Things to do in and around the Boulogne Area

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Things to do in Boulogne-sur-Mer

The Fortified Town of Boulogne

Boulogne-sur-Mer is the best-preserved fortified site in Northern France. The Old Town occupies about a square kilometre of period buildings dominated by the Belfry and and the cathedral dome. The medieval fortifications were constructed between 1227 and 1231 by the then Count of Boulogne. There are guided tours daily, more details can be found at www.tourisme-boulognesurmer.com

Le Château-Musée (The Castle Museum)

The castle was built at the same time as the city walls, and is a powerful centrepiece of the towns medieval fortifications. Unlike other castles there there is no central keep, a quirk of design unique in Europe. The museum itself was founded in 1825 with some very wide-ranging artefacts, including Egyptian antiquities, Greek vases, pieces from ancient Gaul and the Roman period, and many more.

The Basilica of Notre-Dame

The basilica of Notre Dame was erected between 1827 and 1866 by Father Haffreingue on the ruins of the ancient cathedral which was destroyed after the French Revolution. The design of the 101 metre dome was inspired by St. Pauls Cathedral in London, St. Peter’s in Rome and the Invalides in Paris.

The Belfry and Town Hall

The Belfry was the Roman-style keep of the Counts of Boulogne, and was listed by UNESCO in 2005.

The Town hall was built in 1734 during the reign of Louis the XV. The classical style is the only one in the town built with both brick and stone.

The Marina

Right next to the city centre, the marina is a pleasant walk in the evenings.

The Column of the Great Army

The column was initially intended to commemorate a successful invasion of England, but it now commemorates the first distribution of the Imperial Légion d'honneur at the "camp de Boulogne", by Napoleon to the soldiers of the Army of England. In September 1804 Marshal Soult informed the emperor of the army's wish to erect such a column and for its site the town of Boulogne bought the estate of the old royalist, the widow Delahodde-Fourcroy, who reluctantly ceded her field for a monument to the man she called "the usurper".

Nausicaa

The French National Sea Experience Centre in Boulogne is much more than a mere aquarium. NAUSICAA is a unique place where visitors can discover the marine environment. It has more than 34,000 species, 4.5 million litres of water, 46 aquariums, 9 terrariums, with soundscapes and lighting effects.

The Fish Market

The fish market is near the entrance to the marina, and is open to the public daily depending on the weather conditions.

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