Building and Zabelle, Tourist attraction in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
Bâtisse et Zabelle are two giant figures from Boulogne-sur-Mer, carried through the streets during local parades and celebrations. Bâtisse stands about 12 feet (3.80 m) tall and is carried by a single person, while Zabelle, his companion, is of similar height and wears a black dress with a white shawl.
Bâtisse et Zabelle were first made in 1923 to take part in coastal festivals celebrating the town's ties to fishing and the sea. New versions were built in 2003, keeping the original look of the figures while making them easier to carry during parades.
Bâtisse wears a sailor outfit with a jacket, cap, and scarf, reflecting the fishing trade that shaped everyday life in this coastal town. Zabelle's lace headdress, called the soleil boulonnais, echoes the traditional clothing worn by women from the fishing neighborhoods since the 1840s.
The figures are best seen during local festivals, when they are carried through the streets of Boulogne-sur-Mer and visitors can get close to them. It is worth checking in advance when the next parade is planned so you do not miss the chance to see them in motion.
Although Bâtisse bears the name Baptiste, he is not a religious figure but a symbol of the ordinary fisherman from the working neighborhoods. Another town, Caudry, has a giant with the same name, but the one from Boulogne-sur-Mer is set apart by his sailor outfit alone.
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