FAST FRENCEL BREAKS

Discover towns that ooze 'ooh la la!' - all within an hour of Calais

- CHRIS MORLEY

Make a dash across the Channel to enjoy the flower-filled streets of northern France’s most vibrant, picturesque towns and tuck into delicious (and surprisingly affordable) meals and wine. Here’s where to start.

Boulogne-sur-Mer 

Twenty miles from Calais, past the rolling dunes and chalky cliffs of the Côte D’Opale, is the town of Boulogne, famous for its long sandy beach, Nausicaá aquarium (Europe’s biggest) and its fishing port. Check out the morning market brimming with lobster and Dover sole, available at a fraction of UK prices. The preserved old town is a delight to wander. Puff your way up the 47m-high belfry for awesome views, admire the Egyptian- themed gardens and dive into the ancient crypt at Notre-Dame church.

TOP TUCKER: La Matelote is a family-run restaurant with gorgeous seafood dishes, such as langoustine cocktail. Check out the portrait of the chef’s great grandmother in the dining room, famous in her day as a bearded lady and gingerbread trader. Three-course lunch, €36, la-matelote.com

Montreuil-sur-Mer