BAIE WISSANT
EV4 / Emmanuel Berthier
Le Touquet
E. Berthier
EV4 / Emmanuel Berthier
Wissant ©E. Desaunois

The Opal Coast and its Two Capes

An area of outstanding natural beauty

Running 120 km along the Channel, the Côte d’Opale, or Opal Coast, boasts a rich landscape of beaches, dunes, marshes, estuaries and cliffs.

The Opal Coast’s two capes – Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez!

Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez are two must-see cliffs between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Calais. Listed as a Grand Site de France since 2011, the Grand Site des Deux Caps has an amazing wealth of landscapes, habitats and coastal villages. A series of dunes and wide bays stretch out, bordered by the grey cliffs of the Jurrassic era and the white cliffs of the Cretaceous period. The Cap Gris-Nez headland is the oldest of the two, its shoulders rounded by the passage of 160 million years. The younger Cap Blanc-Nez stands straighter and prouder, having been created 70 million years later.

Explore the Grand Site des Deux Caps

 

👀 The Opal Coast’s must-sees

Saddle up and pedal to the Opal Coast’s most unforgettable locations! The coastline of northern Picardy, facing the English cliffs of Kent, hides countless natural and cultural treasures. As well as the two capes, these towns on the Opal Coast section of your journey are definitely worth a visit 👇🏼

  • Boulogne-sur-Mer: travel back to medieval times in one pedal stroke! The historic quarter of Boulogne-sur-Mer is the ideal place to start exploring the town and its ramparts.
  • Calais: enjoy an elevating experience at the belfry and town hall in Calais!
  • Dunkirk: swap your bike for a boat at France’s third largest sea port!
  • Le Touquet: at the height of fashion in the Roaring Twenties, this seaside resort has stunning, colourful villas and charming shop-lined streets – perfect for a shopping spree!
  • Berck: the huge beach has made Berck the hub of the annual international kite festival in April.
  • Wimereux: the oldest seaside resort on the Opal Coast! Located at the southern tip of the Grand Site des Deux Caps, the hiking paths are right on your doorstep here.
Unsplash - daymnous

📸 The Opal Coast’s most beautiful spots

Beautiful spots along the Opal Coast are simply too many to count! Choosing where to take an afternoon break or some sunset snaps can leave your head spinning sometimes! To help you decide, here is our selection of the most stunning locations on the Opal Coast 👇🏼

  • Cap Blanc-Nez cliffs
  • The bay of Wissant
  • The bay of the Canche beach near Le Touquet
  • The Slack dunes – the longest stretch of dunes in the Pas-de-Calais department
  • Nausicaa – the largest aquarium in Europe, at Boulogne-sur-Mer
  • The dunes of Flanders
     

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Boulogne-sur-Mer / Calais

50 Boulogne-sur-Mer / Calais

51 km
3 h 08 min
I cycle a lot
After Boulogne-sur-mer, La Vélomaritime takes you to the Grand Site de France des Deux-Caps. In Wimereux, admire the colorful Anglo-Norman style villas. Before reaching Cap Gris-Nez, the closest point to England, plan a stop at the Maison du Site des Deux Caps in Audinghen, a must for the discovery of this exceptional site. Take advantage of the magnificent viewpoints on the Cap Blanc Nez and the Bay of Wissant. Calais is worth the detour, take advantage of being on a bike to visit the city and discover the belfry of the Town Hall, the City of Lace or for an unusual trip on the back of the Dragon!
Le Touquet / Boulogne-sur-Mer

49 Le Touquet / Boulogne-sur-Mer

34 km
2 h 15 min
I cycle often
The Vélomaritime takes you round the Bay of the Canche via Étaples, a port with the largest British military cemetery in France. Then you ride beside Mont Saint-Frieux Nature Reserve. For a lunchtime rest, choose either to head back to the coast, following the link to the resort of Hardelot, nestled between sea and forest, or to stop at the Château d'Hardelot, with its cycling facilities, a place to grab a bite, plus the castle to visit. Finally comes Boulogne-sur-Mer, France's leading fishing port, designated a Ville d’Art et d’Histoire for its cultural riches. Beside the main town beach, Nausicaá, boasting Europe's largest aquarium, is a sealife centre that transports you deep into the world's oceans!
Berck / Le Touquet

