around 7 kilometres (4\u00bd miles). It is easy going with no real difficulty, and every turn opens up a new view over the sea. One essential word of caution: keep to the paths set back from the edge, as the cliff face is prone to collapse.<\/p>\n

Something to eat<\/h2>\n

Ault and the villages around it have a long seafaring tradition. In the bistros of the village and in the harbours nearby, mussels, fish and shellfish are cooked with what the coast has landed that day. In fine weather, gathering shellfish at the foot of the cliffs is a simple pleasure \u2014 just keep a close eye on the tide times.<\/p>\n

Exploring further afield<\/h2>\n

Ault makes an ideal base for exploring the region. Seven kilometres away, Le Tr\u00e9port and its funicular open the door to Normandy, while Mers-les-Bains charms visitors with its seafront row of brightly coloured Belle \u00c9poque villas. A little further on, the town of Eu and its Louis-Philippe ch\u00e2teau are a step back into history, and the Bresle valley carries on a glassmaking tradition of worldwide renown. To the north, the Baie de Somme unfolds its picturesque harbours, its nature reserves and its famous seal colony.<\/p>\n

When to visit Ault<\/h2>\n

Ault rewards a visit in any season. Spring and summer are perfect for swimming, sand yachting and watching wildlife; autumn and winter bring dramatic light and near-deserted cliffs, ideal if you love bracing air and photography.<\/p>\n

Further reading<\/h2>\n