Bologne

BOLOGNE
A truly charming place, The Port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, is probably the best point from which to discover the ‘Côte d'Opale’. Split into an upper and lower town it is the Haut Ville (upper medieval section) that is by far the most interesting. Surrounded by ancient defence walls with the 19th Basilique Notre-Dame as its centrepiece, Haut Ville is a maze of cobbled streets and 13th century ramparts. The town’s history is told in the numerous old buildings and monument making it very easy to get lost for hours simply wandering about.

But if you’ve got refreshments on your mind, the Basse Ville is the place to go. There you will find countless restaurants and cafes serving wonderful traditional and international cuisine. For that after dinner tipple Place Godefroy de Bouillon and Place Dalton are the drinking centres of the town whilst the area around Grande-Rue is a shopper’s paradise. You can visit 43 Rue Thiers, a fromargerie, that stocks over 200 cheeses and on Wednesday and Saturday Dalton Market is a fascinating place to discover local produce.

Within easy reach of the town centre you will find the marina. With 470 berths, a superb clubhouse and a full range of excellent marine services the marina caters more than adequately for the thousands of yachtsmen and pleasure boat enthusiasts who venture to this world famous port. The town’s love affair with the sea is further evident in the magnificent Nausicaa, Europe’s largest complex entirely devoted to the ocean. The National Sea Life Centre is home to 11000 marine creatures including rays, sea lions and sharks and is visited by some 800,000 people every year.

Boulogne-sur-Mer is one of the few places you can describe as truly remarkable. A vibrant, friendly and endlessly fascinating town, it offers families and travellers an ideal locale for a day trip, short stay, or base from which to explore the surrounding region.