Hardelot : exploring the coast

Between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, Hardelot has all it takes to make a dynamic seaside resort, with an added touch of soul into the bargain! Its beach – several kilometres long – is ideal for every kind of fun: playing on the sands, swimming, walks along the shoreline or the seawall promenade, without forgetting the sports and nautical activities. Sand yacht, kitesurf, catamaran, paddleboard, kayak… The resort offers an impressive range of leisure activities, whatever your age. It’s also famous for its riding centre and its two 18-hole golf courses. Yes! Two golf courses

The resort’s verdant surroundings represent one of its most beautiful calling cards. A stone’s throw from the sea, its forest’s wild nature will astonish you. You’ll take delight in its many paths criss-crossing between the greens, the undergrowth and the sublime architecture of the villas. To the north, the vast Ecault dune forest also has plenty of surprises in store for you between the dunes and incredible views…

Around the Place de la Concorde and Avenue François Ier, Hardelot town centre abounds with wonderful addresses. Restaurants, brasseries, tea rooms, independent ready-to-wear and decoration boutiques, little art galleries… You could say it’s a heart “bubbling over with life”! All the more so as during the school holidays, it is the scene of colourful festivities: open-air concerts, arts & crafts markets… Unmissable around All Saints’ Day: the Festi’mômes festival transforms the resort into a veritable kingdom dedicated to children.

Anecdotally, you should know that the resort was founded at the beginning of the 20th century, at the time when sea bathing was coming into fashion, by a truly inspired Englishman called John Whitley. Owner of the château in Condette (today it is the Centre de l’Entente Cordiale), he wanted to transform Hardelot into the latest fashionable seaside and society sports resort. He entrusted the town planning to the famous architect Louis-Marie Cordonnier, who built some sublime villas, which still characterise the elegance ‘made in Hardelot’.