48 Berck / Le Touquet

17 km
1 h 09 min
I cycle often
Enjoy a last look at the ballet of kites and sandyachts flitting across Berck's vast beach before continuing along the Vélomaritime towards the famed seaside resort of Le Touquet. More formally entitled Touquet-Paris-Plage, the place is stylish and elegant, characterized by wooded avenues, remarkable villas and many cycle paths. But before reaching Le Touquet, there are further delightful seaside resorts to explore such as Stella-Plage and Merlimont-Plage.
Calais / Gravelines

51 Calais / Gravelines

27 km
1 h 46 min
I cycle often
The Vélomaritime leaves Calais, the leading French port for crossings to England, guiding you towards Le Platier d'Oye Nature Reserve, a major European ornithological site. Welcome to the Pays des Wateringues, a part of the wider Flandres Maritimes area (French coastal Flanders)! This stage ends at Gravelines, the port's fortifications, designed by Louis XIV's great engineer Vauban, superbly preserved and a pleasure to walk around.
Calais / Gravelines

51 Calais / Gravelines

27 km
1 h 46 min
I cycle often
The Vélomaritime leaves Calais, the leading French port for crossings to England, guiding you towards Le Platier d'Oye Nature Reserve, a major European ornithological site. Welcome to the Pays des Wateringues, a part of the wider Flandres Maritimes area (French coastal Flanders)! This stage ends at Gravelines, the port's fortifications, designed by Louis XIV's great engineer Vauban, superbly preserved and a pleasure to walk around.
Gravelines / Dunkerque

52 Gravelines / Dunkerque

30 km
1 h 48 min
I cycle often
Leaving the fortified town of Gravelines, your Vélomaritime cycling adventure leads you to France's third largest port, Dunkirk. Known to the French as the home of naval adventurer Jean Bart, it has a major maritime heritage, celebrated at its Musée Portuaire and with its tall ship, Le Duchesse-Anne. Also do visit the Musée Dunkerque 1940 - Operation Dynamo, as well, of course, as the town's belfries, part of a regional UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dunkerque / Bray-Dunes

53 Dunkerque / Bray-Dunes

17 km
1 h 06 min
Beginners/Families
Linking France and Belgium, this stage marks the end of your Vélomaritime trip. Leaving Dunkirk, the route takes you through the heart of the Dunes de Flandres, designated a Grand Site de France. Appreciate the palette of colours and atmospheres in this unique natural setting, consisting of big dunes of fine sand.

📅 Must-see events to add to your Opal Coast diary

  • The Opal Coast Festival
  • Berck’s International Kite Festival
  • The Festival of the Sea at Boulogne
  • Dunkirk Carnival
  • Enduropale du Touquet
  • The Opal Coast Trail Run


✅ Your to-do list for the Opal Coast!

☐ Immerse yourself in the undersea world of Nausicaa
☐ Visit Wimereux, the oldest seaside resort on the Opal Coast
☐ Stay in one of the hotels dating from the Roaring Twenties in Le Touquet
☐ Build a sand castle on a beach in the bay of Wissant
☐ Hike along the clifftops of Cap Blanc-Nez

 

ℹ️ Practical information

Where did the Opal Coast get its name?
The Opal Coast’s name dates back to 1911, when Le Touquet painter Édouard Lévêque sought to pay homage to the coast’s unique soft light. Just so you know, Le Touquet-Paris-Plage is also called the pearl of the Opal Coast!

Staying on the Opal Coast
There are plenty of places to stay along the Opal Coast. For an authentic experience of all things northern, opt for a B&B or a gîte. If nature and the great outdoors is more to your taste, take your pick of the campsites! Prefer to keep it simple? Book a room in a hotel. And if you want to add some sparkle, opt for a star-rated hotel!

Dining out along the Opal Coast What are the local specialities?
The Opal Coast offers a whole array of northern and Belgian-inspired cuisine. Why not try dishes made with beer and the famous moules-frites (mussels and fries)? If you like fish, head to a port on the Opal Coast, where fishing professionals will jostle to serve you a dish made with the day’s catch.