Ault facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ault
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The beach at Ault
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 Ault
Location in France
Ault
Location in Hauts-de-France
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| Country | France | |
| Region | Hauts-de-France | |
| Department | Somme | |
| Arrondissement | Abbeville | |
| Canton | Friville-Escarbotin | |
| Intercommunality | CC Villes Sœurs | |
| Area
1
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5.99 km2 (2.31 sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) | |
| INSEE/Postal code |
80039 /80460
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| Elevation | 0–107 m (0–351 ft) (avg. 86 m or 282 ft) |
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| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | ||
Ault is a small town in the north of France. It's part of the Hauts-de-France region and the Somme department. A "commune" is like a local area or town in France.
Ault is right on the English Channel, about 32 kilometers (20 miles) west of Abbeville. It's famous for its tall, white chalk cliffs and a beach with pebbles. When the tide is low, you can also see sand.
South of Ault, there's a big, beautiful forest valley called the ‘Bois de Cise’. To the north, the cliffs get lower until they meet the beach at a place called Onival. The land around Ault, known as the 'hâble d’Ault', used to be mostly marshland covered by the sea. Now, this land has been made dry and is used by farmers to raise cattle and sheep.
Ault's Railway History
Ault once had its own train station. It was on a railway line that went from Woincourt to Onival. This line stopped carrying passengers in May 1939.
However, the railway was still used during World War II. It helped move building materials for the Atlantic Wall. The Atlantic Wall was a huge line of defenses built by Germany along the coast. During the war, another smaller train line was built next to the road from Lanchères to Ault. This line was removed after the war ended.
Cool Places to See in Ault
Ault has many interesting spots to explore:
- The old church of Saint-Pierre was built in the 15th century. That's over 500 years ago!
- There's a war memorial designed by a famous artist named Paul Landowski.
- You can visit two small chapels in Onival and Bois de Cise. They are from the 19th century.
- Look out for several old village houses that show how people used to live.
- The lighthouse is a tall structure that helps guide ships. It stands 106 meters (about 348 feet) above sea-level.
- The amazing chalk cliffs are a natural wonder.
- Enjoy the beaches of Ault and Bois de Cise, perfect for a walk.
- Explore the ‘hâble d'Ault’ area, which has special walking paths.
Protecting Ault from the Sea
The sea is slowly washing away parts of Ault's coast. This includes the beach, the cliffs, and even public areas like car parks and gardens. To help protect the town, a huge concrete structure called a "balcony on the sea" has been built. This acts like a giant wall against the waves. However, even this strong dyke (sea wall) shows signs of wear and tear, especially near the old casino.
