Discover Wimille: Napoleonic heritage and walking trails

Discover Wimille through several themes: the history of the Colonne de la Grande Armée, church art and a variety of walking trails. These places and routes offer different ways to plan your visit, from exploring the museum independently to walks with information on distance and duration.

The Colonne de la Grande Armée and its history

The Colonne de la Grande Armée de Boulogne in Wimille is a protected historic monument. It commemorates the presentation of the Legion of Honour crosses to the Grande Armée on 16 August 1805 and was inaugurated in 1841. The museum in the column houses the bronze statue of Napoleon, installed in 1841.

On a self-guided visit, you can explore the museum and the monument’s park. As visitor arrangements may change, check the latest details before your visit. The column also offers views over the Boulonnais and the surrounding landscaped park.

Church art and local memorial sites

In the centre of Wimille stands the Church of Saint-Pierre Saint-Paul, built in the 12th century. The Church of Saint-Pierre houses the painting “Sainte Anne, la Vierge et l’Enfant” from the second half of the 16th century, which is protected as a cultural heritage asset. Check the conditions for viewing it locally before your visit. The statue “Notre-Dame de Boulogne” is also in the Church of Saint-Pierre.

Monumental stones bearing the inscription “Gloire à Jésus Christ” still stand at the edge of Rue de Ledinghen. Jean François Pilâtre-de-Rozier and Pierre-Ange Romain are buried in Wimille cemetery.

Walking trails in and around Wimille

Le chemin de l'eau is an easy 8-kilometre walk that takes approximately two hours. It follows the Wimereux through the Plaine d'Houlouve, an area considered to have exceptional biodiversity. The approximate duration gives you an idea of how much time to allow for this route.

La Slack si proche is 9 kilometres long and suitable for families. The starting point is at the junction of Route de La Trésorerie and Route de La Ménandelle. Along the way, enjoy panoramic views of the Slack, Fort d'Ambleteuse and the English Channel.

En pensant à Hugo is a 5-kilometre walking trail in the Denâcre Valley. It is easy and suitable for families. For comparison, Le chemin de l'eau takes around two hours; La Slack si proche and En pensant à Hugo are family-friendly routes of 9 and 5 kilometres respectively.

Wimille is a starting point for the Parcours Napoléonien. The Sentier du Parcours Impérial begins at the Colonne car park. When planning, pay attention to the name and starting point of each route. Le Mont Duez can be explored on foot or by bike between the Terre des 2 Caps and the Boulonnais. As practical conditions on walking trails may change, check them before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Couin, Bapaume, Busnes, Estréelles, Saint-Omer, Ligny-Sur-Canche, Marles-Sur-Canche, Montreuil-Sur-Mer

For the broader travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.