Mers-les-Bains, one of the ‘Trois Villes Soeurs’
Mers-les-Bains is a charming seaside resort located at the mouth of the Bresle River, which marks the border between Normandy and Picardy.
Together with Le Tréport and Eu, it forms the Bresle-Maritimes Interregional Community, known as the Trois Villes Soeurs – Three Sister Cities. This enclave is nestled in the heart of the beautiful Opal Coast.
Traces of human presence in the region date back to the Palaeolithic era, as evidenced by the numerous flint tools discovered. The remains of a temple that the Romans dedicated to Mars, their god of war, were also found.
However, it was only in the 19th century that Mers-les-Bains transformed from a modest fishing village into a popular destination, thanks to the enthusiasm of the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie for sea bathing. By then, Le Tréport had already been a renowned seaside resort for years.
The making of Mers-les-Bains
Thus, faced with the growing popularity of seaside leisure, Louis-Philippe decided to create a second resort with a marina on the north bank of the Bresle River.
The only available land for this ambitious project was the communal meadow of Mers-les-Bains, a vast expanse located between the two existing resorts.
The development of the new resort unfolded in three phases. The first houses were built along the seafront, at the foot of the cliff and on the southern part of the meadow between 1809 and 1850, and the seafront promenade was extended in 1862.
The opening of the Paris-Le Tréport railway line in 1872 cemented the resort’s success, facilitating access for visitors from the capital and beyond. Finally, between 1880 and 1896, the land beyond the casino was developed, the last phase of the seaside resort’s development, which thus spanned nine decades!
Mers-les-Bains – architecture
The most recent houses in Mers-les-Bains were built at the beginning of the 20th century, reflecting the evolution of 19th-century seaside architectural styles, from Anglo-Flemish to Art Nouveau.
Considered an emblematic example of the Belle Époque, Mers-les-Bains boasts a wide variety of architectural styles.
The earliest houses built along the seafront feature a minimalist design, with exposed brick, wrought-iron balconies, and Mansard-style dormer windows.
The influx of wealthy foreign visitors, particularly from England, encouraged the construction of tall, narrow terraced houses along the seafront to maximise the use of available land.
These elegant villas featured bow windows, loggias, and richly decorated facades, reflecting the opulence of the era.
However, townhouses maintained a more understated style, with discreet facades and elegant wrought-iron balconies.
The emergence of Art Nouveau in the 1890s resulted in sumptuous floral motifs and regional architectural elements. This architectural style favoured materials such as terracotta, glass paste, fine earthenware, and glazed stoneware, which served both decorative and utilitarian functions, often adorning house names and shop signs.
Complex patterns in bricks and tiles of varying colours were used to create distinctive facades and roofs, giving each building its own unique artistic identity. Today, these houses bear witness to a bygone era and remain as spectacular.
A green holiday resort
It goes without saying that the First World War triggered a decline in the popularity of sea bathing. The country indeed had other concerns!
However, Mers-les-Bains experienced a resurgence in 1937 with the introduction of paid vacations, that led to the construction of numerous boarding houses to accommodate Parisian working-class families. For many, this was their first encounter with the sea!
Remarkably, the unique architectural heritage of Mers-les-Bains escaped the ravages of the Second World War.
In 1986, the seafront, the adjacent streets, and the town centre were designated a “conservation zone.”
Today, Mers-les-Bains remains a highly sought-after seaside resort, charming visitors with its Belle Époque architecture.
Its 900-metre long pebble beach, stretching at the foot of the white chalk cliffs, transforms into a vast expanse of sand at low tide.
In 2009, Mers-les-Bains was officially recognised as a “seaside resort and tourist destination.” It received the Station Verte de Vacances’ (green holiday resort) label in 2011, highlighting its commitment to sustainable development, and was designated a Ville Ludique et Sportive (fun and sporty town) the same year.
Department of Somme – Picardie region
Coordinates: Lat 50.066072 – Long 1.389287
