A marshy forest that stretched around the Aa estuary was covered by sea waters during the 4th century. Arising from the filling of the Aa estuary, which reached as far as Saint-Omer, the polder of the platier (flat land) was formed by the appearance of sandbanks at the end of the 17th century.
In 1953, the site was flooded again: a meter of water covered the meadows.
In the 1970s, a group of investors purchased the site to build a housing development of over 1,000 houses in the dunes west of Grand Fort Philippe. Fortunately, technical difficulties encountered during the construction of the first houses brought the project to a halt. This small development was named "Les Ecardines." The state subsequently purchased the land through the Conservatoire du Littoral and the town of Oye-Plage, creating the Platier d'Oye Nature Reserve in 1987. A large portion of the dunes is now protected.
Today, the commune of Oye-Plage has the longest beach in Nord Pas-de-Calais, known as "Plage des Dunes": almost 10km of dunes without any construction on the seafront, stretching from Grand Fort Philippe to Plage des Hemmes towards Calais.
Surrounded by the towns of Calais and Dunkirk, located in the commune of Oye Plage, the Platier d'Oye nature reserve is the primary feeding ground on the Channel/North Sea coast for migratory birds en route to their winter quarters. This 400-hectare reserve now boasts an exceptionally rich flora and fauna. You'll encounter a wide variety of birds (lapwing, green mallard, shoveler, etc.) and natural environments... that will make you dream. Don't forget your binoculars!
SENTIER PLATIER.pdfDownload PDF • 1.34MB
As a bonus you can consult this information site very interesting.
And download the 2014 plan of Platier and its information sheet: Plan Platier d Oye.pdf Download PDF • 75KB
map.pdfDownload PDF • 173KB
The fine sandy beach of Ecardines (and not Escadines) is accessible via paths marked by the Dunes cordon or more simply by a wooden staircase directly to the supervised area during the months of July and August.
For lovers of wild beaches, the place is exceptional because it has remained in its natural state, without buildings.
It is also an ideal setting for indulging in the pleasures of the beach or for walks along the seaside.
