Photo : Pierre André Leclercq / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Dunes de Merlimont
On the Opal Coast, the commune of Merlimont is home to the highest dunes of the natural region of the Marquenterre, some of which rise to nearly 50 metres above sea level. Shaped by the prevailing winds and successive storms, this dune massif is one of the most marked reliefs of the Picardy coast and the southern Opal Coast.
The whole area is protected under several natural areas of ecological interest and Natura 2000 sites, because of the specialised flora that colonises this unstable environment, marram grass and dune everlasting first among them, and the fauna that finds refuge here. This ecological richness contrasts with the tourist vocation of the neighbouring resort of Merlimont-Plage, developed from the nineteenth century.
Waymarked paths through the dune massif let you discover this landscape without damaging the most sensitive habitats, with information panels on the formation and biodiversity of the dunes. Spring, when the dune flora blooms, and autumn, quieter for tourism, are particularly good times to visit.
