Just over two hours from Paris, Saint-Omer is a great choice for a weekend getaway combining heritage and nature. Its historic center is easy to explore on foot, while the Audomarois Marshes begin almost at the city’s gates. In a single day, you can go from a boat ride through the vegetable gardens to the cathedral and the historic streets.
The Audomarois Marshes: 170 km of canals on the outskirts of Saint-Omer
The Audomarois Marshes cover approximately 3,700 hectares around Saint-Omer. Its 170 km of waterways wind through gardens, meadows, reed beds, and land still farmed by market gardeners. Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it remains one of the last cultivated marshes in Europe.
To explore the area, guided tours take visitors along the small canals aboard traditional boats, notably the “bacôves,” which were once used to transport crops. These long, flat-bottomed boats served as true modes of transportation in the marshes: they were loaded with wood, building materials, and, above all, cauliflowers—which have become one of Saint-Omer’s specialties.
The tour passes by houses, docks, vegetable gardens, and a few stalls where farmers sell their marsh-grown vegetables directly to customers. About thirty market gardeners still farm nearly 400 hectares and grow some fifty varieties, including summer cauliflower, endive, and Tilques carrots.
What to see in Saint-Omer after a trip through the marshes?
Saint-Omer boasts a compact historic center, dominated by the Notre-Dame-des-Miracles Cathedral. Rebuilt in the Gothic style beginning in the late 12th century, it preserves several centuries of architectural history and has been listed as a historic monument since 1840.
A few streets away, the ruins of Saint-Bertin Abbey offer a very different setting. Only part of this former Gothic complex—once one of the largest in northern France—remains, but its large arches are enough to give a sense of its former scale. In between, the Grand-Place, historic houses, and cafés provide the perfect setting to end the day on a peaceful note.
Saint-Omer works particularly well as a two-day trip: spend the first day exploring the marshes, then the second in the historic center or on a bike ride along the canals. It’s a well-rounded getaway, featuring water, heritage, and a local character unlike the usual destinations around Paris.
📍Saint-Omer