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Boulogne-sur-Mer

The Château-Musée of Boulogne-sur-Mer

A 13th-century castle, and inside it, masks from Alaska

Boulogne-sur-Mer's count's castle and its ramparts, seen from above

The essentials

Where
Boulogne-sur-Mer
How long
Two hours
Price
Charged
  • 13th-century castle
  • Upper town
  • Rare collections
  • Indoors
What to do in Boulogne sur Mer?

Boulogne's count's castle is one of the first fortified castles built without a keep, in the 13th century, in the angle of the upper town's Roman walls. It now houses the town's museum.

And that's where it gets unexpected: inside a medieval castle in the Pas-de-Calais, you'll find Egyptology, Greek vases, and one of the most remarkable collections of Alaskan masks in Europe.

Why Alaskan masks in Boulogne

Because a Boulogne native, Alphonse Pinart, set off in 1871 to explore the Aleutian Islands and brought back ceremonial masks he later left to his home town. They're now studied worldwide and regularly loaned to major museums.

It's this kind of chance event that makes French municipal collections what they are: a local son, a journey, and a bequest.

The rest of the visit

  • The castle itself: vaulted rooms, wall-walk, crypt
  • A collection of Egyptology and Greek vases
  • Fine art and regional painting
  • Boulogne's history, from the Roman port to Napoleon's camp

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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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