‘Bristling with pinnacles, balconies & bow windows, the sea front is imprinted with the charm of the Belle Epoque & Art Nouveau. The district is classed as a protected site.
In 1873, with the arrival of the railway, Mers-les-Bains was transformed into a seaside resort & was very highly prized by the Parisiens. These amazing villas were then built, giving expression to the explosion in decorative arts at the turn of the century.
More than 300 of them, including some of exceptional workmanship still exist today. It is the only group of ‘Belle Epoque’ buildings along the whole Picardy coast’.
The above text was copied from an information board on the promenade at Mers-les-Bains. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves!
Piedaleau 