FAQ

La Cave Gourmande is at 6 Rue Léon Blum, 59820 Gravelines, about 5 min by car from the gîte (4 km). Tel: 03 28 65 01 92. Open Tue-Sat 9:30am–12:30pm and 2:30pm–7pm.

To check availability for the Bouteille A la Mer gîte, visit our online calendar: https://reservation.bouteillealamer.fr — or contact us via WhatsApp: +33 7 45 05 14 38

Yes! The line 26 DK'BUS stop is located just 50 meters from the guesthouse. The DK'BUS network is completely FREE (no ticket required) and serves Gravelines (15 min), Dunkirk (30 min with connection) and the entire urban community to the Belgian border. Buses run regularly from 6am to 9pm. Check the DK'BUS Live app for real-time schedules.

The address of the cottage is 9 avenue du Calvaire in Grand Fort Philippe, the house is oriented north east on the seafront on the mouth of the AA facing the beach of the resort of Gravelines and its lighthouse

To view the availability of the Bottle to the Sea house, you can click on the link 'Disponibilities' or contact us directly via the online form or WhatsApp.

Yes, the Super U supermarket is on Avenue Pierre Pleuvret (Le Cochon Noir) in Grand-Fort-Philippe, 3-5 minutes by car. Open Monday-Saturday 8:30am-7:30pm and Sunday 9am-7pm.

The DK'BUS network is a completely free public transport service that serves the Dunkerque region and its surroundings, including Belgium. It makes it easy to travel without a car and is equipped to accommodate people with reduced mobility.

The DK'BUS network offers a completely free transportation service in the area. It serves Gravelines, Dunkerque and the entire urban community to the Belgian border. The buses run regularly from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the stop is 50 meters from the house.

We accept payments by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), check and bank transfer. For more information, we invite you to visit our website or contact us directly.

Cancellation conditions are as follows: more than 14 days before arrival, full refund of the arrests/account; 14 to 7 days before, refund of 50% of the account; less than 7 days, no refund.

We offer prices tailored to each season. To know our current rates, we invite you to check out our website or contact us directly. We will be happy to provide you with the information you need to plan your stay.

Yes! A smart assistant is available 24/7 to answer all your questions about the cottage and the region.\n\n👉 <a href="https://chat.bouteillealamer.fr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Access the chatbot

Public parking is free and easy. Spaces are available right in front of the house or near the boat ramp.

You can park your car at the lodge, there is no parking fee. You can then use public transport, such as Line 26, which is only 50 meters from the lodge, to move around the area.

The nearest bakery is "Épi et Chocolat", located at 1 Place Joseph Leprêtre in Grand-Fort-Philippe, 250 metres from the gîte (3 minutes on foot). It offers fresh croissants, regional breads and pastries every morning.

The nearest restaurant is "Le Gouvern'ail", at 1 Boulevard Léon Marchal in Grand-Fort-Philippe, literally next door to the gîte (30 seconds on foot). Generous local cuisine with a terrace overlooking the canal.

Yes, Pharmacie Duhamel is at 20 Rue Albert 1er in Grand-Fort-Philippe, less than 5 minutes on foot from the gîte.

In Grand-Fort-Philippe, the best places to find fresh and smoked fish are La Crustacerie du Minck (also known as L’Argonaute), the Jean Duroy fishmonger’s, and the traditional Jannin smokehouse, which specialises in artisanal fish smoking. The first two focus mainly on fresh fish from the fish market and seafood, and are located along the harbour

Addresses:
La Crustacerie du Minck / L’Argonaute — 40 Boulevard Carnot

Saurisserie Jannin — 1 bis Avenue de Dunkerque

Jean Deroy — 42 Boulevard Carnot

The nearest grocery shop is Alimentation Félix Faure, at 44 Rue Félix Faure in Grand-Fort-Philippe (59153), a few minutes' walk from the gîte. Open every day, at least in the morning.

The city of Gravelines offers many historical monuments to visit, such as the castle-citadel, the small powder barracks, the barracks, the tank, the guard corps, as well as the buried 19th century powder barracks and the Second World War Blockhaus.

Platier d'Oye is a national nature reserve located in Oye-Plage in Pas-de-Calais, offering exceptional biodiversity with a wide variety of migratory birds and remarkable Danube landscapes.

The hostel offers many sports and outdoor activities such as sailing, kayaking, fishing, kite surfing, stand up paddle, sailing, as well as hiking, cycling and horseback riding. You can also visit Kent in England, located nearby, and discover its art galleries, heritage sites and natural landscapes.

The Platier d'Oye National Nature Reserve starts right next to the cottage: the dunes begin at the Parc de l'Estran, 10 min on foot, and the wild beach is 25 min on foot through the dunes. The Maison du Platier and Les Escardines beach are 10 min by car (Les Dunes car park, avenue du Platier). Salt meadows, dunes and ponds host tens of thousands of migratory birds every year. Free entry, marked trails and bird hides.

Yes! Cap Gris-Nez (28 km from England) is 25 km from the cottage. Cap Blanc-Nez (134m chalk cliffs) is 30 km away. Both connected by the coastal GR trail. Dolphins, raptors and ships can be spotted.

