Issue No. 25

4 Cathedral Visits
Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais
Boulogne-sur-Mer on the Opal Coast of
Pas-de-Calais doesn’t have a Cathedral but
a Basilica. I live close by but I’m not biased
when I say the Basilica Notre Dame is
simply outstanding. Its crypt is the longest
in France, dating back to Roman times and
is astonishingly beautiful with walls
smothered in frescoes and paintings. It's
also home to an incredible collection of
priceless relics including what's said to be
a drop of the blood of Christ. You’ll see a
hint of Rome’s Pantheon and soupcon of
St Paul’s Cathedral in London – but,
amazingly, this church was designed by a
priest with no architectural experience,
and it is magnificent. It's from 2.5 hours
from Paris by train and the old town is
magnificent and worth a visit in it's own
right.
Read more about Boulogne-sur-Mer and
its Basilica here.