Montreuil-sur-Mer, French commune in Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France
Montreuil-sur-Mer is a small town built on a hillside and surrounded by thick stone walls that have stood for centuries. Narrow cobbled streets with traditional stone facades lead through a compact center with shops, cafes, and a fortress at the edge that overlooks the surrounding landscape.
The town was an important medieval port on the Canche river until the waterway silted up and trade declined. Fortifications were built starting in the 12th century under King Philip Augustus and later reinforced by military engineer Vauban.
The name Montreuil-sur-Mer reflects its past as a working port, though water no longer reaches this height. Local residents gather in the narrow streets and squares for markets selling fresh bread, cheese, and vegetables, keeping traditional ways of community life alive.
The town is small enough to explore on foot, with free or affordable parking at the edges. The best time to visit is during daylight when shops and cafes are open and the walls offer clear views over the fields and valleys.
Victor Hugo visited the town around 1837 and used it as the setting for his novel Les Miserables, where Jean Valjean's story begins. Every summer, locals and volunteers perform nighttime shows with music and lights that bring the novel to life.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
