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