Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez visitor guide
Visit Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez, France
Photo Gallery Book a visitCap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez are two capes on the coast of Northern France between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. Because of their beauty and particularly the splendid palette of colours that can be seen at the capes these have together been classified as a 'Grand Site of France'.
Cap Gris-Nez
Cap Gris-Nez is a cape that juts out to sea and is called for the grey colour of its rocks. Its name means cape grey nose. This cape is the closest point of France to England and you can clearly see the white cliffs of Dover on a clear day. The rocky headland is a perfect place to sit watching the hundreds of ships, large and small that sail through the channel each day.
The proximity to England has led to various invasions of this stretch of the coast over the centuries. On the top of the cliff there are the ruins of a tudor fortress built by Henry VIII. During World War II the Germans built a blockhouse in these ruins which was part of a series of defences built by the Germans along this coast. These formed the 'Atlantic Wall' intended to stop the allied invasion.
In 1940 Adolf Hitler visited the Cap Gris-Nez fortifications and in 1944 the area was liberated by the Canadian 3rd Infantry division. An excellent museum about the fortifications is housed inside a blockhouse at nearby Audinghen.
Fossil hunters will enjoy combing the rocky beaches for fossils, most of which date from the Jurassic period. Bird hunters also come to this location to watch some of the millions of birds that use the cape to navigate during their annual migrations.
Cap Blanc-Nez
Whilst Cap Blanc-Nez, or cape white nose, is called a cape it does not in fact stick out into the water. Instead it is a large white cliff topped by an obelisk. The cliffs reach 134 meters in height and fall dramatically to the sea below.
The obelisk was built to commemorate the Dover patrol which kept the Channel free of German U-boats in World War I. World War II bunkers can also be seen at the top as well as craters which still remain from war time bombardments.
With its white cliffs and sandy beaches littered with small rocks the Cap Blanc-Nez is much more attractive than Gris-Nez and the colours over the sea and cliffs at sunset or sunrise are magnificent.
Places to visit nearby
To learn more about the Atlantic Wall fortifications visit the "Musée du Mur de l'Atlantique" at Audingen.
The capes are close to the seaside towns of Wissant and Wimereux.
The Nausicaa sea life centre at Boulogne-sur-Mer offers a good day out. The attraction includes a large shark tank and a good sea-lion show.
See more scenic highlights in France. You can find more travel ideas in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais guide.
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Map of Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez and places nearby
Visit near Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez with France This Way reviews
Wissant
Wissant is a small seaside town in the north of France which is very popular for surfing and kitesurfing.
Wissant guide
Boulogne-sur-Mer
The old town with its ramparts, castle and ancient streets are the highlight in Boulogne itself, while nearby there are plenty of good sandy beaches
Boulogne-sur-Mer guide
Nausicaa
Nausicaa is a large aquarium and sea life centre and one of the top tourist attractions of France
Nausicaa guide
Gravelines
The principal attraction at Gravelines is the fortifications, built by the Spanish in the 16th century and reinforced by Vauban in the 17th century
Gravelines guide
Saint-Omer
The attractive centre of Saint-Omr is one of the best towns to see houses built in the Flemish style typical of the region
Saint-Omer guideThe French version of this page is at Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez (Francais)