Boulogne-sur-Mer

Bolougne and Boulogne, France redirect here. For other places called Boulogne, see Boulogne (disambiguation).

Boulogne-Sur-Mer
Boulogne sur Mer Palais de Justice.jpg
Courthouse
Coat of arms of Boulogne-Sur-Mer
Boulogne-Sur-Mer is located in France
Boulogne-Sur-Mer
Administration
Country France
Region Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Department Pas-de-Calais
Arrondissement Boulogne-sur-Mer
Intercommunality Communauté d'agglomération du Boulonnais
Mayor Frédéric Cuvillier
(2008–2014)
Statistics
Land area1 8.42 km2 (3.25 sq mi)
Population2 44,859  (1999)
 - Density 5,328 /km2 (13,800 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 62160/ 62200
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Boulogne-sur-Mer is a city in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department of Pas-de-Calais. The population of the city was 44,859 in the 1999 census, whereas that of the whole metropolitan area was 135,116.

Contents

Name

The name Boulogne was first recorded during the Roman Empire as Bononia, a derivative of the Celtic word bona (meaning "foundation", "settlement", "citadel"). This derivation is also found in the name of the Italian city of Bologna. "Sur mer" is French meaning "on the sea".

History

The cathedral of Boulogne towers over the city

Origin of the city

Originally named Gesoriacum and probably also to be identified with Portus Itius, by the 4th century Boulogne was known to the Romans as Bononia and served as the major port connecting the rest of the empire to Britain. The emperor Claudius used this town as his base for the Roman invasion of Britain, in AD 43, and until 296 it was the base of the Classis Britannica.

Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages it was the centre of a namesake county. The area was fought over by the French and the English. In 1550, The Peace of Boulogne ended the war of England with Scotland and France. France bought back Boulogne for 400,000 crowns.

The Napoleonic period

In the 14th century the Cathedral of Notre-Dame was reconstructed by the priest Benoit Haffreingue after he received a call from God to reconstruct the town's ruined basilica. During the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon amassed La Grande Armée in Boulogne to invade the United Kingdom in 1805. However, his plans were halted by other European matters and the supremacy of the Royal Navy (including thousands of Congreve rockets [1]).

The two world wars

On June 15, 1944, 297 planes (155 Avro Lancasters, 130 Handley Page Halifaxes, and 12 De Havilland Mosquitos) of the Royal Air Force bombed Boulogne harbour to suppress German naval activity following D-Day. Some of the Lancasters carried Tallboy bombs. As a result, the harbour and the surrounding area were completely destroyed. In August, 1944 the town had been declared a "fortress" by Adolf Hitler, but it succumbed to assault and liberation by the 3rd Canadian Division in September. In one incident, a French civilian guided the Canadians to a "secret passage" leading into the walled old town and by-passing the German defenders[2].

To replace the destroyed urban infrastructure, affordable housing and public facility projects in functional, brutalist building styles were carried out in the 1950s and 60s. The harbour therefore sometimes proves to be a disappointment to tourists looking for a typical northern French harbour scene.

The Belfry is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Main sights

Official website: Tourism in Boulogne sur Mer
Official website: Tourism in Boulogne sur Mer and the Boulonnais region

Economy

Boulogne-sur-Mer is the most important fishing port in France. 7,000 inhabitants derive part or all of their livelihoods from fishing.

IFREMER (the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea) and the Pasteur Institute are located in Boulogne Port.

Certain brands, including Crown and Findus, are based in Boulogne.

Media

Events

In the year 1905 the First Esperanto Universal Congress was held in Boulogne-sur-Mer. L. L. Zamenhof, the creator of Esperanto, was among the attendees. In the year 2005 there was a great anniversary meeting with more than 500 attendees.

Administration

List of Mayors
Duration Name Party Particularities
2008–2014 Frédéric Cuvillier PS Deputy
2004–2008 Frédéric Cuvillier PS Deputy
1996–2004 Guy Lengagne PS Deputy
1989–1996 Jean Muselet Conservative  
1977–1989 Guy Lengagne PS Deputy, Minister
1945–1977 Henri Henneguelle PS  
Past mayors are unknown.

Population

Boulogne's Castle Museum.
Historical population of Boulogne-sur-Mer
1936 1954 1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2006
52,371 34,885 49,283 49,288 48,440 47,653 43,678 44,859 43,700

Transport

Road

Rail

Water

Education

The Saint-Louis campus of University of Côte d'Opale.

Boulogne sur Mer is famous for hosting one of the oldest Universités de l'été - summer courses in French language and culture.

The Saint-Louis building of the University of the Côte d'Opale's Boulogne campus opened its doors in 1991, on the site of the former St. Louis hospital, the front entrance to which remains a predominant architectural feature. Its 6 major specialisms are Modern Languages, French Literature, Sport, Law, History and Economics. The University is situated in the town centre, about 5 minutes from the Boulogne Tintelleries train station.

University

Public primary and secondary

Private primary and secondary

Entertainment

There is one theatre, the Théatre Monsigny, and two cinemas.

Health

Two health centres are located in Boulogne, the public Hospital Duchenne and the private Clinique de la côte d'opale.

Sports

Football

Basketball

Other sports

Culture

Food

Notable people

Born in Boulogne

Others associated with Boulogne

The Column of the Grande Armée commemorates Napoleon's gathering of 200,000 soldiers near Boulogne for a proposed invasion of England

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Boulogne-sur-Mer is twinned with:

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ David Baker, The rocket: the history and development of rocket & missile technology. Taylor & Francis, 1978, p.13.
  2. ↑ Stacey, C P (1966). [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/Canada/CA/Victory/Victory-14.html "Clearing the Coastal Belt and the Ports September 1944 - Operation "WELLHIT"; The Capture of Boulogne"]. Official History of the Canadian Army. Department of National Defence. http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/Canada/CA/Victory/Victory-14.html. Retrieved 24 June 2009. 

External links