Maison de la Baie de Somme et de l'Oiseau

In Lanchères, the Maison de la Baie de Somme et de l’Oiseau blends into the landscape with its long and low buildings in the style of traditional Picardy farms. Outside, around the lake, you can watch the ducks, geese and other typical wetland birds. An educational tour is organised from hideouts.

Explore Baie de Somme
Explore the estuary, its plants and wildlife and traditional activities

> nature outings

Choose fresh air

Two rooms are available for all your meetings and work meetings. You can combine work and relaxation discovering the Bay in one programme.

Unlimited access to the Maison de la Baie de Somme et de l'Oiseau all year round*

Prices: €15

*Card valid 1 year

Making children ambassadors
Schools are welcome for visits and fun and educational workshops. Learning to observe nature, fieldwork, etc... Educational leaflets are available for teachers to help them prepare the visit.

Educational workshops:
- Feathers, flight and migration. Are birds the only animals that have feathers? What are they for? How do they fly? Where do they go?
- Who eat who? Their diet reveals how and where birds live: Their morphology enables us to study their food sources.
- Water. Discover this precious molecule and its cycle through nature: presentations and experiences.
- Tide lines. With the natural materials brought by the tides, create a scene from the estuary on a stand.
- Exploring the estuary. Learn how to read the landscape and discover life in the Bay, ruled by the tides.
- Discovering the tides. All the facets of life in wetlands: fish and identify the wildlife and plants in a mini-pond.
- Discovering the Cise woods cliffs. Understand how cliffs form and discover the animal world and plant life at the food of the chalk cathedrals.
- Discover the bird reserve at the Hâble d'Ault. Behind the longest pebble beach in Europe, Visit the grasslands, marshes and dunes where over 250 species of birds and unique plants thrive.

You will be able to find about the wildlife and plants of the Bay in the Museum by taking part in the organised outings.

Guided visit of the museum - Lasts: 1h00

> Nature outings

The "Baie de Somme Café": hot and cold drinks and snacks. You can order picnic hampers.

Bike rental (12 bikes available)

Room rental: Two conference rooms with full audiovisual and IT equipment seating 25 to 70 people. Please book

A high flying wildlife collection
Over 300 species of birds are represented, including a collection of 151 species of ducks, unique in Europe, a collection of waders and hummingbirds.
Various natural environments (cliffs, woods, dunes, marshes) have been recreated and the main species are shown in their natural environment.
Hundreds of geese and European ducks live in our educational marsh. Other exhibitions present the very varied wildlife, including the harbour seals that have chosen to live in our Bay.

Deciphering the Bay
Discovering the entire Bay: its geological and maritime evolution, the ecosystems, the interaction between humans and the natural environment as well as what is at stake when preserving it. During the tour, all the materials needed to read it are presented: models, dioramas, temporary exhibitions and the screening of the film "Against wind and tide" on the future of the Bay.

Transmit our culture and heritage to future generations

The Maison de la Baie de Somme et de l’Oiseau isn't just a centre for the understanding of the Bay's species and environments. It offers nature and educational outings for visitors. Its location means it is a natural centre for nature tourism and an important centre in the management of tourism flows to the South of the Bay.
It is where footpaths to the Hâble d'Ault and the Pointe du Hourdel bird reserves converge. The network of cycle paths enables visitors to leave their cars on the carpark and enjoy the paths by bike or on foot. It is the start of a new flow management system, part of the Grand Site© Operation in Baie de Somme.

It also houses Picardie Nature, a Regional Association for the Protection of Nature and the Environment, which launched a study and protection programme for the Bay's common seal and has a health centre.

A study has been launched in order to make the Bay a real centre for the interpretation of the Baie de Somme. Children and adults

ENJOYING YOUR VISIT TO THE FULL

Refreshments
The "Baie de Somme Café" serves warm and cold drinks and a selection of sweets.
 
Going for a ride
You can leave your car and hit the surrounding paths on a bike. Bike rental for children and adults. Find out more about cycle routes: www.baiecyclette.com
 
Organising a private visit
You can book a visit with a nature guide who will share their knowledge and passion for the Baie.

Giftshop
There is something for everyone, kids and grown-ups, amateurs and specialists: books on the Baie de Somme, local products, a nature range specially designed for children: games, puzzles, soft toys and books. A reference in the Bay for everything related to the Baie de Somme seals: t-shirts, soft toys...

> Find out more