Creation of the Bird House 1984 (≈ 1984)
Opening of the museum on the old farmhouse.
2011
Renamed Maison de la Baie de Somme
Renamed Maison de la Baie de Somme 2011 (≈ 2011)
Obtaining the label Grand Site de France.
2021
Renovation of scenography
Renovation of scenography 2021 (≈ 2021)
Modernisation of spaces and immersive routes.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Gaston Holleville - Donor and former breeder
Sent the farm body to Lanchères.
Origin and history
The House of the Bay of Somme is a centre of interpretation dedicated to the landscapes, fauna and flora of the estuary of the Somme. Although often associated with Cayeux-sur-Mer, it is actually located in the municipality of Lanchères, at the crossroads of Hourdel, between Cayeux-sur-Mer and Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. Its mission is to raise public awareness of the ecological and natural richness of this coastal region of Hauts-de-France.
The museum was created in 1984 under the name Maison de l'Oiseau, on the site of an old farmhouse given to the town of Lancheres by Gaston Holleville, a sheep breeder. The latter imposed as a condition that the site honor birds. The museum was designed with dioramas showing 350 naturalized birds in their habitats, complemented by an outdoor route.
In 2011, after receiving the Grand Site de France label, the museum was renamed Maison de la Baie de Somme and became a wider interpretation centre. Managed by the Syndicat Mixée Baie de Somme grand littoral picard, it has evolved to include new themes, such as human history, geology, local craftsmanship and the natural risks of the Picard coast. A renovation in 2021 modernized its space with immersive scenography, aimed at attracting more than 35,000 visitors annually.
