Cap Gris-Nez
Audinghen, France
A windswept headland on the Opal Coast where, on clear days, the white cliffs of Dover are visible across the Channel. Walk the coastal path past old bunkers and bring a windproof jacket.
Cap Gris-Nez lies near Audinghen on the Côte d'Opale in the Pas-de-Calais département and is the point in France closest to Great Britain: only 34 km separate it from the coast of Kent. In clear weather you can make out Dover and the English coast. The name means "grey nose". The cliffs are made of sandstone, clay and chalk and are grey, not white like those at Cap Blanc-Nez. In the early 16th century there were fortifications of Henry VIII on the cape, and in the Second World War batteries of the Atlantic Wall. The present lighthouse dates from 1958 and is 31 m high; more than 500 ships pass the cape every day.
Paths lead across heathland and down to the beach, and a coastal path links the cape with Cap Blanc-Nez (around three and a half hours). An Atlantic Wall museum is housed in a bunker of the former Todt Battery. There are car parks at the cape. Bring a windproof jacket, as it is usually very windy here.
- Nearest town
- Audinghen, France
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 50.8683, 1.5845
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Camping Municipal "De La Source"Campsite5 km from Cap Gris-Nez · 391 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Camping L'Églantier AmbleteuseCampsite6 km from Cap Gris-Nez · 240 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Wissant Camping Car AireMotorhome stopover6 km from Cap Gris-NezMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowed
- Camping-car Park CalaisMotorhome stopover20 km from Cap Gris-Nez · 102 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Camping Calais La PlageCampsite20 km from Cap Gris-NezTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Camping Municipal La FalaiseCampsite22 km from Cap Gris-NezTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Cap Gris-Nez?
Cap Gris-Nez is in Audinghen, France, at GPS 50.8683, 1.5845. It is about 6 km from Wissant.
Can you camp near Cap Gris-Nez?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping Municipal du Cap Griz Nez, about 0 km away; within 25 km there are 41 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Cap Gris-Nez?
Places worth a stop nearby: Cap Blanc-Nez (11 km), White Cliffs of Dover (34 km), Dungeness (43 km) and Canterbury Cathedral (58 km).
When is the best time to visit Cap Gris-Nez?
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)