Boulogne-sur-Mer: Guide, Hotels, Map & Photos
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EUR 100 - 245 Hotel De La Matelote
 Hotel De La Matelote is located in the heart of Boulogne-sur-Mer, right on the sea front and opposite the fishing port. It offers comfortable rooms w… MoreEUR 45 - 85 Hotel De La Plage
 Hotel de la Plage offers en suite accommodation across from the sea. Some rooms have a balcony and sea views. Guests have access to free parking.
Eac… MoreEUR 44 - 97 Les Gens De Mer - Boulogne
 Located opposite the marina, in the heart of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Hotel Les Gens de Mer offers a warm and friendly welcome in an authentic harbour settin… MoreEUR 65 - 97 Hôtel Metropole
 Hôtel Metropole is located in the heart of Boulogne-sur-Mer between Ville Haute’s medieval ramparts and the sea. It offers soundproofed rooms flat-… MoreEUR 65 - 100 Hôtel Hamiot
 Hotel Hamiot is located in the centre of Boulogne-Sur-Mer across from the port. Free Wi-Fi is available in the rooms and brasserie.
Each room is equi… MoreEUR 55 - 95 Hôtel Alexandra
 This charming family-run hotel is situated in the heart of Boulogne-sur-Mer and it offers fully renovated rooms.
Near the hotel you will find the pi… MoreEUR 45 - 89 Hôtel De Londres
 Located in the heart of Boulogne, 5 minutes from the train station, the marina, and the major shopping area, the Hotel de Londres offers modern and co… MoreEUR 52 - 595 Hôtel Faidherbe
 Located in the centre of Boulogne-Sur-Mer and close to the harbour, Hôtel Faidherbe offers a friendly environment and comfortable rooms. It is close … MoreEUR 41 - 55 Au Sleeping
 Au Sleeping is minutes from the train station and centre of Boulogne sur Mer. Each room in this family-run hotel has satellite TV, tea and coffee and … More | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boulogne-sur-Mer: Guide
This article is on Boulogne-sur-Mer. For other places called Boulogne, see Boulogne.
Boulogne-sur-Mer is a city in northern France, in the Pas-de-Calais Départements of France|département of which it is a sous-préfecture. It is located by the English Channel.
Population of the city (commune) at the 1999 census was 44,859 inhabitants, whereas the whole metropolitan area (aire urbaine) had 135,116 inhabitants.
Name
The name Boulogne was recorded for the first time during the Celtic word bona (meaning "foundation", "settlement", "citadel"). This derivation is also found in the name of the Italian city of Bologna.
History
Originally named Gesoriacum and probably also to be identified with Roman invasion of Britain, in AD 43, and until 296 it was the base of the Roman Navy#Classis Britannica|Classis britannica.
In the Middle Ages it was the centre of a Count of Boulogne|namesake county. The area was fought over by the French and the English people|English. In 1550, The Peace of Boulogne ended the war of England with Scotland and France. France bought back Boulogne for 400,000 crowns.
In the 19th century the Notre-Dame de Boulogne|Cathedral of Notre Dame was reconstructed by the priest Benoit Haffreingue after he received a call from God to reconstruct the town's ruined basilica.
Boulogne-sur-Mer is also one of the most important fishing ports in France.
Miscellaneous
Open in 1991, NAUSICAÄ - The French National Sea Experience Centre is a Science Centre entirely dedicated to the relationship between Mankind and the Sea. Aquaria, exhibitions on the marine fauna, and the exploitation and management of marine resources (fisheries, aquaculture, coastal planning, maritime transport, exploitation of energies and mineral resources, tourism...). Its goal is to incite the general public to discover and to love the Sea, while raising its awareness on the need for a good management of marine resources.
In the year 1905 the First Esperanto World Congress of Esperanto|Universal Congress was held in Boulogne-sur-Mer. L. L. Zamenhof, the creator of Esperanto, was among the attendees. In the year 2005 there was held a great anniversary meeting with more than 500 attendees.
The town's University extends over 4 sites - Boulogne-sur-Mer, Calais, Dunkerque and St. Omer.
At the ULCO (Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale), 6 major subjects can be studied : Languages, French Literature, Sport, Law, History and Economy.
PLE (Pratique de la Langue Ecrite) helps students get a better level in English language, especially in grammar, vocabulary, etc... It especially improves English writing.
PLO (Pratique de la langue orale)takes the form of a discussion between student and teacher about different topics (one hour per week).
There are two exams during the year, and a retake exam in September.
ULCO is situated in the town centre, at about 5 minutes from the Boulogne Tintelleries train station. There are shops, a cinema, and the beach 5 minutes by foot. Before it became the college, the site was the St. Louis Hospital. The front entrance of the old hospital still remains as an architectural feature.
The university library ULCO(http://www.univ-littoral.fr).
Born in Boulogne-sur-Mer
Frédéric Sauvage (1786-1857), engineer and inventor of the propeller.
Pierre Claude François Daunou (1761-1840), politician and historian
Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve(1804-1869), literary critic and one of the major figures of France|French literary history
Guillaume Duchenne (1806-1875), neurologist
Auguste Mariette (1821-1881), scholar and archaeologist, one of the foremost Egyptologists of his generation, and the founder of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo
Benoît-Constant Coquelin (1841-1909), actor
Ernest Alexandre Honoré Coquelin, actor
Georges Mathieu (1921), painter
Sophie Daumier (born 1934), actress
Jean-Pierre Papin (born 1963), soccer|football player
Mickael Bourgain (born 1980), track cyclist
Franck Ribéry (born 1983), soccer|football player
François Ribéry, his brother, (born 1987), soccer|football player
Other famous people associated with Boulogne
Caius Julius Caesar (Caesar)(100-44 ante J.C.), as a proconsul,
Boulogne-sur-Mer is twinned with:
(in English)
This "Travel Guide" section is drawn from the Wikipedia article "Boulogne-sur-Mer". We hope you will edit and improve it. It is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
Godfrey of Bouillon (1060-1100), count of Boulogne, leader of the first crusade
Blaise de Lassaran-Massencome, Seigneur de Montluc|Blaise de Monluc (1500-1577), marshal of France,
Henry II of France|Henry II (1519-1559), king of France
Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), emperor,
Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte|Napoleon III (1808-1873), emperor,
Queen Victoria (1819-1901),
Maurice Boitel (born 1919), painter,
Constant Coquelin, actor,
Jacques-Oudart Fourmentin said "Le Baron Bucaille", corsair,
Benoît-Agathon Haffreingue, priest and builder of the catheadral,
Olivier Latry, organist,
José de San Martín, South American historical figure,
"Niall of the Nine Hostages" (c. 342 - c.405). Twin towns
Folkestone, United Kingdom
Zweibrücken, Germany - since 1959
Constanţa, RomaniaSee also
Côte d'Opale
Siege of Boulogne
Vieux-Boulogne
Itius Portus
Notre-Dame de BoulogneExternal links
(in French)
(English guide and tourist map)
(in French and English)
(en eo fr)