Opal Coast
Visit Audinghen
Cap Gris-Nez, with England 36 km away as the crow flies
- Cap Gris-Nez
- Cliffs
- Atlantic Wall
- Hiking
Photo: Guillaume Baviere from Uppsala, Sweden, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Audinghen in brief
- How long
- A full day: Cap Gris-Nez in the morning, the Batterie Todt in the afternoon.
- When to go
- All year round. In winter, storms make the cape spectacular — and the view sharper.
- Parking
- The Cap Gris-Nez car park, a few minutes' walk from the lighthouse. Full by Sunday in summer.
- From
- Lille 1 h 35Paris 3 hCalais 30 min
Fourteen kilometres north of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Audinghen is the commune closest to England as the crow flies (36 km). Home to the famous Cap Gris-Nez, the village was completely destroyed during the war and later rebuilt. A must on any tour of the Opal Coast, it's a firm favourite with visitors.
The 3 highlights
What to do in Audinghen?
Le cap Gris-Nez
The point in France closest to England: 36 kilometres, visible in clear weather.
Le musée du mur de l'Atlantique, Batterie Todt
An artillery casemate turned museum, with its 280-millimetre gun.
La falaise du Cran aux Œufs
A break in the cliff, reached via the coastal path, away from the crowds at the cape.
And also
- The clifftop watch post ('guérite du perroquet')
- Saint-Pierre church and the village bell tower
- The medieval mound
- The ruins of Fort de Blaquetz
2 activities to book
What activities to do in Audinghen?
Our favourite
To follow the cliffs from one cape to the other
La randonnée du sentier littoral
The GR trail follows the coast from Cap Gris-Nez. The best way to see the Two Capes site, and it costs nothing.
Half a day · waymarked path
For one of Europe's most closely watched migration sites
L'observation des oiseaux au cap
The cape is a major stopover for migrating birds, which shelter here during their crossing.
Spring and autumn · binoculars useful
Our 3 restaurants
Where to eat in Audinghen?
Our favourite
To eat at the foot of the cape
La Sirène
Rue de la Plage, on the Cap Gris-Nez side, a few minutes from the lighthouse.
376 rue de la Plage, Cap Gris-Nez
To stay on the village square
L'Astèrie
On Audinghen's Grande Place, away from the crowds at the cape.
98 Grande Place, Audinghen
For a stop on the way to the cape
Les Margats de Raoul
On route du Cap, between the village and the lighthouse.
685 route du Cap, Audinghen
Other good addresses
- L'EstivalRue Principale, 62179 Audinghen
- Le vent du nord4 Grand place, 62179 Audinghen
Our 2 places to stay
Where to stay in Audinghen?
Our favourite
To sleep in the countryside, close to the capes
Les gîtes de Warincthun
In the Audinghen countryside, a few minutes' drive from Cap Gris-Nez.
Gîtes · Audinghen
To be between the two capes
Au cœur des caps
A central base for taking in the Gris-Nez and the Blanc-Nez without doubling back on the road.
Accommodation · Audinghen
Getting there and parking
By car on the D940 from Boulogne or Calais, then the route du Cap. Allow 14 kilometres from Boulogne-sur-Mer.
The cape has to be earned on foot: the car park is set back, and the last kilometre is on a track. Wear closed shoes, the ground is often slick.
The questions people ask before coming
Can you really see England from Cap Gris-Nez?
Yes, in clear weather: the English cliffs are 36 kilometres away and visible to the naked eye. Visibility is best late in the day and after a shower.
Is Cap Gris-Nez pushchair-friendly?
The path from the car park is passable but uneven, and often muddy. A baby carrier is more comfortable than a pushchair.
Do you have to pay to visit Cap Gris-Nez?
No, access and parking are free. The site is a Grand Site de France; only the local museums charge admission.
Information about the town
589 people live in the village of Audinghen. Surrounded by the communes of Audresselles, Beauvrequen, Ambleteuse and Tardinghen, this small village lies within the Caps et Marais d'Opale regional nature park. It is one of eight communes that make up the Grand Site des Deux Caps, awarded Grand Site de France status in 2011 (high renown and visitor numbers). Audinghen is one of the best places on the Opal Coast for a clifftop walk, with an unbeatable view of England.
The famous singer Raoul de Godewarsvelde, who loved the North Sea, fishing and the Opal Coast, has rested in Audinghen's cemetery since 14 April 1977.
Every September, villagers, visitors and neighbours gather for the traditional Fête des 2 Caps: exhibitions, guided tours, walks and shows are all on the programme.
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