Audinghen is a coastal town of Pas-de-Calais, in the Hauts-de-France, 14 km north of Boulogne-sur-Mer.
The territory of the locality of an area of 13 km ² is famous to shelter the Cap Gris-Nez, and thus to be the nearest French commune of England "as the crow flies" (36 km of Dover).
Located on the Opal Coast, Audinghen belongs to the Grand Site of the Two Caps, labeled Grand Site of France, the Cape White Nez is about fifteen kilometers, north of Audinghen.
The village has had a turbulent history. Founded by the Saxons who established a sanctuary dedicated to the god Odin, it was destroyed in the mid-sixteenth by troops of the King of England. It was then in 1943 that the town was bombarded and again razed by the Allies who intended to destroy the German military settlements.
Rebuilt, consisting of two poles, one on the road linking Boulogne to Calais, the other, closer to the coast, towards Cape Gris-Nez, Audinghen now has nearly 580 inhabitants and is a pole tourist attraction of great interest because of its heritage, its beaches and the exceptional natural and landscaped space that constitute the cape and its surroundings.
A stopover or a stay in Audinghen can begin with the discovery of its built heritage and history.
Such as the Saint-Pierre church, inaugurated in 1960, designed by the architect Alexandre Colladant in a resolutely contemporary style. We notice its amazing bell tower in reinforced concrete that evokes the shape of a lyre. Inside, small multicolored windows and two larger windows depicting the Virgin for one and San Sebastian for the other illuminate the church in a singular way. We also observe the large glass windows of the baptistery and above all a huge fresco of 200 sqm representing Christ, due to Genevieve d'Andréis. Finally, symbolically, some saved statues of the old church, bombed, were transferred to the new place of worship, entered in the supplementary inventory in 2006.
With the exception of a medieval hillock still visible towards the town, it is then on the coast that are located the other elements of inheritance.
In addition to a 19th century customs shelter, preserved during the war, the four bunkers of the Todt battery, elements of the Atlantic wall erected by the Germans, constitute a spectacular testimony of the Second World War. They were equipped with guns capable of reaching Great Britain. One of them has been converted into a museum. We discover what was the daily life of the German soldiers: the chambers, the engine room have been reconstituted. Many pieces (weapons, tools, documents), are also exposed. Outside, finally, the visitor can approach a K5 gun of a caliber of 280 mm transported formerly on track. A unique piece in Europe. Open every day except from November 12th to the second weekend of February. Admission: 5.50 and 8.80 euros. Information on +33 9 66 91 97 33.
Nearby, are still visible the ruins of Fort Blaquetz (name derived from the English "black nose") that had been erected King Henry VIII in the sixteenth century. Part of the remains fell into the sea.
Direction then the Cape itself markable by its lighthouse. A first building had been commissioned in 1837 and raised in 1861. Destroyed in 1943, the tower of a new lighthouse was built in 1952 and the equipment commissioned in 1957. Enrolled in the additional inventory of historic monuments in 2010, we note that it is built in apparent stones and reveals itself in harmony with the site. Thirty meters high, its range is 29 nautical miles, more than 50 km. It houses a unit of the Regional Operational Center for Surveillance and Rescue (CROSS), because of the importance of maritime traffic in this area.
It is then time to go through the authentic natural space that constitutes the cap itself, clay-sandstone cliff high 45 m. We enjoy from the site magnificent views of the coastline as well as the sea and, when the weather conditions are suitable, the English coast.
A backup operation has created trails while restoring heathland and lawns.
But on both sides, real beaches are also accessible. The most extensive is the Mermaid beach, a paradise for fishing enthusiasts on foot at low tide. We can combine relaxation and swimming. More discreet, less easy to access, the beaches of Cran Chicken and Cran Eggs delight vacationers seeking calm.
Warning: none of the beaches are monitored.
As far as sport and leisure are concerned, the inland areas of the resort and the coastline are ideal for hiking. Several circuits are possible but the most appreciated is the GR 120, also called Sentier du Littoral or customs agents, along the Côte d'Opale, connecting the Belgian border to Berck-sur-Mer and whose route passes by the foot of the lighthouse. Maps and information on +33 3 21 10 34 60.
For a ride in these authentic landscapes, join the horse farm of Warincthun at +33 6 60 05 24 21.
