What hotels in Boulogne-sur-Mer have nice views? Open left menu boulogne sur mer From England to boulogne sur mer
Successfully obtained a one-year French Schengen visa made me seriously think about a trip to France. Since we have a full-fledged vacation only in August, we decided with Vasya to go by car to the North of France for the weekend - fortunately, this is not so far away.
Tickets were purchased in advance for the Dover-Dunkirk ferry at 10pm on Friday. Since the ferrymen had been on strike a few days earlier, and a huge line of trucks had accumulated in Dover, we left the house very, very early. But in fact, everything turned out to be not so scary.
We arrived on French soil when it was already completely dark, and reached our hotel only at one in the morning (local time).
Metropol Hotel located in the heart of the coastal city of Boulogne-sur-Mer, which, of course, is very convenient, but in itself it is rather "shabby". Although we are not picky: we would have to go to the bed and fall :-)
As for the city, Boulogne-sur-Mer is located on the coast of the Pas de Calais and is famous for the fact that herring is mined there in the North Sea. And therefore it is considered one of the largest fishing cities in France. But its value is not only in this - there are many sights that you can admire: and enjoy the beauties of the landscape, and the splendor of the old streets.
The morning greeted us with adventures "in search of breakfast". As it turned out, having breakfast at 10 am on a Saturday is not so easy on the streets of Boulogne. Several establishments frightened us with their unpresentability, in another they refused to serve pancakes to us, because it was too hot (this is + 22C!), in several dozen cafes the kitchen was closed or they themselves were closed.
In such a simple way, we passed through the entire "lower" part of the city. Shopping streets that permeate the entire lower town, connect with the port embankment. We could only have breakfast on the embankment in the L "Universite cafe. It's amazing that no one except us ate there - basically, people went there to drink: some orange juice, and some stronger drinks.
After breakfast (not very tasty), we moved to a huge marine aquarium - Nausicaa National Sea Research Center. This is undoubtedly the main attraction of Boulogne-sur-Mer. The aquarium is equipped with the latest technology and is the largest in the Old Continent.
The aquarium is huge! It is located on several levels and tells/shows the diversity of marine life in different parts of the planet.
Local favorites are:
(1) sharks that can be viewed from above and underwater,
(2) fur seals
(3) and penguins.
We liked them too!
Some of the information about marine life is duplicated in English, but basically everything is in French, which was very unusual!
After the aquarium we went to look around. upper town Boulogne-sur-Mer. It's called that because it's located on a hill ;-)
As soon as we passed under the wide city wall, the asphalt changed to paving stones, and modern times gradually changed to the 13th century: very cozy little streets and old houses. 
In front of the city hall there is a chic garden depicting the seven sins. 
Having rested in a cafe on the square, we were lucky to get on an excursion to belfry-Beffroi (Beffroi). 
They are only allowed inside with a guide, and it was very nice that our guide translated the text of the tour into English especially for the two of us :-) Everyone else was French. In general, we saw very few foreigners in these "provincial" French towns.
The bell tower itself was founded by the Count of Boulogne at the end of the 12th century. The count wanted to protect himself and his family: the bell tower was originally conceived as a castle-fortress. The next feudal lord, Philip Nyurpel, did not want to live in the bell tower and built himself a real castle. The bell tower moved to the city and finally began to fulfill its main functions: the bells in Boulogne-sur-Mer notified residents of trouble and joy, holidays, funerals and other significant events. Miraculously, the bell tower turned out to be the only historical building in the city that was spared by the events of World War II. This explains its some dissimilarity with neighboring houses.
From the top you have a great view of the city! 
Like other French cities, Boulogne has a huge Notre Dame Cathedral. He's really big! There are no rich decorations inside, but the dome is painted very beautifully. 
Near the city wall, an ancient round castle (chateau) surrounded by a moat. Now it houses the city museum with an impressive collection of art from around the world from Egyptian mummies to paintings by local artists. 
And then we went to the beach in the nearest town Le Portel! 
Chic local sandy beaches are called "Opal Coast". I don’t have any photos from the beach (in a new swimsuit!) because someone was sleeping in the car while I was swimming)))) It was already low tide, and at first I had to spank on the sand for 200 meters to get to the water. Because of the big waves, it was not possible to swim, but for a long time I "flopped" on the waves. The sea, it seems, is the same as in England, but the water seemed to me much warmer. I then lay a little more in the sun and climbed up the slope back to the car.
