# Cap Gris-Nez

> 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…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/places/cap-gris-nez/

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

## 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.

## Sources

- [Cap Gris-Nez – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap_Gris-Nez)
- [The two capes – Eurotunnel Le Shuttle](https://www.leshuttle.com/uk-en/discover/traveller-guides/the-beautiful-scenery-of-the-two-capes)

## Nearby

- [Cap Blanc-Nez](https://camping-spirit.com/places/blanc-nez/) – 11 km
- [White Cliffs of Dover](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b6-white-cliffs/) – 34 km
- [Dungeness](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b6-dungeness/) – 43 km
- [Canterbury Cathedral](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b6-canterbury-cathedral/) – 58 km

## 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)