History...

We are, for the majority of the members of association, originating in Boulogne-sur-Mer. Here history of this city...

Already, in antiquity, it is mentioned Boulogne (Bononia). Thus, in its work "the War of Gaules", Jules CESAR refers to Boulogne-sur-Mer that it calls Portus Itius. Antiquity dates also a headlight appellé "the Caligula Tower", headlight which does not exist any more...

One finds certain vestiges of this ancient time to the Castle-Museum of Boulogne-sur-Mer. This castle dates from the Middle Ages, built by the Counts d' Aumont about 1230. It is located in height by thus making a military place. It was altered several times, in particular by François Ier and Louis XIV. Actuellement, it lodges the collections of the Museum.

With the Old City (still called Upper town) it is surrounded by ramparts, dominating the Low City and the Wearing of Boulogne.

Boulogne is also described as Mariale City. Indeed, at the beginning of VIIe century, a statue of the Virgin would have arrived by the sea in an empty boat, which involved a pélerinage. Of this statue, there remains only one hand exposed in a reliquaire preserved at the Cathedral. The latter was entirely rebuilt between 1827 and 1866 by Mgr Haffreingue: it presents a 100 m high dome and a crypt (128 X 42 m) which is partly of the Romance time.

Boulogne is moreover an imperial city. Indeed, Napoleon Ier wanted to invade England and gathered 80 000 soldiers in the city and his neighbourhoods (a street of Boulogne thus bears the street name of the Camp of Right-hand side, site of a camping of soldiers napoléoniens). It is as in Boulogne as the first handing-over of the Legion of Honor took place on August 16, 1804 by the Emperor.

CONTINUATION...