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Boulogne-sur-Mer

The Casa San Martín, in Boulogne-sur-Mer

A piece of Argentina in Boulogne, and a national hero who died here in 1850

The front of the Casa San Martín in Boulogne, decked out in Argentine colours

The essentials

Where
Boulogne-sur-Mer
How long
Three quarters of an hour
Price
Modest entry fee; check with the tourist office
  • 1848 house
  • Died in 1850
  • Argentine museum
  • For a rainy day
What to do in Boulogne sur Mer?

General José de San Martín liberated Argentina in 1816, Chile in 1817, then Peru. In his home country, he's the equivalent of what Washington is to the United States. He died in Boulogne-sur-Mer, in 1850, in this house.

Built in 1848, it sheltered him from that year until his death. Its period interior is now a museum devoted to him — and it is, quite literally, a piece of Argentina in France.

What it actually is

Not a reconstruction, not a themed museum: the house where he spent his last two years and where he died, furnished as it was at the time. The room where he passed away is open to visit.

For a French visitor, the name often means nothing. For an Argentine, it's a place of pilgrimage, and you'll meet visitors who've travelled a very long way, in an ordinary Boulogne street — which is the best way to understand who this man was.

What he did

  • He liberates the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, the future Argentina, in 1816
  • He crosses the Andes with his army and liberates Chile in 1817
  • He pushes north and liberates Peru
  • He gives up power, leaves for Europe, and ends his days in France

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    3 activities to book

    What activities to do in Boulogne sur Mer?

    Our favourite

    Two children sea kayaking, paddles raised

    To see the town from the water

    Kayak de mer au départ du port

    A guided outing along the coast, setting off from the harbour. The only viewpoint from which the upper town makes sense in a single glance.

    2 h · from age 8 · booking required

    A sand yacht racing across the beach, pink and blue sail

    For windy days, and there are plenty

    Char à voile sur la plage

    The main beach suits sand yachting all year round. One taster session is enough to make your first runs.

    1 h 30 · from age 10

    The old town square of Boulogne-sur-Mer, its façades and flowers

    To understand what you're looking at

    Visite guidée de la vieille ville

    The ramparts, the belfry and the basilica in one guided loop. What's just a pretty backdrop becomes a two-thousand-year story.

    1 h 30 · departs from the tourist office

    Our 3 restaurants

    Where to eat in Boulogne sur Mer?

    Our favourite

    For the fish, facing the harbour

    Fleur de Sel

    On quai Gambetta, in the row of tables watching the boats come in. The menu follows what the fish market landed that morning.

    Fish and seafood · €€ · 90 quai Gambetta

    For a simple, hearty lunch

    Mon cousin belge

    A brasserie on place de la République, a couple of minutes from the centre. The kind of place you sit down at without booking.

    Brasserie · € · Place de la République

    For the evening, a favourite with locals

    Le Châtillon

    An institution in the harbour quarter, known to every Boulonnais. Best to call ahead if you're coming at the weekend.

    Traditional cuisine · €€ · 6 rue Charles Tellier

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