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Religious building

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

Boulogne-sur-Mer, Opal Coast

About this place

In 636, a boat containing a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus was discovered in the Liane estuary. It was placed in a chapel in the upper town, built on the site of a Roman temple.

In 1100, in order to accommodate more pilgrims coming to pay homage to the Virgin, Countess Ide of Boulogne decided to have a Gothic-style church and crypt built in place of the chapel.

After Louis XI granted her suzerainty over the County of Boulogne in 1478, the Virgin and her cathedral suffered extensive damage due to the wars with England and the religious wars of the 16th century. In 1793, the revolutionaries burned this ancient image of the Virgin Mary; all that remains today is a fragment of her hand, preserved in a reliquary. Five years later, the cathedral was completely razed.

It was thanks to Father Haffreingue that the basilica was rebuilt between 1827 and 1857, modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. In 1866, it was consecrated as the Cathedral of “Notre Dame and St. Joseph,” and a new statue of the Virgin Mary, carved from oak, was created.

Since 1854, from the Feast of the Assumption to the last Sunday in August, the annual pilgrimage to Notre Dame de Boulogne—which concludes with a grand procession through the city streets—has continued to attract many pilgrims from the region and beyond.

During a visit, it’s hard to miss the 88-meter-high dome, the carved oak pulpit in the Louis XV style, the Crowned Virgin, and the Chapel of the Sacred Heart with its marble work. The cathedral’s crypt is one of the largest in France, measuring 128 meters long and 42 meters wide; it is also a must-see during your visit.

What to do nearby?

Upcoming events in Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Culture 1 August → 30 September

A Tropical Getaway

Boulogne-sur-Mer

The “Tropical Escape” exhibition transports visitors to the heart of coral reefs and mangroves, true treasures of biodiversity. With its dazzling lagoons, fluorescent corals, and fascinating species, this immersive exhibition invites visitors to escape… and to become more aware. For these natural treasures are fragile in the face of human threats and climate change.
Culture 12 September → 13 September

Beurière Festival

Boulogne-sur-Mer

During the Fête de la Beurière, the final staircase-lined street and the fishermen’s houses in the old sailors’ quarter are restored to their early 1900s appearance and host artisans and small maritime trades, as well as a food court. Les Soleils Boulonnais and Lou Gerbassou, from Ambazac in the Limousin region, will perform songs and dances. Take advantage of the festival to visit the Maison de la Beurière and learn about the lives of sailors and their families. Free admission.
Culture 18 September

"Nausicaä: 35 Years of Boulogne History" Event

Boulogne-sur-Mer

"Nausicaä: 35 Years of History in Boulogne" Event On September 18, 2026, in Boulogne-sur-Mer, join us at the Maison de la Beurrière for a one-of-a-kind evening. Christine Leprêtre of Nausicaä and Jean-Pierre Ramet, president of the Maison de la Beurrière, will present the history of Nausicaä, from the initial project to the National Maritime Center. This evening will be an opportunity to discover the history of Nausicaä through several themed segments, punctuated by anecdotes and interactions with the audience. Christine Leprêtre and Jean-Pierre Ramet will share their passion for local history and reveal the secrets of Nausicaä. Join us at the Maison de la Beurrière for an unforgettable cultural evening!

Other places to discover

Religious building

Calvary

Saint-Aubin

A covered wayside shrine made of brick, featuring a small gate with blue wrought-ironwork. It is set within a small enclosure containing two other shrines and a tree. A remarkable tree stands opposite it, marking the crossroads.
Religious building

The Carillon of the Bourbourg Church

Bourbourg

Featuring 50 bells, the instrument plays automatically or when struck by the carillonneur. Today, it is one of the most beautiful carillons in France.
Religious building

Notre-Dame des Flots Chapel

Gravelines

The chapel stands proudly amid the dunes of Petit-Fort-Philippe. Built in the 18th century and destroyed in 1789, it was rebuilt on the seashore in 1829. The 18th-century statue of the Virgin Mary is brought out onto the forecourt—an exceptional occurrence—for a Mass in memory of those lost at sea and for the Icelanders every September.
Religious building

St. Joseph Chapel

Saint-Aubin

A square-plan chapel built of brick and blue stone (base and facade).
Religious building

St. Paul's Abbey

Wisques

Located in the small village of Wisques, 7 kilometers from Saint-Omer, Saint-Paul Abbey offers a fascinating tour, both historically and architecturally. The abbey, also known as “the great castle,” was built on the site of the former Wisques Castle, which was constructed after the Hundred Years’ War. All that remains from that period is the keep, crowned by two turrets and four towers (late 15th century), a small courtyard to the west, and the large Saint-Bertin Tower (early 15th century). The building was later expanded in the 18th century with a residence and a porch that are quite characteristic of the region. The Benedictine brotherhood settled there in the 19th century. In 1930, a series of modern elements were added. The “poet of brick,” Dom Bello, a Dutch architect heavily influenced by the Amsterdam School, added a cloister and a refectory with elegant proportions, making subtle use of the building materials. Joseph Philippe completed the complex with a chapel (in 1957) and then a guesthouse (in 1968). Originally intended to be a monastic library, Joseph Philippe’s chapel is remarkable for its choir, which features a magnificent brick drapery. In addition to guided tours, visitors can admire the ceramics crafted by the monks and sold in the shop located near the pottery workshop. Finally, visitors can attend Masses sung in the Gregorian chant tradition.
Religious building

Notre-Dame Church

Calais

Having survived bombings and several construction projects, Calais’s oldest building now stands on Rue de Croy. When construction began in the 13th century, Adrien de Wissant had the church built on the site of the current transept. Extensive expansion projects were then undertaken through the 16th century, and it was during the English occupation that the upper sections of the nave, the choir, and the bell tower were built. Built in the Tudor style, this church drew on its British influences to reach its final form in the 17th century; a chapel and a Baroque altarpiece were added at that time. A testament to medieval architecture, the Church of Notre-Dame de Calais also features a massive tower supporting the bell tower at the intersection of the transept and the nave. As you head toward the north side of the nave, you’ll notice a cistern with a capacity of 1,800 m³ that was used to collect rainwater; it was built by Vauban in 1691 to meet the population’s needs in the event of a siege. It was in this building that General de Gaulle and Yvonne Vendroux were married in 1921. Nothing could prevent the Allied bombings during World War II, which occurred one week before the city’s liberation; as a result, the bell tower collapsed onto the transept, and the altarpiece sustained severe damage. Since then, the church has undergone extensive restoration, which will allow visitors to appreciate the full originality of its architecture.

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