Venue
Centre Universitaire du Musée
34 Grande Rue, 62200 Boulogne-sur-Mer
ULCO in Boulogne-sur-Mer
The University of the Littoral is located in four different towns on the Opal Coast, on the coast of northern France, north and west of Lille: Dunkirk, Calais, Saint-Omer and Boulogne-sur-Mer.
The Boulogne-sur-Mer University Center is spread over three sites:
- The Saint-Louis University Center, in the city center, is the main center of ULCO in Boulogne. It is built on the site of the former hospital of the same name, destroyed in 1988 to accommodate the university premises. Only the main entrance door of the old building was preserved, restored and transformed in 2010 into the main entrance to the university center.
- The Museum’s University Center, also in the city center, houses the History Department. Originally an episcopal seminary in 1715, then central school of Pas-de-Calais in 1798, municipal library in 1822, municipal museum in 1925 before becoming a component of the ULCO. The restoration work on the premises was carried out in four phases from 1992 to mid-1996. A new wave of work, part of the State’s future investments (Plan France Relance), will authorize the renovation of this University center. Today, the Museum’s university center hosts the Institute for Research and Teaching in Tourism as well as all tourism training courses from ULCO and ISCID-CO.
- The Capécure University Center, houses the IUT and offers numerous training courses linked to the fishing industry and the marine world. New buildings were constructed for the IUT, inaugurated in 1997. An extension was carried out in 2008 for the university’s continuing education center, CUEEP. The site has also been the subject, since 2023, of a massive investment to create the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences and to host training in the health sector.
These infrastructures are supplemented by a research center in Wimereux. In mid-2018, ULCO was associated via an agreement with ANSES and its new laboratory installed in the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer to accommodate both ANSES experts and agents and scientists from “Aquatic products biochemistry unit” (unit under contract created in 2014 in ANSES with ULCO.
The project “Marine and coastal research in Côte d’Opale: from environments to resources, uses and quality of aquatic products” brings together more than 20 people working on the detection, characterization and quantification of pollutants, pathogenic agents (micro-organisms and parasites) and chemical contaminants (biogenic amines (histamine in particular), micro- and nanoplastics, endocrine disruptors, etc. in the flesh of marine animals placed on the market for human consumption, in connection with the ULCO, via the contracted unit (USC) and in connection with the other units of ANSES.
Public Transport
The national railway company in France is called SNCF.
Two train stations are present in Boulogne-sur-Mer.
- Gare Boulogne Ville.
3 Boulevard Voltaire, 62200 Boulogne sur Mer, France
- Gare Boulogne Tintellerie.
Place Zamenhof, 62200 Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
2 options:
- TGV from Paris Gare du Nord and/or Lille Europe to Boulogne Ville train station and:
- Bus (A, C, O, E, H lines) (10min) and then 5-10min walk; or
- 18min walk.
- TGV from Paris Gare du Nord and/or Lille Europe to Calais-Frethun, then TER from Calais-Frethun to Boulogne Tintellerie trainstation and:
- 8 min walk.
Travel by plane
The main airport in France is located in Paris Charles de Gaulle airport (Roissy CDG)
More info: https://www.parisaeroport.fr/roissy-charles-de-gaulle
From CDG airport, Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV train station (RER B) to Paris Gare du Nord train station.
An alternative is Lille airport, located 20 minutes from Lille city center using a navette (close to Lille Europe train station).
More info: https://www.lille.aeroport.fr/ & https://www.lille.aeroport.fr/acceder-a-l-aeroport/navette/
Housing
Please book your hotel as soon as possible due to the start of the tourist season on the Opal Coast !!
- Ibis Styles Boulogne Sur Mer Centre Cathedrale
62 rue Porte Neuve, 62200 Boulogne Sur Mer.
- Hôtel Ibis Budget – Centre les Ports
2 Bis Bd Daunou, 62200 Boulogne-sur-Mer
- B&B HOTEL Boulogne-sur-Mer Centre Les Ports
11 Bd Diderot, 62200 Boulogne-sur-Mer
- Résidence La Marina – Evancy Boulogne-sur-Mer
Quai Chanzy Boulevard du, 62200 Boulogne-sur-Mer
Contact information
Local Organizing Committee – +33 3 21 99 45 18
secretariat.mablab@univ-littoral.fr | Elise LEXCELLENT (MABLab Secretariat)
christine.yvoz@univ-lille.fr | Christine Yvoz (GDR Imabio CNRS)
Accommodation and tourism
Boulogne-sur-Mer is situated by the English Channel, facing the English coast. The town is part of the Pas de Calais in the Hauts de France Region. This city is well known to be the first fishing port in France! This seaside town is also called “the capital of Opal Coast” as it is one of the main tourist destination in Northern France!
Discover below all the activities to do in Boulogne sur Mer and its surroundings. Among the must-do’s during a visit in the old town, you will of course note the National Sea Centre: Nausicaa. The ramparts surround the old town and give it an absolutely incredible historical charm. The Basilica of Notre Dame will also delight you and you will be able to stroll through the heart of Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Also, you should not neglect the small surrounding villages & charming seaside resorts. Whether you like hiking, shopping or culture, you are bound to find what you are looking for and have a great stay! Between the UNESCO listed sites, the fishing villages & sports activities… there’s something for everyone in the Boulogne-sur-Mer area!
https://www.evancy.fr/guide-tourisme/boulogne-sur-mer
https://www.boulonnaisautop.com/en
