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Le Cap Gris-Nez

Photo : Jörg Braukmann / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Natural wonders · Pas-de-CalaisOutstanding

Le Cap Gris-Nez

Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France

Cap Gris-Nez is in the commune of Audinghen, in the Pas-de-Calais, about fifteen kilometres north of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Its cliff rises to about 45 metres, and it is one of the points in France nearest to England, 30.3 km across the Channel. It marks the narrowest part of the Strait of Dover, where shipping traffic exceeds 500 ship movements a day. A lighthouse, in service since 1957, has a range of 45 km there.

The cape is an observation site for migratory birds, protected under Natura 2000 and labelled Grand Site de France since 2011, together with the neighbouring Cap Blanc-Nez. There are also remains of the two world wars, including the German Todt battery. In 1805, Napoleon had an optical telegraph semaphore installed there.

In our collectionsThe most beautiful cliffs in FranceThe most beautiful coastal paths in France
In our itinerariesWhat to see in Hauts-de-France in 4 days
In our guidesDiscovering Hauts-de-France: a practical guide

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