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Natural Monuments

Seal Colony of the Authie Bay

Natural Monuments

Seal Colony of the Authie Bay

Highlight • Natural Monument

Seal Colony of the Authie Bay

Recommended by 19 road cyclists out of 20

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Parc naturel marin des Estuaires picards et de la mer d'Opale

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Location: Berck, Montreuil, Hauts-De-France, France

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Best Road Cycling Rides to Seal Colony of the Authie Bay

3.0

(1)

186

riders

1. Stella Beach – Seal Colony of the Authie Bay loop from L'Hermitage

43.7km

01:53

100m

Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

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Moderate

4.3

(10)

258

riders

2. Port de la Madelon – Seal Colony of the Authie Bay loop from Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont

66.1km

03:12

110m

Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

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Moderate

4.3

(3)

riders

3. Le Touquet Lighthouse – Seal Colony of the Authie Bay loop from Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

57.2km

02:31

240m

Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

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Moderate

Tips

Fabrice Rigalleau

July 3, 2022

Here gathers a whole colony of seals from the Bay of Authie who come to rest on the sandbank in front of the nautical base. An incredible and magical spectacle, easily accessible by road bike. 2 species live there: harbor seals (smaller) and gray seals (larger, especially the males).
The bay of Authie is an ideal space for these mammals because the sandbank brings them rest, warmth and protection and the sea offers them fish at will. The seals bask on the sandbar in order to recover and then hunt during high tide. Indeed, their favorite activity requires a lot of energy, so it is vital for them to rest and store fat in order to be ready for winter.
Furthermore, studies have shown that seals can sleep at sea with only half of their brains dormant. The left hemisphere is at rest while the right hemisphere remains awake. On the other hand, when they are on dry land, seals sleep like humans, deeper and longer. They therefore need these moments of rest on the coast to fully recover. Reason for which it is necessary to observe them by leaving them alone and especially not to frighten them.

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Doc

November 26, 2025

Very surprising and worth seeing

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Details

Informations

Elevation 10 m

Weather

Saturday 13 December

11°C

4°C

22 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 17.0 km/h

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Location: Berck, Montreuil, Hauts-De-France, France

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Viewpoint

Seal Colony of the Authie Bay

1. Stella Beach – Seal Colony of the Authie Bay loop from L'Hermitage

2. Port de la Madelon – Seal Colony of the Authie Bay loop from Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont

3. Le Touquet Lighthouse – Seal Colony of the Authie Bay loop from Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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