The Opal Coast begins at the Belgian border and extends to Berck, the natural boundary with the Somme. It is named in tribute to the semi-precious stone due to its color with changing reflections, mirroring the North Sea. Over 120 km, the magnificent coastline alternates between long beaches of fine sand bordered by voluptuous dunes or limestone cliffs. The sites have inspired the most celebrated painters such as Manet and attract thousands of tourists each year.
While the Cap Griz-Nez and Cap Blanc-Nez sites are essential coastal landmarks, we have selected 10 unusual places to visit on the Opal Coast that will reveal another facet of this gem.
1. Walk the Customs Officers' Path
If your stay does not allow you to complete the 175 km of the Coastal Path (GR120), the Customs Officers’ Path located between Cap Gris-Nez and Cap Blanc-Nez provides an excellent alternative to enjoy the exceptional coastal landscapes. Begin at Cap Griz-Nez with its panorama of the Strait of Dover and the English coast, and follow the marked trail where customs officers once walked the same paths. A tiny stone sentry box on the cliff face still bears witness to that era. Sometimes on the beach, sometimes at the cliff’s edge, the panorama is breathtaking. A true link between the two capes, you will cross Wissant Bay and reach Cap Blanc-Nez. You might even spot some seals deposited by the tide on the sandbanks, or numerous bird species enjoying a meal on the foreshore.
12 km hike starting from Cap Blanc-Nez. See the complete guide. Other hikes to discover on the site lesdeuxcaps.fr
2. Meet the Seals and Harbor Seals in Berck
In recent years, the town of Berck, known for the International Kite Festival, has acquired another equally unusual attraction. Each day, as soon as the tide recedes, seals offer a spectacle to visitors in the Authie Bay. By the dozens, they lounge languidly on the sand about fifty meters from visitors. Two species of seals share the bay: harbor seals and gray seals. Can you tell the difference between the two?
Go to the end of Chemin des Raisins in Berck-sur-Mer, facing the Les Sternes water sports center (consult tide times on berck-tourisme.com)
3. Ride the Dragon of Calais
For several months, an immense dragon has taken up residence near the beach in Calais. The majestic creature, 12 meters long and 25 meters high, is an astonishing machine composed of steel and carved wood, offering a unique experience: a journey on dragonback. Take to the heights and embark on an unusual voyage along the seafront, guided by the skilled machinist. Extremely realistic, it blinks its eyelids, flaps its ears, and breathes… water onto onlookers. A unique journey blending enchantment, art, and culture awaits you on Calais’s recently inaugurated new seafront.
La Compagnie du Dragon – 201 Avenue Winston Churchill, 62100 CALAIS
4. Take a Journey Through Time Aboard the Orient Express
Every Thursday around 4 PM at Calais station, a train unlike any other emerges among the locomotives of regular lines. Like a ghost from the past, no fewer than 17 blue carriages of the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient Express await passengers arriving from London. Inside, stewards dressed in impeccable blue and gold uniforms attend to every detail of the luxurious cabins. The prestigious train made legendary by numerous authors such as Agatha Christie is classified as a historic monument. With its polished marquetry, embroidered fabrics, and period furniture, this train is a true ambassador of French Art Deco. Bound for Venice via Paris, the Venice Simplon-Orient Express invites you on a timeless and authentic journey.
Calais Station – 46 Avenue du Président Wilson, 62100 CALAIS
5. Stroll Through the Heart of the Audomarois Marshes
A former peat bog wetland flooded by the sea for several centuries, it was in the 12th century that monks from Clairmarais Abbey drained the area to extract peat. Developed over 37 km², the canals of the Audomarois marshes now comprise 700 km of waterways. Around fifty vegetables are still cultivated there, making this site the only marsh of this importance still under cultivation. Take your place aboard a bacôve or escute, the traditional flat-bottomed boats still used by market gardeners to transport animals or vegetables, and discover the exceptional fauna and flora. Recognized as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, this place where nature and people coexist in perfect harmony can also be explored on foot, by bicycle, or on horseback. In summer, vegetable producers even invite you to a waterside market.
