There is a brass hand in the church and visitors are invited to place their hands over it and pray for a miracle. Inside it is a sliver of wood said to come from a statue of the Virgin Mary which, legend claims, was pushed ashore at Boulogne-sur-Mer by Angels.
In 1477, Louis XI declared it a "true Madonna", and the relic bought pilgrims and Kings to the town. Alas the statue was destroyed in the French Revolution, only the slither remains. The walls of the church are adorned with plaques sent by those who prayed here and were granted their wish.
The crypt is astounding and enormous. In fact it's one of the biggest in France at over 100m long and truly beautiful. Decorated in Romanesque style, the walls are covered with frescoes and there are precious relics on display. Here Edward II of England married Isabelle of France in 1308. Their son Edward III later started the 100 years war.
Market
The Saturday morning market at Place Dalton is buzzing and has plenty of stalls selling local produce wicker baskets, table-cloths and more. (Also held Wednesday though not quite as big). Take a break in one of the many cafés on the square.
If you love cheese, nip to Philippe Olivier's famed fromagerie, just follow your nose as this shop stocks all your smelly favourites!
Just down the road you’ll find the former home of Argentinian-born General José Francisco de San Martín y Matorras. Better known as José de San Martín, he liberated Argentina (1816), Chile (1817) and Peru (1812) from Spanish rule and is considered the “Father of Argentina”. He lived in this house from 1848 until his death in 1850 and it is today a museum and a place that honours his memory. Read more about it here…