The bay of Wissant is a natural wonder located between Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez. Known for its rugged beauty, it is characterized by sandy beaches, dunes and unspoiled natural areas.
The site is accessible all year round
Free
Dogs welcome
Accessible by public transport
Facilities
Café
Picnic area
Toilets
Car parking
Viewpoint
Disabled parking
Cycle parking
Visitor information available
Geosite details
The bay of Wissant is a natural wonder located between Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez. Known for its rugged beauty, it is characterized by sandy beaches, dunes and unspoiled natural areas. This site is home to many species of migratory birds, making it a great place for birdwatchers and nature photographers. Visitors can explore trails that wind through the dunes, offering a glimpse of the local flora, including rare and protected species.
The bay also has interesting geological features, such as marine deposits that bear witness to climate changes over millennia. Walking along the beach, it is possible to observe fossils and remnants of marine life from the past. The bay is also a popular spot for water sports such as windsurfing and kayaking, thanks to its favorable wind conditions.
The 'Big Bang'
13.8 billion years ago
Earth formed
4.6 billion years ago
540 million years ago
The Cambrian explosion of life: animals evolved and diversified as never before on Earth.
Devonian
419 million years ago
390 million years ago the oldest rocks you can see in the Geopark date back to the Middle Devonian. They are still quarried today in the Marquise basin in France.
Carboniferous
359 million years ago
Around 325 million years ago the Geopark was near the equator. The swamp forests from that period are preserved as coal, which was formerly mined in the Marquise basin in France as well as in East Kent and the Nord-Pas-de-Calais.
Permian
299 million years ago
Triassic
252 million years ago
210 million years ago the Geopark was in the centre of the Pangaea supercontinent, and dinosaurs roamed the land!
Jurassic
201 million years ago
150 million years ago the Geopark was submerged under the sea, the sands, clays, limestones, and sandstones that compose the Boulonnais region in France were deposited.
Cretaceous
145 million years ago
Over about 40 million years from 100-60 million years ago, Chalk formed at the bottom of a warm, shallow sea where the Geopark is located today. This was the first step towards the formation of our distinctive chalk landscape, which defines much of the Geopark.
Palaeogene
66 million years ago
Tectonic activity around 40 million years ago uplifted the territory of the Geopark by dozens of metres, creating an extensive chalk landscape that connected France and Great Britain.
Neogene
23 million years ago
Quaternary
2.6 million years ago
450,000 years ago, a megaflood destroyed the chalk ridge connecting Calais and Dover, creating the iconic white cliffs of the Geopark we see today