Next, we faced an important task: to get to our next stop - to city of Rouen. We arrived there only at nine in the evening, and immediately after check-in we went in search of food.
Rouen is very famous for its "rouenese duck", which is first strangled with hands, and then cooked according to a completely crazy recipe - that's why we went to look for it. In the restaurant we found some kind of duck, it was not possible to understand whether this magic duck was real or not. 
The duck turned out to be quite good, but the side dish of fried potatoes, frankly, not so much. But I was pleased with the dessert in the form of a creme brulee pie, shortcrust pastry, apples and caramel sauce.
After dinner, we walked quite a bit around Rouen at night and set off to gain strength for tomorrow's adventures.
Boulogne-sur-Mer from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Boulogne-sur-Mer.
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Despite the fact that the emblem of Boulogne-sur-Mer does not depict a fish at all (but a goose), this northern town is considered one of the leading fishing ports in the whole country. In addition, perhaps it is also one of the most interesting cities 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 the day by ferry from Dover. It really is worth coming here for at least a day to look at the majestic Notre Dame, walk around the medieval fortress and eat herring from the belly.
The main event of Boulogne is, of course, the Festival of the Herring King. It takes place in the city every year at the end of September. Fresh herring is roasted on giant grills and eaten piping hot with a glass of good Beaujolais.
How to get to Boulogne-sur-Mer
Boulogne is easily accessible from Calais by rail, taking about half an hour. You can also use the train to get here from Lille (in an hour), Amiens (an hour and a quarter) or Paris (2 hours). In addition, the city is connected with Paris, London and Birmingham buses "Megabus": Boulogne is located 20 minutes from the Eurotunnel.
Search for flights to Lille (nearest airport to Boulogne-sur-Mer)
A bit of history
The city was founded by the Celts, and the Romans enjoyed using it as a seaport to communicate with the British Isles. In particular, Emperor Claudius, back in the middle of the 1st century, sent troops to Boulogne to conquer the Britons, and for a couple of centuries after that, it was the main base of the Roman naval fleet on the English Channel. In the Middle Ages, both France and England claimed Boulogne, and the British even managed to win this dispute for a while, but France bought the city back from them. At the beginning of the 19th century, Napoleon already sent troops here to invade Britain, from which, however, nothing came of it. And at the end of World War II, the Allies bombed the city occupied by the Germans so actively that they inflicted heavy damage on it.
Approximately one sixth of the population of Boulogne is somehow engaged in fishing.
Attractions and attractions of Boulogne-sur-Mer
The old town (aka Upper Town) in Boulogne is well preserved, and there is something to see here. These are, of course, cobbled streets and old houses, and most importantly - the three main tourist sites of Boulogne.
Boulogne-sur-Mer, of course, is more convenient for everyone to simply call Boulogne. The postscript "on the sea" is added in official sources in order to distinguish the city from the Parisian suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt.
3 things to do in Boulogne-sur-Mer:
- Find a typical French kitchen garden in the heart of the Old Town. Many vegetables and herbs grow there, all with signs in French and English.
- Admire the neoclassical building of the Desadruin Hotel from the second half of the 18th century, where Napoleon stayed several times (as evidenced by an informative plaque on the wall).
- See the large bronze bust of King Henry II at the southern wall of the old city. The king presented the city with a silver statue of the Virgin in exchange for the one appropriated by the British. In return, the city presented the king with a statue of himself.
Firstly, this is a cathedral, in the crypt of which, among other things, you can see cannonballs from the time of the capture of the city by Henry VIII. In general, the interior of the cathedral contains many works of art: in particular, a large Romanesque altar in the form of a triumphal arch, made in Italy in 1866. The altar is decorated with luxurious mosaics, the richness of which can be judged by the fact that it was made from 147 different materials . The Cathedral of Our Lady rises to a height of more than 100 m, and its crypt is considered one of the largest in the country. It was built between 1827 and 1866, and Romanesque and Gothic touches can be traced in the monumental architecture of the cathedral.
The second main church of Boulogne is the Gothic church of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors, in which several statues from the 15th century can be seen. The church itself was built in the 12th century, and the Gothic choir with a transept is combined in its architectural appearance with the facade, which was completed in the 18th century. The church stands in the heart of the cobbled Dalton Square, where a fresh produce market is held on Saturday mornings.
