Remparts de Boulogne-sur-Mer

Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, France

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The Remparts de Boulogne-sur-Mer are the powerful medieval walls enclosing the historic upper town of Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France's Côte d'Opale, built between 1227 and 1231 by Count Philippe Hurepel (son of King Philippe Auguste) at the exact location of the ancient Roman castrum Bolonia.

These impressive fortifications form a quadrilateral shape with four gates that enclose the old town and its numerous historic monuments including the Castle-Museum and the Notre-Dame Basilica, making Boulogne-sur-Mer one of the most prominent medieval fortified sites in the Hauts-de-France region.

Today, the ramparts offer a beautiful 1-kilometer promenade called the "Promenade Charles Dickens" along the top walkway, providing spectacular views across the entire city, the sea, and the harbor while allowing visitors to stroll peacefully among these stones rich with centuries of history.

The walls, which are among the best-preserved fortification sets in France, feature an old guard tower once occupied by soldiers,Ì tour Porquet where you can see the Notre-Dame Basilica, and five of the original nine towers, with beautiful flower-filled gardens at their base and tree-lined promenades surrounding the ramparts.