Château de Boulogne-sur-Mer, Medieval castle in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
The Château de Boulogne-sur-Mer is a medieval fortress in this northern French port city built with nine cylindrical towers linked by defensive walls that form an uneven polygon. The structure sits within the old city walls and now contains a museum displaying collections from various cultures and time periods.
The fortress was built between 1227 and 1231 by Philip of Boulogne, the son of French King Philip II, on the foundations of an ancient Roman settlement. This placement on Roman remains shows how Boulogne remained an important fortified location across the centuries.
The castle houses a varied collection of objects gathered from around the world over centuries. Walking through its rooms, you encounter Egyptian art, Greek pottery, and Alaskan masks that reflect how travel and trade shaped what people valued and kept.
The museum housed inside opens daily except Tuesdays and offers guided tours in French and English for visitors who want more detailed explanations. You can also walk through at your own pace to explore the towers, walls, and collections at your leisure.
The basement preserves visible sections of the original Roman walls from the ancient city that once stood here. These layers reveal how different periods of history accumulated in the same spot, showing this location's enduring strategic importance.
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