Boulogne-sur-Mer / Shopping Town Guide

Arriving in Boulogne-sur-Mer from Wimereux towards Nausicaa, La Matelote, Restaurant de La Plage you can park free in the Place de la République or pay 60 cents an hour along the Quai Gambetta. This is a convenient spot from which to visit the fish stalls run by the local fishermen, heaving with gleaming arrays of all manner of fish and seafood and with the cheerful background banter that accompanies buying at such a venue. It is a short stroll to the next area for shopping. The main streets are the Grande Rue which runs up the hill passing the church and Place Dalton, parallel to the Rue Faidherbe and criss-crossed by the Rue Victor Hugo and Rue Thiers, a pedestrian precinct.  Further west off the Rue Nationale,Le Chais at 49 rue des Deux Ponts, Brequerecque, tel 03 21 31 65 42  is a compulsory stopping point to taste wines ranging from 'de table'  to the most famous names and to receive expert advice on stocking your cellar.  If you should run out of film before advancing on the colourful sights of Boulogne, PHOX at 15, Rue Nationale is an extremely helpful camera shop. Tel: 03 21 31 36 63.

Cheese, Chocolate and Fish

The Grand Rue is plentifully supplied with shops to set the taste buds tingling but first look at Le Comptoir De Famille at No 6 - Tel 03 21 91 82 46 - where there are all manner of charming items for the home to tempt you. Nothing could be more appealing on returning from a hectic trip to France - than something pre-prepared by a french chef.....at Number 1, Grande Rue at the 'Bourgeois Traiteur', M and Mme Corroyer have a huge array of delicious meat and fish dishes, patés, vol au vents, and other delicacies. Tel 03 21 31 53 57  For a superb choice of French cheeses,  there is Le Fromager (Cheese) Gérard Delpierre, 23 Grande rue Tel 03 21 87 58 53 and around the corner - Philippe Olivier at 43 rue Thiers. tel 03 21 31 94 74 is practically a household name in the 'Cheese World', especially promoting local cheeses including one called 'Vieux Boulogne' which he created. In the same street at No 54, is the Comtesse du Barry, selling tinned and potted patés, foie gras and sauces and other gourmet delights. They will prepare gift baskets to request.  Tel: 03 21 87 19 20. Also in Rue Thiers is Chocolat de Beussent, manufactured locally and not to be missed! For Belgian chocolates, try Jeff de Bruges  at 26 Rue Faidherbe or Léonidas at No. 12 Grande Rue. Whilst in the rue Faidherbe, visit Majuscule the magnificent stationers on three floors. Opposite Place Dalton, at No 35, Dessert et Dessert is a mouthwatering Patisserie shop and just alongside at 'Aux Pecheurs d'Etaples', you can  choose fish to take home from the comprehensive selection on display - as well as all the vital extras such as delicious garlicky 'Rouille' to go with your 'Soupe de Poissons'.

Clothes and Accessories

For handbags, Maroquinerie Florence  at No. 32 Rue Faidherbe, has more than 600 to choose from. Tel: 03 21 31 99 41 and for chic clothes for ladies you can choose from Bout'x, Syrios, or Bergamote at 5, Rue Nationale and many more besides in these two streets in particular as well as Inter Sport, an excellent Sports shop at 46, Rue Nationale. There are a variety of other boutiques and clothes shops in Rue Thiers including  Benetton, Etam, Mexx, Jennyfer and other such boutiques as well as an excellent childrens' shoe shop called Chou Chouze. During a gentle stroll back to Place Dalton along Rue Victor Hugo you might want to pause in Byzance at no 48, to be tempted by some colourful shoes - Tel: 03 21 32 72 86 - or perhaps consider some antiques from L'Heritage at no 32, tel: 03 21 83 47 87. For really smart 'yachting clothes' try Week-End 03 21 87 31 10. If you are carried away and romance is in the air -  you can even choose your wedding dress at Pronuptia in La Grande Rue.

Market

The market  takes place in Place Dalton , just in front of the church,on Wednesday and Saturday mornings and is full of colourful local produce, as it is here that the local producers bring their excess from their land. You will also find specialist stalls for cheese, garlic, saussisson sec of different varieties, and the local beer, 'Terre de Brume' brewed in Boulogne.  Olives with coriander and garlic from Morocco, colourful baskets, flower sellers, all manner of glorious produce, including every kind of garlic, ropes, bunches, white and purple, plain and smoked.  If all this shopping brings on a thirst or hunger, there is no shortage of restaurants in the square, amongst them,  Le Doyen and Le Welsh Pub, roughly opposite, "Chez Jules"and 'Au  Bureau' as well as - La Brasserie de la Mer (behind the fish shop). There is also an excellent boulangerie on the corner of Place Dalton just by the Welsh Pub.  If after all this shopping, you still have the energy, there are one or two further shops up in the Old Town off the square as well – bakers, butchers, wine and food shops and of course brocante or antique shops as well as a wonderful old Pharmacie, -  so you can end up with a final flourish there and then recover at one of the many colourful restaurants, beneath the shadow of the Basilica. 

Wine and Supermarkets

Local Supermarkets - E LeClerc - Auchan 

Suggested  Wine Merchant - Le Chais at 49 rue des Deux Ponts, Brequerecque, tel 0033 (0)3 21 31 65 42 - Always worth a visit where you can taste any of their wines - within reason ! - Bring a copy of this page to entitle you to a free bottle of wine !

Travel

By Car
Book your crossing now with Eurotunnel -

Distance from Coquelles - Under half an hour - 30 Kms (Approx)

Tourist Office

Boulogne-sur-Mer Tourist Office, Parvis de Nausicaa, BP 187, 62200 Boulogne-sur-Mer. Tel 0033 (0)3 21 10 88 10

Copyright text: Sarah Francis

Copyright Photographs: Informationfrance
 

Sitemap | Terms of Use | Advertise | About us | Contact us

© 2003-2012 InformationFrance.com their Suppliers and Licensors