Despite the fact that the coat of arms of Boulogne-sur-Mer does not represent a fish (a goose), this northern town is considered one of the leading fishing ports in the whole country. . In addition, it is possible that this is also one of the most interesting cities for this side of the Pas de Calais . Boulogne is located in the heart of the so-called Opal Coast, and English tourists like to come here for a day by ferry from Dover . Here it really should be at least a day to see the majestic Notre- Ladies, take a walk through the medieval fortress and from the belly to eat the village ki .
How to get to Boulogne-sur-Mer
Boulogne is easy to get from Calais by rail: the trip will take about half an hour. You can also take the train to get here from Lille (per hour), Amiens (an hour and a quarter) or Paris (2 hours). In addition, the city is connected with Paris, London and Birmingham buses Megabas: Boulogne is located 20 minutes from Eurotunnel
Search for tickets to Lille (the nearest airport to Boulogne-sur-Mer)
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A little history
The city was founded yet Celts, and the Romans enjoyed using it as a seaport for communication with the British Isles . In particular, the Emperor Claudius pulled the troops to Boulogne in the middle of the 1st century to conquer the Britons, and for a couple of centuries after that it was the main base of the maritime Roman fleet in the English channel . In the Middle Ages, both France and England claimed to Boulogne, and even the British managed to win this dispute for a short while, but Franz I bought the city back from them . At the beginning of the 19th century Napoleon had already pulled troops here to invade Britain, which, however, did not work out . At the end of the Second World War, the Allies so actively bombed the German-occupied city that they inflicted He has serious injuries .
Entertainment, sightseeing and sightseeing Boulogne-sur-Mer
The old town (it's the Upper Town) in Boulogne has remained well , and there is something to see. This, of course, paved streets and old houses, and most importantly - the three main tourist sites of Boulogne.
- Find a typical French kitchen garden in the heart Old Town. There grow a lot of vegetables and greens, all with plates in French and English.
- Admire the neoclassical building of the hotel "Dezadruin" in the second half of the 18th century, where Napoleon stopped several times (as indicated by an informative plate on the wall).
- To see the large bronze bust of King Henry II at the southern wall of the old city. The king gave the city a silver statue of the Virgin in exchange for the British. In response, the city presented the king with a statue of himself.
First of all, this is a cathedral in whose cry you can also see the cannonballs of the times of the capture of the city by Henry VIII . In the interior of the cathedral in general a lot of works of art are collected: a large Romanesque altar in the form of a triumphal arch made in Italy in 1866 . The altar is decorated with a luxurious mosaic, the wealth of which can be judged from the fact that it was made of 147 different materials . The Cathedral of Our Lady rises to a height of more than 100 m, and his Cree ptah is considered to be one of the largest in the country . It was built between 1827 and 1866 ., and in the monumental architecture of the cathedral, Roman and Gothic strokes are traced .
Secondly, the city walls - or rather, their remains - are of interest. The fortifications were built around Boulogne in the 13th century on the basis of the Gallo-Roman walls, with four gates on either side of the city. This is the main gate of Dune (west), New Gate (north), Gate of Gayol (east) and the gates of Degre (south). Near the gates of Dune is a small tourist booth, and the gate itself is decorated with a relief image of the Virgin and Child by the work of Paul Graff, created in 1924. And walking along the fortifications, you can enjoy excellent views of the old port.
Third, be sure to visit a medieval castle of the 13th century, surrounded by a moat with water and water mills. The castle was modified in the 16th and 18th centuries, and today it has a museum. The pearl of the collection of the latter are masks from Alaska, as well as the second largest in France collection of Greek ceramics. In addition, in the museum you can see Roman and medieval sculptures and a selection of art in Africa and Ancient Egypt.
One of the most famous symbols of the Boulogne - beffroy of the 12th century, which is listed in the list of "Belfry of France and Belgium" and is included in its list of world heritage sites . Its height is 47 m, and the tower was built originally as a castle dungeon . The upper floor was added to the tower in the 13th century, and in the early 18th century the bell tower was damaged by fire, but was quickly restored . Today the museum houses the Celtic culture museum, and you can go upstairs with free sightseeing tour . At the beginning of the tour, You can admire the portrait of Godfrey of Boulogne, the crown prince of Boulogne, and having overcome 183 stairs with a large four-ton bell .
Another remarkable old building of Boulogne is the Palace of Justice, built in 1852. Two statues adorn the facade of the palace: Charlemagne and Napoleon . And another famous house is the mansion Bourière, a typical building for the early 20th century. The mansion is open to visitors and inside you can see how the family of fish-traders lived in the 1900s
The new town of Boulogne is located on the waterfront, right by the sea. The main attraction here is NAUSIKAA, a huge aquarium and a marine center. Here everything is devoted to the relationship of man with the sea, and visitors can see exhibitions of marine fauna, as well as exposition related to the use of marine resources. The collection of the center contains more than 35 thousand animals of about 1000 species: it is one of the largest European maritime centers. Only for his visit can take a whole day.
But even without this mandatory visit to the center of the embankment would be worth a stroll on it. Here you can see how the local fishermen return home with a catch on small private boats, which are scurrying back and forth. Here, the catch is loaded into boxes, and the boxes - into large trucks or simply carried on counters opposite, where the carcasses are masterfully cut into fillets. Naturally, here you can buy the freshest fish in the city.
Cuisine Boulogne-sur-Mer
Culinary traditions of Boulogne are, by and large, chaos. For example, from the British Isles a Welsh rabbit recipe was brought here (he is also a "Welsh rabbit", although the rabbit does not smell like this in the dish). During the war, Americans introduced the inhabitants to sandwiches, which found a wide circle of admirers. But what really can be attributed to the typical French and Boulogne specialties - so this smoked herring in Flemish. Especially since it is mined in huge quantities and it is here.
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Events Boulogne-sur-Mer
Every year the city hosts the July music festival Opalovog about the shore. Fans of military history will appreciate the copy of the camp of the Napoleonic army, which is created here every year with reconstructions of bivouacs and battles.
But the main event of Boulogne is, of course, the festival of the King of herring. It takes place in the city every year at the end of September. Fresh herring is fried on giant grilles and eaten with heat with heat, washed down with a glass of good Beaujolaze.
And if you are ready and for more for herring - visit the evening in the harbor of the town of Etaples, 30 km south of Boulogne. Here the festival of the King of herrings is celebrated truly with a royal scope. This occurs annually in early November and lasts two consecutive days. Guests of the festival are waiting for roast, baked and boiled herring, crowds of people in the harbor, townspeople in traditional costumes, singing and dancing.