Bray-Dunes, Beach commune in Nord, France
Bray-Dunes is a seaside town on the North Sea coast with a wide sandy beach stretching along the water and forming France's northern boundary. The settlement lies flat between shore and inland area, with modest homes, shops, and eating places facing toward the water.
In the 1850s the area changed from empty sand dunes into a settlement when an entrepreneur named Alphonse Bray built a retirement home for sailors there. During World War II, local fishing boats from the area played a role in helping soldiers escape from advancing German troops.
The town takes its name from the entrepreneur who shaped it in the 1800s, and today reflects a blend of French and Belgian influences visible in local family businesses and the relaxed everyday interaction between communities on either side of the border.
The place is reachable by bus from Dunkirk and offers swimming beaches, eating places, and lodging for visitors. The warmer months are best for a visit, when the weather is nice for walking along the water.
Local fishing boats were involved in the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation, when thousands of soldiers were rescued by ordinary boats from the coast. This event shows how a small fishing village played a direct role in one of history's great escape operations.
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