Boulogne-sur-Mer is a city in Northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department of Pas-de-Calais. Boulogne lies on the Côte d'Opale, a tourist coast on the English Channel, and is the most-visited location in its region after the Lille conurbation.

Boulogne is its department's second-largest city after Calais, and the 60th largest in France. It is also the country's largest fishing port, specialising in herring.

Boulogne was the major Roman port for trade and communication with Britain. After a period of Germanic presence following the collapse of the Empire, Boulogne was at the centre of an eponymous county of the Kingdom of France during the Middle Ages, and was occupied by the Kingdom of England numerous times due to conflict between the two nations.

The city's 12th-century belfry is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, while another popular attraction is the marine conservation centre Nausicaa.

The French name Boulogne derives from the Latin Bononia, which was also the Roman name for Bologna in Italy. Both places, and Vindobona (Vienna), are thought to have derived from native Celtic placenames, with bona possibly meaning "foundation", "citadel", or "granary".

The French epithet sur-Mer ("on-the-sea") distinguishes the city from Boulogne-Billancourt on the edge of Paris. In turn, the Boulogne in Boulogne-Billancourt originates from a church there dedicated to Notre-Dame de Boulogne, "Our Lady of Boulogne[-sur-Mer]".

Boulogne's 12th century belfry is one of 56 in northeastern France and Belgium with shared World Heritage Site status. It is the oldest building in the upper city, and currently serves as the home to a museum of Celtic remains from the Roman occupation. Founded as the Count's dungeon, the top floor was added in the 13th century. Damage by a fire in 1712 was built over by 1734.

Other than the belfry there are also the following sights:

• Medieval walls long 1,500 metres with 4 gates and 17 towers from 13th century
• Medieval castle, whose foundations date to Roman times. It houses an Egyptian art collection
• Gothic church of St. Nicholas, housing several 15th century statues
• Cathedral basilica of Notre-Dame, with a dome standing at over 100 m. The crypt is one of the largest in France, and has Roman, Romanesque and Gothic elements.
• Opened in 1991, Nausicaä - The French National Sea Centre is a science centre entirely dedicated to the relationship between mankind and the sea. It houses Aquaria, exhibitions on the marine fauna, and the exploitation and management of marine resources (fisheries, aquaculture, coastal planning, maritime transport, exploitation of energies and mineral, tourism).
• The Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, created during the Great War
• Colonne de la Grande Armée - Statue of Napoleon I

The quality of food available in Boulogne (especially seafood) has to be tasted to be believed. By far the best (at reasonable prices) is La Grillardine in rue de Lille.

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