Landrethun-lès-Ardres is a French commune located in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region. It is situated at the heart of the triangle formed by Calais, Saint-Omer, and Boulogne-sur-Mer. The residents are known as Landrethunois. The commune is renowned for its high-quality strawberry production.

The essential

— Landrethun strawberries

It’s challenging to pinpoint their exact origin, but strawberry cultivation in our quaint village dates back many decades. Our growers assert that this is where they thrive best. The soil is more limestone-rich compared to neighboring villages—it’s fertile and well-drained. Strawberries are delicate and detest having their feet in water, which is why a sufficiently draining terrain is essential.

After the war, a wholesaler from Dunkirk would come twice a week to collect strawberries from the village, selling them to local greengrocers for markets. They were packaged in 5 kg crates with newspaper lining! That’s how Landrethun strawberries gained their reputation. Every family used to cultivate them. This renown also gave its name to a village hike held in early June (strawberry picking season), organized by the ‘Nature and Traditions’ association—a trek known as the ‘Strawberry Hike.’