Boulogne-sur-Mer, Coastal commune in Pas-de-Calais, France
Boulogne-sur-Mer is a coastal town in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, set on hills along the English Channel and showing two separate levels. The fortified upper section sits above the harbor and commercial neighborhoods that line the water.
Romans founded a port here in 55 BCE for trade with Britain and called it Gesoriacum, before it grew into a fortress during the Middle Ages. In the nineteenth century the lower town expanded rapidly as the fishing industry grew and new quays were built.
The upper town preserves its walls from the thirteenth century, and residents use the compact network of narrow streets for daily errands. Small shops sell local specialties linked to the maritime traditions of the area.
The upper town is accessible on foot via steep streets or stairs, while the harbor area runs flatter. Nausicaä and other points of interest sit close together, making it possible to visit several in one day.
The public aquarium houses over 58,000 animals from different oceans and lakes, living in naturalistic tanks. Visitors can walk through a transparent tunnel and watch rays and sharks swim directly overhead.
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