The ramparts of Boulogne-sur-Mer

Some lovely views of the town! Surrounded by walls since Roman times, the upper town of Boulogne-sur-Mer counts a remarkable ensemble of fortifications. And the good news is that you can take the rampart walk. It's even one of the locals' favourite walks.

Appointment with history

Built in the 13th century, the present-day fortifications were built over the Roman camp's successive walls. With a length of 1,500 metres, they form a quadrilateral pierced by four gateways. The latter give access to the rampart path, and they have hardly changed place since … Antiquity! Each one takes you a bit deeper into history and offers a different view of Boulogne's great monuments: the castle and its museum, Notre-Dame Basilica and its crypt.

The Porte Gayole is an attraction in its own right with its pointed-arch opening and two towers. It owes its name to the jails (gayole in the Boulogne patois) of the former 19th century prison.

A bit further along, on the steepest slope,the Porte des Degrés has always been a pedestrian-only gateway. Its name refers to the steps that used to take you through it.

From the Porte des Dunes, it is the western slopes of Boulogne-sur-Mer that you can see, offering, as a bonus, easy access to the old town's picturesque squares and alleyways.

Above the entrance, in the ogival niche, stands the statue by Paul Graff of Boulogne's famous Vierge Nautonière (Virgin at the Helm). As for the Porte Neuve (also called Porte de Calais) it was restructured in the 17th century with spur-shaped towers.

The rampart promenade bears many traces of history: stones from the old Roman Way, loopholes and lookout points dating from the Middle Ages, Second World War bomb damage…

But it's also a wonderful place to relax. Don't miss the old town's flower gardens and Square Mariette Pacha. Palm trees, pyramids, sphinx, Cheops' solar boat… At the gateway to the Upper Town, this strange garden pays tribute to the famous Egyptologist Auguste Mariette Pacha, who was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer.