Walk the ramparts at Montreuil-sur-Mer

Stroll the ramparts of this historic town near Calais and discover why it inspired one of France’s greatest writers.

Why visit Montreuil-sur-Mer in France?

Soak up the panoramic views from the ramparts

It’s not just for the spectacular ramparts and citadel that you should make a trip to this little known but quietly famous town near the Opal Coast. A walk around the ramparts offers fantastic views of the surrounding rolling hills and valleys, stretching out to the sea, but that isn’t all that should entice you to Montreuil-sur-Mer. 

Less than 2,000 people live in the town, but it has a thriving food scene, with an array of Michelin-starred restaurants, a food and wine festival, antique markets, cheese shops, cafés and bakeries. Fans of Les Misérables will be interested to know that its writer Victor Hugo found inspiration here, and every summer productions of the musical drama are staged on the ramparts. It was also in Montreuil-sur-Mer where the British had their French headquarters during the First World War.

Where is Montreuil‑sur‑Mer?

Despite its name, Montreuil‑sur‑Mer is no longer by the sea. Now about 10 miles from the coast, the town used to be a busy harbour port, until the Canche river estuary silted up and Montreuil became landlocked. The lovely seaside towns of Le Touquet, Hardelot-Plage and Berck-sur-Mer are all within 20-25 minutes drive of Montreuil‑sur‑Mer.

The highlights of the ramparts walk

Explore more of the history behind the ramparts at the Citadel

Enjoy the best viewpoints along the ramparts

It takes 30 minutes to walk the 3km length of the 16th and 17th century ramparts. It’s an easy walk, with plenty of benches along the way, and places to stop and take in the views. Start your walk from the Citadel esplanade.

Visit the Citadel

The Citadel and ramparts were built after the town was ransacked by Habsburg troops in the 16th century, and was known as the ‘Carcassonne of the North’. There is a small entry fee to the Citadel, which houses a museum, gift shop and several fascinating features, like the coats of arms of the knights who went off to fight at nearby Agincourt in 1415. Get a guided tour for all the key historical information about the Citadel and the part it played in the defence of Montreuil down the centuries.

More things to do in Montreuil-sur-Mer

Hotel de France, where Victor Hugo ate lunch on his visit to the town. (Image credit: Felouch Kotek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

See the inspiration for Les Misérables

Victor Hugo visited the town in 1837, and while initially disappointed that the sea was nowhere to be seen, he spent the day here, walking the ramparts and having lunch at the Hotel de France. It made quite an impression on the celebrated writer. Montreuil-sur-Mer is the town in Les Misérables where the novel’s hero, under an assumed name, has become mayor. The inn where Cosette is exploited by the unscrupulous owners Monsieur and Madame Thénardier, is loosely based on the Hotel de France, still on Rue de Petit Cocquempot (but currently closed).

Hugo also witnessed a cart accident that day on the steep cobbled streets – which he turned into the incident when Jean Valjean’s real identity is revealed to his nemesis Javert. Montreuil-sur-Mer is very proud of its Les Mis heritage, and every year in July the town stages night time performances of the musical on the ramparts, complete with fireworks, sound and light show and a cast of many hundreds.

World War history

Montreuil-sur-Mer was the British headquarters in northern France during the First World War, and an equestrian statue of Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, commander of the British forces on the Western Front, stands in the town square. Other places of historic interest include the Living History Museum, which holds many items of interest relating to the French Resistance movement in the Second World War. The memorials and battlefields of the Somme are also within easy driving distance.

Plan your trip to Montreuil-sur-Mer

It's less than an hour's drive to Montreuil-sur-Mer from Calais. (Image credit: Pierre André Leclercq, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Drive to Montreuil-sur-Mer from Calais

It’s around a 55 minute drive from the LeShuttle terminal at Calais to Montreuil‑sur‑Mer, using the A16 autoroute. You’ll have to pay a small toll if you drive on the A16 via Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Combine Montreuil-sur-Mer with Le Touquet and other French destinations

Montreuil-sur-Mer is a perfect base to explore other destinations in Hauts-de-France, especially the wild beauty of the Opal Coast.

• Le Touquet – seafood, sports and sandy beaches, just 20km from Montreuil-sur-Mer
• Hardelot-Plage – think chic, chateaux and Shakespeare at this elegant seaside resort, just 31km away
• Berck-sur-Mer – home of the International Kite Festival, only 16km from Montreuil-sur-Mer

Find places to eat near the ramparts

Montreuil-sur-Mer is well known for its gastronomy, with a wide range of restaurants catering for all budgets. For Michelin star dishes, make a reservation at La Grenouillere, or for more of a classic French bistro, try Le Bistronome near the main square. Hugo’s innkeepers would be horrified by how delicious the food is!

Inspired to visit Montreuil-sur-Mer? Plan your trip to Northern France

Whether it’s for the ramparts, the history or Victor Hugo, Montreuil-sur-Mer makes for a magical day out. After your 35-minute crossing on LeShuttle, it’s one of the many attractions of northern France!