Boulogne-sur-Mer | ||
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Commune | ||
A general view from the Brecquerecque Quarter: The lighthouse, the bell tower and the English Channel
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Coordinates: 50°43′35″N 1°36′53″E / 50.7264°N 1.6147°ECoordinates: 50°43′35″N 1°36′53″E / 50.7264°N 1.6147°E | ||
Country | France | |
Region | Hauts-de-France | |
Department | Pas-de-Calais | |
Arrondissement | Boulogne-sur-Mer | |
Canton | Boulogne-sur-Mer-1 and 2 | |
Government | ||
• Mayor (2014–2020) | Frédéric Cuvillier (PS) | |
Area1 | 8.42 km2 (3.25 sq mi) | |
Population (2013)2 | 42,537 | |
• Rank | 2nd in the department, 11th in the region and 60th in France | |
• Density | 5,100/km2 (13,000/sq mi) | |
• Metro (2012) | 133,062 | |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
INSEE/Postal code | 62160 /62200 | |
Elevation | 0–110 m (0–361 ft) | |
Website | http://www.tourisme-boulonnais.fr/uk/ | |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Boulogne-sur-Mer (French pronunciation: [bu.lɔɲ.syʁ.mɛʁ], Latin: Gesoriacum or Bononia, Dutch: Bonen), often called Boulogne (UK /buːˈlɔɪn/), is a city in Northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department of Pas-de-Calais. Boulogne lies on the Côte d'Opale, a tourist coast on the English Channel, and is the most-visited location in its region after the Lille conurbation. Boulogne is its department's second-largest city after Calais, and the 60th largest in France. It is also the country's largest fishing port, specialising in herring.
Boulogne was the major Roman port for trade and communication with Britain. After a period of Germanic presence following the collapse of the Empire, Boulogne was at the centre of the County of Boulogne of the Kingdom of France during the Middle Ages, and was occupied by the Kingdom of England numerous times due to conflict between the two nations. In 1805 it was a staging area for Napoleon's troops for several months during his planned invasion of the United Kingdom.