Secondly, the city walls are of interest - more precisely, their remains. Fortifications were built around Boulogne in the 13th century on the basis of the Gallo-Roman walls, with four gates on opposite sides of the city. These are the main gate of the Dunes (west), the New Gate (north), the Gayol Gate (east) and the Degre Gate (south). There is a small tourist booth near the Dune Gate, and the gate itself is decorated with a relief image of the Virgin and Child by Paul Graff, created in 1924. And walking along the fortifications, you can enjoy excellent views of the old port.
Boulogne-sur-Mer
Thirdly, you should definitely visit the 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 is now a museum. The pearl of the latter's collection are masks from Alaska, as well as the second largest collection of Greek ceramics in France. In addition, the museum displays Roman and medieval sculptures and a selection of art from Africa and Ancient Egypt.
One of the most famous symbols of Boulogne is the 12th century beffroy, which is included in the "Beffroy of France and Belgium" list and is classified as a world heritage site. Its height is 47 m, and the tower was originally built as a castle donjon. The top 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 rebuilt. Today, the tower houses a museum of Celtic culture, and you can go upstairs with a free guided tour. At the beginning of the tour, you can admire the portrait of Godfrey of Boulogne, the hereditary ruler of Boulogne, and after overcoming 183 steps - a large four-ton bell.
Another remarkable old building of Boulogne is the Palace of Justice, built in 1852. Two statues flaunt in front of the facade of the palace: Charlemagne and Napoleon. And another famous house is the Burier mansion, a typical building for the beginning of the 20th century. The mansion is open to the public, and inside you can see how a family of fish merchants lived in the 1900s.
In Boulogne there is a city beach with all the necessary infrastructure - fine sandy, long and quite beautiful. True, most locals still prefer the beaches in Le Portel or Gardelot.
The new city of Boulogne is located on the waterfront, right by the sea. The main attraction here is NAUSIKAA, a huge aquarium and maritime center. Everything here is dedicated to the relationship of man with the sea, and visitors can see exhibitions of marine fauna, as well as exhibitions related to the use of marine resources. The collection of the center contains more than 35 thousand animals of about 1000 species: this is one of the largest European maritime centers. Just visiting it can take a whole day.
But even without this obligatory visit to the center, the embankment would be worth a walk along it. Here you can see how local fishermen return home with their catch in small private boats that scurry back and forth. Here, the catch is loaded into boxes, and the boxes - into large trucks or simply carried to the counters opposite, where the carcasses are skillfully cut into fillets. Naturally, here you can buy the freshest fish in the city.
Cuisine of Boulogne-sur-Mer
The culinary traditions of Boulogne are, to be honest, chaos. For example, a Welsh rabbit recipe was brought here from the British Isles (aka “Welsh rabbit”, although this dish does not smell of rabbit meat). During the war, the Americans introduced the locals to sandwiches, which found a wide range of admirers. But what really can be attributed to typical French and Boulogne delicacies is Flemish smoked herring. Moreover, it is mined in huge quantities right here.
Popular hotels in Boulogne-sur-Mer
Events Boulogne-sur-Mer
The town hosts the July Opal Coast Music Festival every year. Military history buffs will appreciate the replica of the Napoleonic army camp, which is set up here every year with reenactments of bivouacs and battles.
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What UV radiation from the sun is
The ultraviolet radiation of the Sun has a wide range and is divided into three regions, two of which reach the Earth.
-
UV-A. Longwave radiation range
315–400 nmThe rays pass almost freely through all atmospheric "barriers" and reach the Earth.
-
UVB. Medium wave radiation range
280–315 nmThe rays are 90% absorbed by the ozone layer, carbon dioxide and water vapor.
-
UVC. Shortwave radiation range
100–280 nmThe most dangerous area. They are completely absorbed by stratospheric ozone without reaching the Earth.
The more ozone, clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere, the less the harmful effect of the Sun. However, these saving factors have a high natural variability. The annual maximum of stratospheric ozone occurs in spring, and the minimum - in autumn. Cloud cover is one of the most variable weather characteristics. The content of carbon dioxide also changes all the time.
At what values of the UV index is there a danger
The UV index gives an estimate of the amount of UV radiation from the Sun on the Earth's surface. UV index values range from safe 0 to extreme 11+.
- 0–2 Low
- 3–5 Moderate
- 6–7 High
- 8–10 Very high
- 11+ Extreme
In mid-latitudes, the UV index approaches unsafe values (6–7) only at the maximum height of the Sun above the horizon (occurs in late June - early July). At the equator, during the year, the UV index reaches 9...11+ points.