Water quality is Excellent at beaches near the gîte, per the official French health authority ARS rating (2025 season):

🏖️ Petit-Fort-Philippe beach — 0.3 km → Excellent — lifeguards July-Aug
🏖️ Grand-Fort-Philippe — 1.2 km → Excellent — lifeguards July-Aug ♿
🏖️ Oye-Plage Les Dunes — 2.8 km → Excellent — unguarded
🏖️ Calais Centre Plage — 18.6 km → Excellent — lifeguards July-Aug ♿
🏖️ Malo Centre (Dunkerque) — 20 km → Good — lifeguards July-Aug ♿

Swimming is permitted year-round. Lifeguard supervision is July-August only.

Several beaches can be reached from the cottage (by bike or car, times are to the car park; the last stretch is on foot): Grand-Fort-Philippe beach, 5 min on foot, has no direct access to the sea — at low tide you reach the sea along the jetty via a wet crossing (15 min on foot). A wild beach is 25 min on foot through the dunes. Petit-Fort-Philippe beach (Blue Flag, lifeguards in July–August) is 20 min via La Canote, the free foot ferry, when it runs, or 11 min by car. Les Escardines beach in Oye-Plage (lifeguards in July–August) is 10 min by car or 15 min by bike. Further west, without lifeguards: Abri Côtier (10 min), Les Hemmes d'Oye (15 min) and Marck (20 min) by car.

Near the cottage, two beaches have lifeguards, in July and August only: Petit-Fort-Philippe (Blue Flag, water quality Excellent, showers, toilets, accessible) and Les Escardines in Oye-Plage (water quality Excellent). Grand-Fort-Philippe beach, 5 min on foot, is not a bathing beach: it has no direct access to the sea. Water quality is monitored every year by the regional health agency (ARS).

To find out the equinox tides opposite the gîte, I’ll use the information provided. 🌊 TODAY’S TIDES IN GRAVELINES: 🌊 High tide 01:07 (6.43m) [tidal range 96] 🏖️ Low tide 08:22 (0.56m) 🌊 High tide 13:35 (6.39m) [tide range 98] 🏖️ Low tide 20:42 (0.65m) Spring tides occur twice a year, in March or April and in September or October. It is possible that the spring tides may differ slightly from the current tides. To find out about the equinox tides opposite the gîte, here is the information: Spring equinox tides: Spring equinox tides occur in March or April. The exact dates vary from year to year, but they generally occur around 20 or 21 March or 19 or 20 April. Autumnal equinox tides: Autumnal equinox tides occur in September or October. The exact dates vary from year to year, but they usually occur around 22 or 23 September or 21 or 22 October. Here are the equinox tides for the coming years: 2026: Spring equinox tides: 20 March 2026 (PM 06:37, coefficient 98) and 21 March 2026 (BM 10:53, coefficient 96). Autumnal equinox tides: 22 September 2026 (high tide at 08:32, coefficient 98) and 23 September 2026 (low tide at 14:48, coefficient 96). 2027: Spring equinox tides: 20 March 2027 (high tide 07:42, coefficient 96) and 21 March 2027 (low tide 12:00, coefficient 98). Autumnal equinox tides: 22 September 2027 (PM 09:37, coefficient 96) and 23 September 2027 (BM 16:04, coefficient 98)

Yes! The gîte has a high-speed fibre WiFi 6 connection covering all rooms and the garden. The access code will be provided upon your arrival by your hosts.

The region has many listed monuments. In Gravelines: Vauban Fortifications, Petit-Fort-Philippe Lighthouse, Museum of Drawing and Printmaking. Nearby: Dunkirk, Bergues.

Yes — Gravelines' Vauban fortifications are among the best preserved in France. The fort houses the Museum of Drawing and Printmaking, unique in France with 30,000 works.

The DK'Bus network serves Gravelines, Grand-Fort-Philippe and the Dunkirk urban area. Unique feature: DK'Bus is completely FREE for all passengers. Ask our chatbot for lines, stops and timetables.

The house can accommodate up to 10 people maximum (adults and children included).

The sea-view gîte has 4 bedrooms (2 double beds, 4 single beds) and a dormitory (5 single beds), 2 bathrooms, fitted kitchen (oven, dishwasher, microwave...), living room with TV, WiFi, terrace, garden, barbecue, parking. Sheets and towels available.

The region has remarkable museums: Gravelines Drawing Museum (in Vauban fort), LAAC Dunkirk (contemporary art), Dunkirk Port Museum (4 museum boats), Calais Lace Museum, and Nausicaá in Boulogne (Europe's largest aquarium).

Oui, la région est réputée pour ses brocantes et braderies :

Braderie de Lille (1er week-end de septembre) — La plus grande braderie d Europe, 2 millions de visiteurs, 10 000 exposants. A 1h du gîte (75 km). Incontournable !

Marché aux Puces de Dunkerque — 1er dimanche du mois, Place du Grand Large (19 km). 200+ exposants, toute l année.

Brocante de Gravelines — Place d Armes, en août. Dans les fortifications Vauban, ambiance unique (2,5 km).

Vide-greniers d Oye-Plage — Ponctuellement en été (3 km).

Notre assistant peut vous indiquer les dates précises des brocantes selon vos dates de séjour.

Yes! The region is famous for its flea markets: Dunkirk Flea Market (1st Sunday of the month), Gravelines Antique Fair (August), and the legendary Lille Braderie (1st weekend of September, Europe's largest).