Guided tours of the marsh and the workshop
A walk full of authenticity dotted with multiple discoveries
Guided tours of the Audomarois marshes, unusual and authentic
Guided tours
Book your guided tour of the Audomarois marshes Discover our traditional workshop and climb into a bacôve for a magnificent guided walk... One of the most beautiful walks/discoveries in Saint-Omer.-
Free for children from 0 to 4 years old
-
7.50 € for children from 4 to 13 years old
-
9,50 € for young people / students
Discover the suburb of Lyzel and Haut-Pont by boat!
You will first discover the district of Lyzel, resembling a little Venice of the North with its traditional houses built at the edge of the water as well as its small bridges so typical.
There is a tendency to overuse the term “picturesque” to define and especially praise a landscape. It means "deserving to be painted". However, this qualifier proves to be appropriate to these places: the Audomarois marshes and more particularly the suburb of Lyzel were, in history, time and time again reproduced in painting, engraving and photography! Evidenced by the number of postcards representing this little corner of paradise!
After marveling at the heart of this district with a certain cachet, where walnut trees and pollard willows stand near the brick "picheau" used in the past to wash vegetables, the excursion continues towards the cultivated marsh.
The Audomarois marsh, one of the last cultivated marshes in France!
Agriculture developed in the XNUMXth century in Audomarois and cauliflower quickly became a real godsend for the marshes, as soon as the railway line appeared and the station was built. Your guide will take you to the heart of cultivated fields and tell you the story of cauliflower and endive, the famous pearl of the north, as well as other marsh vegetables. You will also discover the life of farmers from the Middle Ages to the present day.
The Audomarois marsh, one of the last cultivated marshes in France!
Agriculture developed in the XNUMXth century in Audomarois and cauliflower quickly became a real godsend for the marshes, as soon as the railway line appeared and the station was built. Your guide will take you to the heart of cultivated fields and tell you the story of cauliflower and endive, the famous pearl of the north, as well as other marsh vegetables. You will also discover the life of farmers from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Fauna and flora, polderization of marshes
Your guide, unbeatable on these places (obviously, he was born in it!), will sink into a maze of rivers and take the side roads. He will teach you a host of anecdotes about the history of these places, from the early Middle Ages to the present day. You will be able to admire the local fauna evolving and frolicking in this environment shaped by man... Here, a couple of swans walk their offspring, over there, a great crested grebe dives to sow our gaze... A little further, the shrill cry of a water hen reveals its position…
After evolving in the area called "Marais Hauts", crossing the water gate reveals the lower part of the marsh. This polderized part was drained by man using multiple techniques from the Dutch, excelling in this area. Previously dedicated to livestock, the low marsh changed its face to become a real labyrinthine maze of rivers, plots of land and ditches (watergangs) allowing clever management of floods... Which you can discover on site!
During this getaway, you will discover the local flora, the reeds, the water lilies, the tadpole willows along the river. You will also observe the ponds, vestiges of the peat extraction activity.
The town of Saint-Omer, seen from the marsh
You will also benefit halfway from an exceptional panorama of the city of Saint-Omer. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Jesuit chapel, the town hall and, finally, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Miracles will stand before you on the horizon. The latter is the only witness still standing of the development of the Audomaroise city and its marshes.
The town of Saint-Omer, seen from the marsh
You will also benefit halfway from an exceptional panorama of the city of Saint-Omer. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Jesuit chapel, the town hall and, finally, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Miracles will stand before you on the horizon. The latter is the only witness still standing of the development of the Audomaroise city and its marshes.
The future of the marsh, a fragile natural environment
Certainly, the marsh has a history, but it also has a present and a future. The Man and Biosphere label granted in 2013 by Unesco testifies to this... Your guide will thus present to you along the way the challenges animating this natural space shaped for more than 12 centuries by the hand of man and constituting today the last market gardening marshes of France!
This intimate getaway can pleasantly conclude with a visit to the workshop where you will be told about the making of the traditional boats of the Audomarois region, the escute and the bacôve!
They loved it!
Our cruises and visits to the Audomarois marshes? Our visitors talk about it best!
Walk in the swamp
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Thank you for this wonderful discovery, a lovely walk along the water, a space far from the noise, stress and crowds of big cities, a wonder of nature close to home, brought to life by a friendly team who transport you into a beautiful story of marsh life.
Monique - August 2026
Guided tour
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Taking a boat trip through the Audomarois marshes is always a magical experience. Gliding silently on the water, rediscovering the marsh's flora and fauna, accompanied by Philippe's explanations and anecdotes, is pure bliss. And we were lucky enough to witness a sunset over the marsh, capturing magnificent images that we immortalized.
Bruno - August 2026
Unusual cruise
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
An exceptional place where tradition lives on. A visit to the marsh with passionate people who provided a wonderful experience showcasing local skills: the last remaining boat builders – a must-see for a complete immersion in nature. Thank you for everything.
Laurence - August 2026
