What's a European city with
- walkable ramparts over 1,000 years old,
- a moated castle-turned-art-museum,
- a historic cathedral with a painted crypt,
- good restaurants and cocktail bars,
- beautiful gardens,
- the largest aquarium in Europe, and
- a gorgeous seafront?
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| With charming scenery, fun shopping, and great restaurants, Boulogne-Sur-Mer is perfect for a friends trip! |
What has all those features and is the perfect French village for a friends' trip or a romantic anniversary getaway?
That would be Boulogne-Sur-Mer!
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| The historic center of Boulogne-Sur-Mer. |
Like Annecy, which kicked off the Most Charming Towns series, Boulogne-Sur-Mer is another charming waterside town. Located on the English Channel, in very northern France, less than three hours from Paris by car or train, Boulogne-Sur-Mer is a relaxing addition to an itinerary.
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| This amazing mural by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra depicts Claude Monet at work. |
Arriving by train, visitors are greeted by murals when leaving the station. Boulogne-Sur-Mer hosts a Street Art Festival each year, and each year the street art trail gets a little longer. Featuring some of the best mural artists in the world -- artists who also exhibit in galleries -- the street art of Boulogne-Sur-Mer is the perfect introduction to this charming town.
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| One of the many famous murals on historic Boulogne-Sur-Mer buildings, this is a reproduction of Monet's "Woman with a Parasol," featuring Monet's wife (Camille) and their son (Jean) on a hillside. |
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| This mural is called "Don't be afraid of wasting time" by Spanish artist Wedo Goás. |
From the train station, Old Town is just a short walk away. During the summer of 2025, Boulogne-Sur-Mer was preparing for the Tour de France while also celebrating a flower festival. Such fun!
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The Tour de France excitement was building during my visit. |
I'm a sucker for a walled city -- that's just something we don't see in the U.S. And the walls here date back to the early 1200s and are among the best preserved ramparts in France. The current walls, historic though they are, sit atop defensive walls built by the "Classis Britannica" Roman camp. Talk about touching history!
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| View from the ramparts, looking out toward the English Channel. |
I'm also a sucker for a crypt. Boulogne-Sur-Mer's Notre Dame Cathedral, above the crypt, is famous for being constructed by a monk with no architecture or engineering experience. During the construction, an ancient Roman crypt was discovered, and a new crypt was built around the ancient one, for a grand total of more than 15,000 square feet. Discover 2,000 years of history, all the way back to 1st century Roman walls! Truly a must-see during your visit.
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| The miraculous dome of Boulogne-Sur-Mer's Notre Dame Cathedral. |
And of course, being a seaside city, it is not surprising that Boulogne-Sur-Mer is very fish-forward. Not only is it the leading French fishing port in terms of tonnage, but it is also home to the largest aquarium in Europe! Take the Old Town tram down to Low Town to enjoy all the gorgeous waterfront sights.
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| Riding the tram from Old Town to Low Town along the waterfront. |
This charming seaside village is perfect for a day trip or as a temporary home-away-from-home. From the charming Old Town to the gorgeous Low Town to the great restaurant options to the beautiful and historic lodging options, Boulogne-Sur-Mer is the perfect place to while away for a few relaxing days!
Part Two is Boulogne-Sur-Mer.
Next up in my Most Charming Towns: FRANCE series? Stay tuned!
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