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Montreuil-sur- A town for all season Montreuil sur mer Around an hour from the port town of Calais, Montreuil-sur-Mer is a perfect weekend destination as well as a great stop off point for travellers going to and from the UK. Easy to reach from the A16 main auto route, coming here offers a slice of history and gastronomy as this little town is home to a superb Michelin star restaurant and a dozen truly excellent brasseries, restaurants and cafés. There are plenty of hotels and chambre d’hotes. If you’re after a special stay and a special meal, the 4 Star Chateau de Montreuil definitely fits the bill. This gorgeous little manor house has 10 charming bedrooms, each different and each special - from medieval style with a 4- poster bed to Chanel-like elegance. The views from every room are fabulous. Owned by renowned chef Christian Germain, understandably the restaurant is a big lure and dishes are of the classic French style. An aperitif and nibbles in the gorgeous salon are de rigeur on a cool day with a big roaring fire. If the sun’s out, the landscaped gardens are exquisite. From here you can easily walk around the ramparts of the citadel, following in the footsteps of Hugo who sat under a plane tree in 1837 dreaming up the story of Les Miserables. The view is largely unchanged. In Place Darnetal, the chocolate boutique, complete with chandelier, is hard to ignore with its handmade chocolates tempting you from the windows. Walk to the left and you’ll arrive in Place Gambetta where you’ll find the Chapelle St Nicolas rebuilt by Clovis Normand, a pupil of Violet le Duc. You’ll also find the Abbatiale St Saulve which was part of a much bigger building from the 12th century. Montreuil-sur-Mer takes its name from the Latin word monasteriolum’ meaning small monastery.
s Mer The town had a strong religious history attracting many pilgrims. Long before that, it was a Roman town. Over the years Montreuil-sur-Mer has seen its fair share of dramatic events including a serious earthquake in the 15th century, invasion by the armies of Emperor Charles Quint, a siege by Henry VIII of England and acting as headquarters for General Haig during World War I. A statue of him astride his horse sits before the town theatre, made by Paul Landowski (whose best known work is Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro). Just to the right as you face General Haig is a fabulous boulangerie - Le Grémont, a contender in the best baker in France competition. Here, the speciality loaf is called a Valjean, named after the character in Les Miserables, who in the book had a factory in Montreuil-sur-Mer. Just across the road is Fromagerie Caseus, a cheese shop that attracts cheese lovers from far and wide to buy its absolutely superb selection. There are plenty of local specialities from stinky Maroilles to sublime Sire de Crequy. The large central square, named after General de Gaulle is lined with bars, restaurants and shops. On a Saturday morning it bursts into life as the weekly market lures shoppers from all over the area. Head to the little rue du Clape en Bas for a tranquil aperitif, or a delicious snack in one of the tiny cafés. Then continue your walk of discovery heading back towards the Citadel to take a tour of the ancient buildings and visit the town museum.
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