This charming little Port cum resort of St-Valery - pronounced St-Val’ry - on the southern bank of the Somme Estuary, only 19km/12.5mi from Abbeville, has a few surprises for the visitor.

First of all, it was the port of embarcation for William the Conqueror who as Duke of Normandy defeated the English King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and became King of England himself. If you are continuing into Normandy, try to see the Bayeux Tapestry which tells the story of these events.

If you look at the image at the top of this entry introducing St Valery, you’’ll see some of the thousands of sheep on the Mollières or salt-meadows of the Estuary - this is said to give the animals bred here a unique taste and is quite a sight to see.