Ault, Somme

Situated on the English Channel, on the D19 road, 20 miles west of Abbeville, in the southwest of the department, Ault possesses chalk cliffs overlooking a beach of pebbles (and sand at low tide). To the south of the town is a large wooded area, the ‘Bois de Cise’, in a valley that leads on to the coast. To the north, the cliffs descend to the level of the beach at Onival. The area around the town, the 'hâble d’Ault' was mostly tidal marshland that has been reclaimed from the sea. Cattle, sheep and game are raised here.

[edit] Railways

Ault had a station on the standard gauge Woincourt to Onival line, which closed to passengers in May 1939, but saw much use During World War Two to move materials for the Atlantic Wall. During the war, a metre gauge line was laid alongside the road from Lanchères, on the CFBS, to Ault. This line was dismantled after the war.^[1]

[edit] Population

Population Evolution
1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2004
1996	2014	2192	2058	2054	2070	1935
Census count starting from 1962 : Population without double counting

[edit] Places of interest

The 15th / 16th century church of Saint-Pierre,
The war memorial, designed by Paul Landowski.
Two chapels, at Onival and Bois de Cise dating from the 19th century.
Several ancient village houses.
The lighthouse, with its lantern over 106 metres above sea-level.
The cliffs
The beaches of Ault and Bois de Cise..
The ‘hâble d'Ault’, with signed pathways.

[edit] Sea Defences

The town has paid a heavy price defending itself against the sea, which is constantly washing away the beach, cliffs and public spaces, such as the car parks and gardens. The problem is ongoing. A "balcony on the sea", a huge concrete construction has been built but the risks remain. Signs of wear of the dyke under the casino have been noted. The locals feel somewhat powerless facing this natural phenomenon.