The Opal Coast and the Deux-Caps
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
The Opal Coast stretches for 120 km (75 miles) and is a diverse mix of beaches, dunes, marshes, estuaries and cliffs.
Between Calais and Boulogne, The Gris-Nez and Blanc-Nez headlands are a must. Grand Site de France since 2011, the 2 headlands feature incredibly varied landscapes, environments and coastal villages, with a succession of Jurassic grey cliffs, Cretaceous white cliffs, areas of dunes following on from each other and large bay mouths sheltered by headlands. The Gris-Nez, 160 million years old and the oldest of the two, has a curved back. The Blanc-Nez, which formed 70 million years later stands straight and proud.