The first centuries of the strategic situation Sangatte was already known to the early centuries of our era as the city, then known as the "Sclives", was the culmination of an important Gallo-Roman road, which still exists Today, the path of Leulène. It crosses the "Black-hopping" and connects Peuplingues.
Major events: the recent history of the town was well marked by its unique geographical position as it enjoyed in its territory, in a little less than a century, two attempts at digging a tunnel under the Channel, the digging the gigantic manhole, the first fruits of the tunnel current course and the first crossing of the Channel by Louis Blériot.
The feat of July 25, 1909: so that in 1909 the town of Sangatte Blériot-Plage entered history. Springing from a plain which is now the College, the famous aviator, Louis Blériot crossed the Channel for the first time in 37 minutes. This tremendous feat was a springboard to notoriety Sangatte Blériot-Plage and allowed him to enter the first letters of nobility. A stele was erected in Bleriot-Plage in memory of this victory. Another statue is on the road course, that of Hubert Latham, the unsuccessful competitor of Louis Blériot who also tried to cross the strait in an airplane.
The Channel Tunnel: officially opened May 6, 1994, the Channel Tunnel (or Eurotunnel) linking France to England in 35 minutes, measuring over 50 km long, 8 feet wide and has in fact two separate tunnels, one for each direction of movement and a central service tunnel. After several failed attempts, including that of Napoleon in 1875 wells along the cliffs Sangatte and the latest in 1973 the idea of digging a tunnel under the Channel was relaunched in 1984. Of the four proposals, the closest project in 1973 was chosen, which was announced January 2, 1986. The British and French governments signed the same year the Treaty enshrining this solution. For years, an impressive site stands a few hundred yards from the church Sangatte, including the manhole, which is now used for ventilation. Today, the Eurotunnel shuttles transport every day by all time thousands of passengers and hundreds of trucks in terms of comfort and optimum safety. Find more information on the history of this site on the website of the Association of Builders of the Channel Tunnel.
At the gate of the Parc Naturel des Caps et Marais d'Opale, between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer, Sangatte Blériot-Plage, a charming small resort located in the heart of an exceptional natural environment, home to the majestic Cape Blanc Nez.
