Crécy-en-Ponthieu is situated 12 miles (20 km) north of Abbeville.
It gives its name to Crécy Forest, which starts about 2 miles (3 km) to the south-west of the town and which is one of the largest forests in the north of France.
It is best known as the site of the Battle of Crécy in 1346, one of the earliest and most important battles of the Hundred Years' War.