Cap Blanc-Nez, the French chalk cliffs on the Opal Coast

Where history and nature meet in an enchanting walk

Discover the fascinating world of Cap Blanc Nez, an iconic destination on the Opal Coast infused with history and natural beauty. This spectacular hiking route not only offers breathtaking landscapes but also reveals the traces of World War II that are still visible here.

As you walk along the cliffs, you will be amazed by the remnants of bunkers. These concrete structures served as a defensive line for the German occupiers at the time and testify to a tumultuous period in our European history. It is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the past and reflect on the events that took place here.

During your walk, you can observe the impact of bomb explosions from World War II. These scars in the landscape remind us of the struggle that raged here and serve as a tribute to those who fought for freedom and peace.

But Cap Blanc Nez is more than just a memory of the past. It also offers an abundance of natural beauty. As you continue, you will be surrounded by lush green hills and a panoramic view over the sparkling blue waters of the Opal Coast.

Additionally, this region is a paradise for nature lovers. You can enjoy the diversity of flora and fauna that thrives here. Keep your eyes open, as you might even spot rare bird species that have made their home on these white cliffs of Cap Blanc-Nez.

So, if you are looking for a hiking adventure that is both historical and breathtaking, Cap Blanc-Nez on the Opal Coast is the perfect destination.

Sights along the way:

- Memorial stone Seymour Norton Smith (1897 - 1928) at the parking area of Cap Blanc-Nez is a tribute to the English motor pilot who set the world record here in 1927 by riding up the 'Côte du Cran d'Escalles - 1km' in 58 seconds

- Le Mont D'Hubert, a hill of 151m named after Hubert Latham, who attempted to cross the Channel by plane, a week before Louis Bleriot. On this hill southeast of Cap Blanc-Nez, you can find an old weather station - an archaeological site with discoveries from 4000 BC that were accidentally found in 2010 during the construction of a parking lot and the hundreds of bomb craters that testify to the attacks on the bunkers of the MKB Lindemann defense line during World War II

- Noir-Mottes is a hill of 141m high, east of Cap Blanc-Nez where battery MKB Lindemann was located

- Le Fond-Pignon is an artificial lake created during the construction of the Channel Tunnel

- Former bunkers of the Atlantic Wall where the various control bunkers stood around Blanc-Nez, to relay the correct coordinates to the cannons placed further inland of 'Batterie MKB Lindemann', so that these different targets at sea could be shelled up to the English Chalk Cliffs of Dover

- Escalles and Haute-Escalle are villages that owe their origin to Saxon or Old Norse. A 'scale' can refer to the Saxon temporary dwelling during the 5th and 6th centuries or to a refuge for Norsemen during the many raids

- Sangatte is a municipality in the department of Pas-de-Calais, region Hauts-de-France. This municipality is part of the agglomeration 'Grand Calais Terres et Mers' and was derived from the Flemish 'Zandgat'. This attractive seaside resort has already made the news several times due to: the successful crossing of the Channel on July 25, 1909, by Louis Bleriot, since 1994 the departure point of the tunnel under the Channel, and the refugee camps or La Jungle de Calais in the early 2000s to make the crossing to the United Kingdom

- Tunnel of Sous-Le-Manche, Channel Tunnel or the Channel Tunnel is a railway tunnel of 50.5km between France and the United Kingdom that officially opened in 1994. Along the way, you can see the remnants of the first attempt to build a tunnel under the Channel (1874-1883) where 3km of the 25km was completed

- Cap Blanc-Nez or Kaap Blankenes is a cape or peninsula of 134m high above sea level. As many place names in this region have their origin in Middle Dutch, this region was Frenchified between the 15th and 17th centuries. Besides the beautiful views that are plentiful, this is a good place to find chalk fossils

- Dover Patrol Monument or Obelisk of Cap Blanc-Nez is a granite memorial monument 23m high, which commemorates the Dover Patrol for its actions during WWI. This patrol of 12 destroyers, aircraft, and submarines were deployed during the First World War to escort ships, sweep German mines, and lay British mines or underwater nets, in the southern part of the North Sea and the Channel