What is the benefit of the sun
In small doses, UV radiation from the Sun is essential. The sun's rays synthesize melanin, serotonin, vitamin D, necessary for our health, and prevent rickets.
Melanin creates a kind of protective barrier for skin cells from the harmful effects of the sun. Because of it, our skin darkens and becomes more elastic.
Happiness hormone serotonin affects our well-being: it improves mood and increases overall vitality.
Vitamin D strengthens the immune system, stabilizes blood pressure and performs anti-rickets functions.
Why is the sun dangerous?
When sunbathing, it is important to understand that the line between beneficial and harmful Sun is very thin. Excessive sunburn always borders on a burn. UV radiation damages DNA in skin cells.
The body's defense system cannot cope with such an aggressive impact. This lowers the immune system, damages the retina, causes skin aging and can lead to cancer.
Ultraviolet destroys the DNA strand
How does the sun affect people?
Susceptibility to UV radiation depends on skin type. The most sensitive to the Sun are people of the European race - for them, protection is required already at an index of 3, and 6 is considered dangerous.
At the same time, for Indonesians and African Americans, this threshold is 6 and 8, respectively.
Who is affected the most by the Sun?
people with light
skin tone
People with many moles
Residents of the middle latitudes while relaxing in the south
winter lovers
fishing
Skiers and climbers
People with a family history of skin cancer
In what weather is the sun most dangerous
The fact that the Sun is dangerous only in hot and clear weather is a common misconception. You can also get burned in cool cloudy weather.
Cloudiness, no matter how dense it may be, does not at all reduce the amount of ultraviolet to zero. In mid-latitudes, cloud cover significantly reduces the risk of sunburn, which cannot be said about traditional beach holiday destinations. For example, in the tropics, if in sunny weather you can get burned in 30 minutes, then in cloudy weather - in a couple of hours.
How to protect yourself from the sun
To protect yourself from harmful rays, follow these simple rules:
Get less exposure to the Sun during the midday hours
Wear light-colored clothing, including wide-brimmed hats
Use protective creams
Wear sunglasses
Stay in the shade more on the beach
Which sunscreen to choose
Sunscreen varies in terms of sun protection and is labeled from 2 to 50+. The numbers indicate the proportion of solar radiation that overcomes the protection of the cream and reaches the skin.
For example, when applying a cream labeled 15, only 1/15 (or 7%) of the UV rays will penetrate the protective film. In the case of cream 50, only 1/50, or 2%, affects the skin.
Sunscreen creates a reflective layer on the body. However, it is important to understand that no cream is capable of reflecting 100% of ultraviolet light.
For everyday use, when the time spent under the Sun does not exceed half an hour, a cream with protection 15 is quite suitable. For tanning on the beach, it is better to take 30 and above. However, for fair-skinned people, it is recommended to use a cream labeled 50+.
How to apply sunscreen
The cream should be applied evenly to all exposed skin, including the face, ears and neck. If you plan to sunbathe for a long time, then the cream should be applied twice: 30 minutes before going out and, additionally, before going to the beach.
Please refer to the cream instructions for how much to apply.
How to apply sunscreen while swimming
Sunscreen should be applied every time after bathing. Water washes away the protective film and, reflecting the sun's rays, increases the dose of ultraviolet radiation received. Thus, when bathing, the risk of burning increases. However, due to the cooling effect, you may not feel the burn.
Excessive sweating and rubbing with a towel is also a reason to re-protect the skin.
It should be remembered that on the beach, even under an umbrella, the shade does not provide full protection. Sand, water, and even grass reflect up to 20% of UV rays, increasing their impact on the skin.
How to protect your eyes
Sunlight reflecting off water, snow, or sand can cause painful retinal burns. Use sunglasses with an ultraviolet filter to protect your eyes.
Danger for skiers and climbers
In the mountains, the atmospheric "filter" is thinner. For every 100 meters of altitude, the UV index increases by 5%.
Snow reflects up to 85% of UV rays. In addition, up to 80% of the ultraviolet reflected by the snow cover is again reflected by the clouds.
Thus, in the mountains, the Sun is most dangerous. Protecting the face, lower part of the chin and ears is necessary even in cloudy weather.
How to deal with sunburn if you are burned
Treat the body with a damp sponge to wet the burn
Lubricate the burnt areas with anti-burn cream
If the temperature rises, consult a doctor, you may be advised to take an antipyretic
If the burn is severe (skin is very swollen and blisters), seek medical attention.
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How to deal with sunburn if you are burned
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