OUR NEWS
A unique industrial tourism experience on the Opal Coast
June 2025 , official launch date for Industrial Tourism in the Boulonnais Quarries .
One year after the first experiments, the Carrières du Boulonnais are proud to announce the official opening of the Ferques quarry to the general public from June 2025.
This unique industrial tourism project invites visitors to discover an exceptional site: the largest open-air quarry in France on a single site, located a few kilometers from the coast.
Between June and the end of October 2025 (weather permitting), guided tours will be offered several times a month. The tour, conducted by bus, allows for a complete immersion into the heart of the quarry while ensuring maximum safety—no descents are planned during the tour.
Hop on the bus and explore France's largest open-air quarry !
Immerse yourself in the spectacular world of the Boulonnais Quarries, between monumental cliffs, industrial know-how and protected biodiversity.
Places are limited : book your visit now by scanning the QR code or clicking on the link below.
Click below or scan the QR code to reserve your seats online
(limited number of places) (
PRICE: €5 / PERSON*
DURATION: APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS
RESERVATION REQUIRED
*Funds donated in part to the Aubépine Association, committed to the protection of the Eagle Owl which nests in the quarry.
Promising pilot visits carried out in 2024 which confirmed the public's interest and curiosity
In June 2024, nearly 150 employees, stakeholders, clients, and prescribers had the first taste of this experience during pilot visits spread over two days. The feedback was unanimous: the discovery of the site, the quality of the explanations, and the vastness of the industrial landscape made a lasting impression. Since then, several private tours have been organized, notably on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Marquise Carrier Basin landscape plan, generating keen public interest, with waiting lists for certain dates.
A historic site open for almost 130 years . A place of production , innovation and transmission .
This opening is part of a desire to promote local industrial heritage, but also to share the expertise of a little-known profession. Extraction, processing, logistics, maintenance: all activities that contribute to the transformation of raw materials into essential materials for the construction of our living environment.
The educational trail also covers the geological issues of the site, the uses of limestone materials in our daily lives, and the means implemented to reconcile industrial activity and respect for the environment.
A strong commitment to biodiversity
The Ferques quarry is home to remarkable biodiversity. It is notably a nesting site for the Eagle Owl , a protected species, as well as for many other species such as sand martins and certain rare orchids. The registration fee (€5 per visitor) will be partially donated to the Aubépine association, a partner committed to the protection of this sensitive flora and fauna.
A hidden world awaits you
The dull din of machinery, the rocky walls, the interplay of scale between man and machine... The Ferques quarry cannot be told, it must be experienced. Behind the gates of this still little-known industrial site lies a fascinating world, sculpted by time and human labor.
Starting in June, this usually closed site finally opens its doors to you. Hop on the bus and explore France's largest open-air quarry!
Practical information
Departures are from Le Cardo, in Marquise, at the bus stop located in front of the CAPOOLCO municipal swimming pool. The tour takes place exclusively by bus, with no access to the site.
Registration is done online via the Weezevent platform (link accessible from our website, that of La Terre des 2 Caps and a dedicated page).
A contribution of €5 is requested from each visitor, partly donated to the Aubépine association.