As the annual pre-Christmas cross channel shopping frenzy will soon be gathering pace, the popular town of Boulogne-sur-Mer is preparing to welcome cross channel visitors from the UK, with additional opening times of its town centre shops in the afternoons of Sunday 11th and 18th December.

Boulogne boasts 1,000 shops and craftsmen; 200 restaurants and brasseries, local food produce markets twice weekly on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, daily fish market on the Quayside Gambetta, a superb historic town to wander around, a bustling fisherman�s port, 1000 hotel rooms to help you make a night or weekend of your visit, and 3,600 car parking spaces � most of them free.

Boulogne�s town centre provides a unique selection of speciality food and wine shops and many other retail outlets, for example : Philippe Olivier - one of France�s most famous cheesemakers selling over 350 different cheeses; Charcuterie ED Bourgeois - superb range of vegetable, meat and fish dishes; Fred - excellent range of home made bread and patisseries; Chocolaterie de Beussent - wonderful choice of speciality chocolates for gifts made in its nearby chocolate factory; Comtesse du Barry - mouth-watering foodie gifts such as jams, chutneys, oils, vinegars, foie gras, many other pates and aperitifs. To stock up on wine, visit Le Chais - which sells over 50,000 quality bottles of wine in atmospheric cellars.

Special events and Christmas Markets in Boulogne and throughout the Cote d�Opale region in November and December include :

Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November � Fete du Hareng � Herring Festival Quai Gambetta, Boulogne-sur-Mer Saturday 3 December � The arrival and parade of St Nicolas in Boulogne�s town centre.

Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December � Christmas Market in Boulogne�s Old Town � Vielle Ville Sunday 18 December � Street events in Boulogne�s town centre

For more details of special Sunday opening times in December of town centre shops and for more information contact : Office du Tourisme, Boulogne-sur-Mer (00 333 21) 10 88 10 or www.tourisme-boulognesurmer.com or email : info@tourisme-boulognesurmer.com

How to get there : SpeedFerries operates up to 5 return crossings daily between Dover and Boulogne with a crossing time of just 50 minutes. Fares from �27 for car and passengers. To book contact : www.speedferries.com or call 0870 22 00 570

Short breaks / overnighters start from �49 per person, based on one night�s stay, including channel crossings for car and passengers. To book contact Travel Market on 0870 264 2644 or visit www.speedferriesholidays.com or www.realfrancerealclose.com

Press / media enquiries and to arrange press facility research visits contact :

Nick Stevens UK PR Agency � Boulogne Chamber of Commerce

01303 892631 / 07768 832899 email : nick@heyfordclose.fsnet.co.uk