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22, place de France, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, 62200, France
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Walking off the midday meal
NICE PLAICE
Colonne de la Grande Armée
nave
my son is traveling with school to boulogne sur mer they are visiting a local theme park could anyone tell me what this may be called he thinks "plotzerland"
Hi,
The theme park that immediatly comes in mind speaking about Boulogne sur Mer is "Nausicaa" (nothing to do with "plotzerland", a word that doesn't ring any bell for me)
could this be ? http://www.nausicaa.fr/
Here's another possibility. http://www.dennlys-parc.com/visite.html
It is Dennlys Parc and has educational visits involving a mill and animals. There also appear to be rides.
"Plotzerland" sounds a little like "Plopsaland" and this is at Adinkereke just across the border into Belgium - http://www.plopsaland.be/
There is called Bagatelle? This is near Berck-sur-Mer.....
When people meet, they kiss each other on the cheeks. This French custom is called se faire la bise.
Two kisses are exchanged, first on the right and then on the left cheek. This number is the rule, unlike in other places where it can vary a lot (for example in Bretagne). I have never seen two people exhange four kisses, which are reported to be typical of the département Pas-de-Calais.
This "Great Army Column" is a high monument commemorating Napoleon. Its construction started on 9th November 1804 and it was named "Colonne Napoléone". When the Empire fell, the construction stopped and was resumed later on with its present name.
We were told that Napoleon turns his back on England as a symbol of his disliking of that country.
The column is surronded by green areas, and a beautiful esplanade leads to it (see last picture).
The Colonne de la Grande Armée is located in the commune of Wimille, at the North of Boulogne-sur-Mer. If you come from Calais with the A16 motorway, take the exit 3.
There are free guided tours of the beffroi in both French and English. I recommend you'd go inside to learn something about Boulogne history that is probably not written in your guidebook. However, you must be aware that there are 183 steps to climb (no lift available).
At the beginning of the visit you will see this portrait of Godfrey of Bouillon, whose parents were Dukes of Boulogne. Your guide will talk a lot about the Boulogne plan showed in the third picture.
The bell of the belfry was bigger than it is now. Its weight was reduced from five to four tons (if I remember well) for a decision of Napoleon's. The amount of removed bronze was used to pay the man called to make the bell smaller.
To see more photos taken inside the beffroi, visit this Travelogue.
Hôtel Désandrouin was built in Neoclassical style on the plans by architect Giraux Sannier. The construction started in 1777. It is also known as Palais impérial because Napoleon I stayed there many times: there is a plate that reminds us of this "event".
After admiring the beautiful statues and the other pieces of the treasure, it is time to enter the crypt to discover more about the farthest past of the basilica.
This is the crypt of the church built in the 11th century by Ide de Boulogne, Countess of Boulogne and mother of Godfrey of Bouillon.
Here you see the entrance, marked with a big arrow in case you didn't understand where you should pass and with the bilingual inscription "Merci de ne pas fumer - Don't smoke please", as if you were allowed to smoke in the treasure halls...
After the entrance there is a tunnel with ruins and finds that show you the long story of the basilica with all the famous people who went there.
Among the first pieces you see there are the vestiges of the 3rd-century Roman temple (fourth picture). Further on, you will see the medieval and Renaissance ruins before the French revolution brings destruction...
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Q: Free parking and transportation to nausicaa "Hello, We will stay at BandB in Saint-Martin Boulogne, about 5 km from Nausicaa. I wonder if there's a bus line going from our..."
A: "This page may help you- http://www.nausicaa.co.uk/getting-here-and-parking.html Have a good time there!"
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Address: 22, place de France, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, 62200, France
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