FR24JB MC - HERITAGE - Cap Blanc-Nez

The students go to Cap Blanc-Nez, one of the must-see places on the Opal Coast. It is a cape located at Escalles in the Pas-de-Calais department. It is a picturesque stretch of coastline known for its spectacular cliffs, sandy beaches and breathtaking scenery. It is popular for its opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, hiking and birdwatching. Cap Blanc-Nez is the most northerly cliff in France. It is made up of steep cliffs of chalk and marl. These cliffs rise to a height of around 134 metres (440 feet) above sea level, offering superb panoramic views over the Channel and the English coast on a clear day (Dover cliffs). The constant spectacle of ships never fails to amaze, between the ferries crossing between Calais and Dover and the imposing merchant ships passing further out to sea. As the link between the Atlantic and the major ports of Northern Europe, this maritime route is one of the busiest in the world. Naturally, this proximity to England has made the Cape a natural observatory of the first order since Roman times. The Cape has probably been a landmark for sailors and cartographers for a very long time. The cliffs are made of chalk, which gives them a distinctive white appearance, hence the name "Blanc-Nez". The top of these chalky cliffs and hills has retained a moorland particularly exposed to the salt spray carried by the strong northerly and westerly winds. Crops and grassy meadows are home to herds. The Cretaceous limestone contains numerous ammonites and other fossils, as well as flint and marcasite. The cliff supports grassy moorland, the quality of which depends on the soil and the salty winds and sea spray. Together with Cap Gris-Nez, 10 km further south, Cap Blanc-Nez forms the Grand Site des Deux Caps, which was awarded the Grand Site de France label in 2011. Managed according to the principles of sustainable development, it is also a fragile and protected area, listed as "Natura 2000" by the European Union. Cap Blanc-Nez is also historically important, having played a role in both world wars. At the top of the cliff, the Dover Patrol monument is a reminder of the effective collaboration between the Allied navies during the 1st World War. The monument was designed by Léon De Keyser, an architect from Ghent (Belgium), and built by M. Martiny, a contractor from Brussels (Belgium). During the Second World War, the area was heavily fortified by the German army as part of the Atlantic Wall defence system. Today, the site serves as a memorial to the events that took place at that time. At the top are bunkers dating back to the Second World War. On the south-western flank, a paving slab forms an inscription in capitals visible from the sky: "Glory to Mary Mediatrix". Each letter measures around 7 metres and the whole, in two lines, is around sixty metres long.

The walk is very nice. The students can visit a site known for its natural beauty, geological importance and historical significance. They observe beautiful view of the English Channel.  For partners‘s team it was especially interesting, as they have a differet kind of coasts along the sea in their countries.