What to see and do

■ Drop in(to) the ocean

IT WOULD be remiss not to pay ‘Europe’s largest aquarium’ a visit. Its huge pool ‘recreates a high-seas ecosystem’ for 24,000 creatures from sharks to shellfish.

The above-water-level tour shows experts feeding the giant manta ray, which is five metres wide. nausicaa.co.uk

■ Medieval marvels BOULOGNE’S beautiful ville fortifiee is packed with attractions. Start off with a walk around its ramparts for the best views of the ‘old France’ architecture within.

Inside, hop up the Unescoprotected belfry before moving on to the castle and basilica. A happy hour is spent marvelling at the latter’s crumbling, neoclassical dome and fine mosaic work. boulonnaisautop.com/en

■ Lofty history

BOULOGNE has an incredible military history. It’s from these shores that Julius Caesar set sale on his two Britannia invasions and where Napoleon had intended to.

Get a sense of old Boney’s aspirations with a visit to the Column of the Grande Armée (£3 entry), atop which you’ll find the man himself, facing away from England.

You can climb to the top — but be warned: it gets very windy. boulonnaisautop.com

■ Military wonders

THERE’S a vast collection of World War II paraphernalia on display at The Musée 39-45 in nearby Ambleteuse (£8 entry). Once you’ve had your fill, hop in the car to Cap Gris-Nez (the nearest point to England).

Three separate little walks take you round ruins that span a 16th-century fort (from Henry VIII’s shortlived occupation of the area) to Nazi bunkers.

There’s a nice little fish restaurant called La Sirene down on nearby Wissant Beach if you get peckish. lasirene-capgrisnez.com