Saint-Valery is situated on the Picardy coast at the mouth of the River Somme.
Its history dates back to before Roman invasion when it was a small settlement inhabited by Gauls.
In 611, the monk Gualaric (Walric), also known as Valery arrived in the area, his disciples forming a primitive abbey. The saint was then buried there in 622, his relics attracting many pilgrims to the abbey which had become known as Saint-Valery.
The village grew during the 10th and 11th centuries and was the site where William the Conqueror assembled his fleet before sailing over to England in 1066.
Joan of Arc was imprisoned here in 1431 before being taken to Rouen for trial.
During the 19th century it was popular with artists and writers, Victor Hugo, Jules Verne, Sisley and Degas all had villas here at one time or another.