FAQ – the Audomarois marsh – Geography and history
Answers to your questions about the characteristics and historical construction of the Audomarois marshes
Welcome to our FAQ dedicated to exploring the Marais Audomarois from the perspective of its history, geography, folklore and toponymy. This fascinating territory, on the borders of nature and culture, contains multiple facets that tell a thousand-year-old story.
Here we invite you to delve into the heart of a unique landscape, where floodplains, winding canals and wetlands create a remarkable geographical mosaic. You will discover how these natural features have shaped the way of life of the inhabitants and inspired local legends rich in tradition and mystery.
Our FAQ also covers the toponymy of the marsh, revealing the origin and meaning of the place names that punctuate this enigmatic region, thus revealing the influence of cultures and historical events on its identity. Whether you are passionate about history, a nature lover or curious to understand the evolution of landscapes and traditions, this guide will, we hope, provide you with valuable insights and detailed answers.
You can also find our full article on the audomarois marshes
The Audomarois marsh is located in the Hauts-de-France region, straddling the departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais. More precisely, it is located in the northern part of Pas-de-Calais, approximately 70 km from Lille, in the district of Saint-Omer. It is part of the Caps et Marais d'Opale regional nature park. It is bordered to the east by the limits of inland Flanders and to the west by the foothills of Artois.
The closest major towns to the Audomarois marsh are: Calais (about 40 minutes), Dunkirk (about 40 minutes), Lille (about an hour).
Straddling the north and Pas-de-Calais, the Audomarois marsh extends over 15 towns and villages.
The 15 municipalities located in the Audomarois marsh are:
- Saint-Omer (Pas-de-Calais)
- Clairmarais (Pas-de-Calais)
- Serques (Pas-de-Calais)
- Eperlecques (Pas-de-Calais)
- North Peene (North)
- Nieurlet (North)
- Houle (Pas-de-Calais)
- Salperwick (Pas-de-Calais)
- Tilques (Pas-de-Calais)
- Arques (Pas-de-Calais)
- Saint Momelin (North)
- Saint-Martin-au-Laërt (Pas-de-Calais) – Now Saint-Martin lez Tatinghem
- Mold (Pas-de-Calais)
- Longuenesse (Pas-de-Calais)
- cotton wool (North)
The history of the Audomarois marsh spans around 13 centuries and can be summarised as follows:
7th century: Foundation of the town of Saint-Omer on the edge of a marshy basin thanks to the evangelizing action of the monks.
12th century: Beginning of land development under the impetus of the abbeys. Digging of rivers (wateringues) and ditches (watergangs) to facilitate the evacuation of water towards the sea.
12th-19th centuries: Gradual transformation of the swamp into an organized space:
- Development of channels and creation of ponds, particularly due to the extraction of peat.
- Construction of dikes, mills and sluice gates
- Development of market gardening and fishing
19th century: Creation of the railway line between Saint-Omer and Calais (1848).
20th century: Development of the Neufossé canal for large-scale development (works completed in 1967) and improvement of water evacuation systems.
Today, the Audomarois marsh is made up of more than 15 plots of land and water, crossed by 000 kilometers of canals, 700 of which are navigable. It is considered the last cultivated and inhabited marsh in France, with a rich biodiversity and a unique cultural heritage.
The Audomarois Marsh, also known as the Saint-Omer Marsh, covers an area of 3 hectares (726 km²). This vast wetland extends over 37,26 communes spread between the Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments. It is the largest wetland in the Hauts-de-France region, with an average altitude of 15 to 0 meters above sea level. This remarkable expanse makes the Audomarois Marsh a site of major ecological importance, recognized as a Ramsar site and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
The Audomarois marsh is indeed recognized by UNESCO, but not exactly as a world heritage site.
Flashback: In 2013, UNESCO included the Audomarois marsh on the list of Biosphere Reserves as part of the “Man and Biosphere” (MAB) program. This program aims to reconcile human activity with the preservation of biodiversity. It was on May 27, 2013 that the Audomarois marsh was officially designated as the twelfth French biosphere reserve. This recognition underlines the importance of the marsh as a unique ecosystem where man and nature coexist harmoniously.
The Audomarois marsh biosphere reserve covers an area of 22 hectares. It includes not only the marsh itself, but also the historic town of Saint-Omer and its surroundings. This area will be extended in 300 to include all the municipalities gravitating around the Aa, from upstream to the Audomarois marsh.
It is important to note that this designation is different from a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Biosphere Reserve status emphasizes sustainable development and the balance between human activity and nature conservation.
In addition to this recognition by UNESCO, the Audomarois marsh benefits from the label Ramsar site since 2008. This label recognizes its international importance as a wetland.
The Audomarois marsh offers a variety of traditional and modern boats to explore its waters:
Bacôve: Traditional oak boat, measuring 9,5 metres long and 2 metres wide, capable of carrying up to 3,5 tonnes of goods. Formerly used by market gardeners, it is now favoured for tourist cruises.
Escute: Traditional boat smaller than the bacôve, available in 6 sizes ranging from 4 to 8,5 meters. Formerly used by market gardeners for family transport and tools, it is now appreciated for walks and fishing.
Rowing boats: Traditional option offering a more intimate experience. The barquette is the quintessential French wooden boat. It was already used by walkers during the 20th century in the marsh.
Baudequin: Formerly used as an annex for northern barges, now adapted for small pleasure craft.
These different boats allow visitors to choose the experience that suits them best to discover the beauties of the Audomarois marsh.
Please note that bacôves, escutes, barquettes and baudequins are still built by our shipyard, in the Lyzel marsh in Saint-Omer. Our workshop also designs Picardy boats, such as the plate de la Somme. A typical boat of the hortillonnages of Amiens in the 20th century.
The inhabitants of the Audomarois marsh used to use several traditional tools to maintain and exploit their environment:
The baguette : A type of sturdy, long-handled scoop net used to scoop mud out of ditches and canals.
The Trouspa : A type of shovel cut into a “V” shape used to resurface banks.
The edrack (or hédrag): Used to dig ditches.
The Grepe : A type of shovel used to extract peat.
The water guide – spatula for whipping water from watergangs to create a spray for watering crops.
These hand tools were essential for maintaining watergangs (waterways) and cleaning ditches. The baguetternette, for example, could remove up to 50 kg of silt in one go, thus contributing to the natural enrichment of cultivated land.
Market gardeners also used:
A pole, made of ash or willow wood, to move around in a bacôve.
A street, a sort of long flat oar, to move the escutcheon.
The motogodille, ancestor of boat engines.
Powered tools from the 40s: motor pump, motor spade, rotovator, motor cultivators, etc.
Although the use of some of these traditional tools has largely disappeared today, some associations are seeking to perpetuate their use, particularly to respect the fragility of wetlands.
