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Sub-prefecture of Pas-de-Calais (62)
Population: 42,000 (Boulonnais)
Specialities: Welsh, fried mussels, fish soup, libouli pie, smoked herring, rollmops, "Le vieux Boulogne" cheese
Personalities: Godefroy de Bouillon (knight), Napoléon Bonaparte, Charles Dickens (writer), Jean-Pierre Papin, Franck Ribéry (football), Mickaël Bourgain (track cycling), Jimmy Gressier (athletics).
Sport: US Boulogne Côte d'Opale (football, National), ASPTT VTT, TCB (tennis - Pro A), Stade Olympique Maritime Boulonnais (basketball National 1)
Economy: fishing, shipping.
Festivals: Côte d'Opale festival, Boulogne-sur-Mer comic strip festival.
Labels: cité de la mer, Town of Art and History, city in bloom (4 flowers) and gold flower 2021.
Motto: Boulogne-sur-Mer, capital of the Opal Coast
Websites: https://www.ville-boulogne-sur-mer.fr/ / https://www.boulonnaisautop.com/ / https://www.agglo-boulonnais.fr/
BOULOGNE-SUR-MER AND CYCLING
While the last three stage finishes in Boulogne-sur-Mer have been decided by a sprint, with Dutchman Jean-Paul Van Poppel winning in 1994, Germany's Erik Zabel in 2001 and Peter Sagan in 2012, Boulogne also lends itself to initiatives such as those that have enabled Pierrick Fedrigo and Sylvain Chavanel to win the French champion's jersey here.
In 2005, the town's air particularly inspired Fedrigo, who had also won the leader's pink jersey in the Dunkirk Four Days a few weeks earlier.
Talking of jerseys, the first stage of the Tour to finish in France's leading fishing port in 1949 gave rise to a funny incident. The winner of the stage, Belgian Norbert Callens, did not wear the Yellow Jersey the following day: his coach had forgotten it at the hotel! Instead, the unfortunate Callens borrowed a yellow T-shirt from a journalist to ride the stage.
Winner of the 1945 Tour of Belgium, the classic specialist suffered a heavy crash in the 1949 Tour, which put an end to his career.
Boulogne is also the birthplace of sprinter Mickaël Bourgain, four-time world team sprint champion and individual bronze medallist at the Beijing Olympics.
SIGHTS
Boulogne Castle
Construction: 1227 to 1231.
Style: medieval.
History: the castle and its fortifications were built by Philip Hurepel, son of Philip Augustus, over a period of four years.
The town walls follow the exact line of the Roman castrum of Bononianote, the foundations of which still remain.
The towers were built in the 16th century: the Notre-Dame tower in 1516, the Françoise tower from 1516 to 1531, the Horseshoe from 1550 to 1567, after the English had demolished part of it, and the round tower, which was later rebuilt.
In the 17th century, the castle was converted into barracks, then used as a prison until 1974, when it became the property of the town.
The museum was inaugurated in 1988.
Characteristics: Built at the same time as the ramparts, the Count’s castle is the centrepiece of the medieval defence system.
It was the first fortified castle in the history of military architecture to be built without a keep.
Today, the moat has been partially filled with water and the drawbridge has been restored.
Inside, the most remarkable rooms are in the lower part: the chapel, the count's room and the underground passageways.
Not to be missed is the magnificent Gothic Barbière room, adjoining the former prison.
Listed as: Historical monument since 1977.
Museum
Founded: 1825.
Characteristics: housed in the château, it boasts rich collections, some of which are unique in Europe (Egyptian antiquities, ancient Greek vases, Gallo-Roman antiquities, Alaskan masks, art from Oceania and Africa, earthenware and porcelain, fine arts, medieval art).
The Fine and Decorative Arts department features Italian and Flemish paintings from the 15th to 17th centuries, a collection of 19th-century French paintings and sculptures by artists including Courbet, Corot, Boudin, Sisley, Rodin, Carpeaux and Gallé, as well as a collection of 19th-century works by Opal Coast artists.
The tour concludes with a group of paintings donated by Boulogne-born abstract artist Georges Mathieu.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1977 (building). Museum of France.
Website: https://musee.boulogne-sur-mer.fr/
Basilica of Our Lady of the Conception
Construction: 19th century.
Style: neoclassical.
History and characteristics: inspired by the religious architecture of classical times, it is the work of Abbot Haffreingue, who drew up the plans himself.
The basilica rests on a vast crypt that includes the remains of the Romanesque crypt and a treasure trove of sacred art.
It was built in the 19th century on the ruins of the medieval cathedral.
Its 100-m-high dome dominates the city.
Special features: the church rests on one of the largest crypts in France, which serves as its foundation (128-metres long and 42-metres wide).
Dating from the 12th century, it was rediscovered during reconstruction work.
It houses a treasure trove of sacred art, of which the reliquary of the Holy Blood, donated in 1308 by Philip the Fair, is the most remarkable piece.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1982.
Website: https://cathedrale.boulogne-sur-mer.fr/
Nausicaa Park
Since its opening, Nausicaa has been committed to raising public awareness of the need for better management of the marine environment.
It immerses visitors in Europe's largest complex dedicated to knowledge of the marine world: 4.5 million litres of water, 36 aquariums, 35,000 animals and 1,000 species that the public will never see so closely.
Website: https://www.nausicaa.fr
TO EAT
Gainée boulonnaise
La gainée boulonnaise is a typical Boulogne dish made with fish, vegetables, onions and crème fraiche.
It is to Boulogne-sur-Mer what bouillabaisse is to Marseille.
Depending on the season and the fishing grounds, you'll never find the same species of fish in the gainée.
