The lesser spotted gem of Gravelines

Alma the Adria is waterside in the land of ‘Le Camping Car’, having disembarked the ferry some 3 hours sooner than planned (Note to self, check the ferry tickets next time).

We find ourselves in a place, that we visited before on the start of the big trip .

Gravelines is a small commune in northern France, located in the Hauts-de-France region. It is situated on the French coast, near the Belgian border.

Apart from our dreadful reading of the ferry tickets, the DFDS crossing from Newhaven to Dieppe was fault less, smooth boarding, on time sailing and quick disembarkation made for one of the best crossings I’ve been on so far and the price was so on point !

I imagine that Gravelines is a popular with the English motorhome tourist , due to its beautiful beaches, its historic centre, and its many cultural attractions, oh and the fact it’s a relatively short hop back ferry or tunnel.

With the Aire de Camping-Car located almost in the town center it is perfect for a short stay and the chance to visit this very special place.

And a short walk the other way, that other motorhomers friend ‘Lidl’s’ – what more could you need !

Directly across from our overnight stop is the one of the many entrances to the amazing ramparts

Stepping onto the Gravelines ramparts is like embarking on a journey through time. The ramparts, spanning an impressive 2.5 kilometers, offer panoramic views of the town and its surroundings.

The town of Gravelines was founded in the 11th century and was important for its strategic location on the coast of the North Sea. In the 16th century, the town was fortified with a series of ramparts to protect it from attack.

The ramparts were built by the Spanish, who were then in control of the region. The ramparts were successful in defending Gravelines from attack during the Wars of Religion in France.

The ramparts are a series of walls, bastions, and moats. The walls are made of brick and stone and are up to 10 meters high. The bastions are projecting towers that were used to defend the walls. The moats are ditches that were filled with water to create an additional barrier to attackers.

But please don’t think this town is only about historical wall, no my friends as I said we are on the waters edge, the local Plage (beach to us English folks) is a charming beach town located in northern France, on the Opal Coast.

So welcome back to another winter tour of fairly unknown destinations across Europe

P.S. – you can watch the Gravelines video here :-

Paul.