O’MARAIS “by ISNOR” – 3 rue du Marais, 62500 CLAIRMARAIS
6. Explore the Largest Crypt in France
The Basilica of Notre-Dame in Boulogne-sur-Mer is the gateway to more than 2,000 years of history, and its distinctive silhouette forms a monumental ensemble not to be missed. It is also the somewhat extraordinary story of an abbot who wanted to create a dome so high it could be seen from England. With its dome and cupola rising to 100 m in height, the basilica, classified as a historic monument, overlooks the city.
It is by descending into the crypt that you enter the backstage of time. It is distinguished first by its considerable dimensions: more than 100 meters in length and 1,400 m², making this crypt the largest in France. Through the maze of galleries, you will discover remains from the 3rd century, a Romanesque hall from the 11th century, Gothic elements from the 12th and 14th centuries, remarkable murals covering the entirety of the walls, as well as a treasure of sacred art: the reliquary of the Holy Blood, the centerpiece of the collection.
Access via Rue de Lille, Rue de Lille, 62200 BOULOGNE-SUR-MER
7. Visit the Haunted Château d'Hardelot
A 19th-century neo-Gothic manor built on the ruins of a medieval castle, with ancient underground galleries—nothing less was needed to attract the interest of paranormal enthusiasts. Erected on a hill overlooking the marshes and the Lake of Mirrors, this nine-towered château is a remarkable place said to be haunted. Nestled in the heart of the Condette Marsh Regional Nature Reserve, it is also a multifaceted site steeped in history. It was here that the Entente Cordiale between France and Great Britain was signed on April 8, 1904.
The visit will reveal its entire history. Conclude with the English gardens, the Elizabethan theater, and the contemporary exhibition hall.
Château d’Hardelot, 1 Rue de la Source, 62360 CONDETTE
8. Immerse Yourself in World War II at the Atlantic Wall Museum
The coastline still bears numerous scars from the German occupation, particularly on the Opal Coast due to its proximity to England. Only 29 km separate Cap Griz-Nez from Dover, offering the Kriegsmarine a strategic location for bombarding the English coast. With its four 380 mm guns with a range of 55.7 km, the Todt Battery is the second most important Atlantic Wall coastal battery in terms of firepower. On site, in more than 10 rooms, discover the recreated daily life of German soldiers, the reconstructed armory, and engine room.
Finally, a unique piece in Europe is displayed outside: a formidable rail-mounted “K5” artillery gun with a 280 mm caliber and a range exceeding 62 km.
Batterie Todt, Hameau de Haringzelle, route du musée, 62179 AUDINGHEN
9. Marvel at the FRAC in Dunkirk
It is in a former historic hall of Dunkirk’s naval industry that the FRAC (Regional Contemporary Art Fund) displays more than 1,700 works of contemporary art and design. The program includes paintings, photographs, and installations by artists from the Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Eurometropolis ranging from the 1960s to the present day. Also one of the largest design collections in France. The varied cultural program and temporary exhibitions offer a renewed artistic experience accessible to all visitors.
FRAC Grand Large, 503 Avenue des Bancs de Flandres, 59140 DUNKIRK
10. Board the Majestic Three-Masted Duchesse Anne in Dunkirk
The city of Dunkirk invites you to discover history and the corsair city at the Dunkirk Port Museum. Nestled in the heart of the Citadel, the museum welcomes you in a former 19th-century tobacco warehouse. It is a museum unlike any other as it is divided into 5 sites to discover: 1 museum, 3 boats, and 1 lighthouse. A true floating heritage classified as a Historic Monument, the Duchesse Anne is the only large sailing vessel in France open to visitors. Enjoy a genuine immersion into life aboard for the 200 cadets and sailors. As for the lighthouse, perched at 60 m in height, you will enjoy a panoramic view over the entire city, the port, and the sea as far as the eye can see.
Dunkirk Port Museum, 9 Quai de la Citadelle, 59140 DUNKIRK
For more ideas, also discover the 10 things to do around the Cabaret
