Côte d'Opale

The Opal Coast ( ; ) is a coastal region in northern France on the English Channel, popular with tourists.

Geography

The Côte d'Opale is a coastal region in North Central France, in the departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais. It extends over of French coast between the Belgian border and the border with Picardy. This coastline faces the English Channel and the North Sea, and is situated directly opposite the chalk cliffs of southeast England, which at the closest point are only away.

The Côte d'Opale is composed of many varied landscapes including beaches, dunes, swamps, estuaries and cliffs. The coast is marked by the presence of two large promontories situated between Calais and Boulogne: the Cap Gris-Nez (literally "grey nose cape" in English), reaching an elevation of above sea level, and the Cap Blanc-Nez (literally "white nose cape" in English), which reaches . These capes are the closest points to England on the entire French coast.

Cities Boulogne-sur-Mer Calais Dunkerque

Famous seaside resorts From south to north: Berck Le Touquet-Paris-Plage Sainte-Cécile-Plage Hardelot-Plage Équihen-Plage Wimereux Audresselles Ambleteuse Wissant Blériot-Plage Bray-Dunes

Other communes of the coast From south to north: Merlimont Cucq Saint-Étienne-au-Mont Le Portel Audinghen Escalles Sangatte Marck Oye-Plage Grand-Fort-Philippe Gravelines Leffrinckoucke Zuydcoote

Arts

Many artists have been inspired by the coast's landscapes, among them the composer Henri Dutilleux, the writers Victor Hugo and Charles Dickens, and the painters J. M. W. Turner, Carolus-Duran, Maurice Boitel and Eugène Boudin. It was the painter who coined the name for this area in 1911 to describe the distinctive quality of its light.Le Touquet-Paris-Plage à l’aube de son nouveau siècle, éditions Flandres-Artois-Côte d’Opale, 1982, p.22

Côte d'Opale

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