Boulogne-sur-Mer

Very prominent landmark of the city, it was built between 1827 and 1875. In its crypt, you can still see the stone cannonballs employed by Henry VIII when he besieged and captured Boulogne at one stage. The dome is 101 m high.

53-metre-high Corinthian order triumphal column that was intended to commemorate a successful invasion of England - that never occurred -, it now commemorates the first distribution of the Imperial Légion d'Honneur at the "camp de Boulogne" by Napoleon to his soldiers.

In a corner is the 13th-century Château, with its moats filled with water and waterlilies, modified in the 16th and 18th centuries. The Castle houses a museum with the most important exhibition of masks from Alaska in the world, the second largest collection of Greek ceramics in France, collections of Roman and medieval sculptures, an Egyptian collection.

A massive aquarium and centre of all things to do with marine life and conservation. Contains a particularly good fish restaurant.

Boulogne does have a beach with all the usual amenities in high season (children's club, lifeguards and so forth) however most of the locals prefer the beaches at Equihen, Le Portel and Hardelot.