Boulogne-sur-Mer in Pas-de-Calais is brimming with historical treasures. The town is made up of two distinct parts. First you have the upper town formed of ramparts built between 1227 and 1231. Inside are a series of notable buildings like the Basilica of Our Lady, overlooking the town from a height of 100 metres. It was built in the 19th century on the ruins of a medieval cathedral. As well as possessing the largest crypt in France, it contains a prestigious artefact: a reliquary of the Holy Blood dating from the 14th century. You can also admire the medieval belfry, a listed UNESCO site, as well as the Counts' Castle. The latter is particularly interesting as it is one of the few castle forts in the region and is a fine example of medieval architecture. It is also the home of the museum, whose collections of archaeology, ethnography, local history and Fine Arts are sure to appeal to enthusiasts. Built in the late 18th century, the Imperial Palace is a mansion where Napoleon once stayed. Give in to your curiosity and visit the bedroom that he occupied as well as the study where he worked. Before you leave the upper town, take a stroll on the wall walk to enjoy many viewpoints over the lower town, the sea and the Boulogne countryside.
The lower town consists of harbours for fishing boats, yachts and goods shipping. You will also find Europe's biggest aquarium devoted to the marine world and the oceans: Nausicaá - National Centre for the Sea.
Like the Imperial Palace, several other historical sites also make reference to Napoleon. There is the powder magazine, the very last military vestige of the Napoleonic era, and the Column of the Grande Armée, in Wimille near Boulogne-sur-Mer, paying tribute to the Emperor. In the north of the town, the Legion of Honour Memorial is the site where Napoleon awarded the Legion of Honour medal to his soldiers for the first time. Every summer, a full-scale re-enactment takes place there, a mixture of battles and parades.
