Saint-Martin Church in Samer

Perched high on a promontory, like an island off the Boulonnais escarpment, the Flamboyant Gothic church is unique and picturesque due to the buildings attached to it. In the Middle Ages, it was common to build houses and shops around it, particularly along its facade.
Only two churches in Europe have preserved these ancient features. The other is located in the former Czechoslovakia.
The porch is the only freestanding facade of the building. The interior of the church dates back to the 16th century. The bell tower was rebuilt in 1842.
The origins of the parish church remain unclear. According to some scholars, the current building is the third church, partially rebuilt around 1608, about thirty meters from the second, which was destroyed under Edward III. It covered the tombs of the Counts of Boulogne, notably that of Eustace II, husband of Saint Ida and father of Godfrey of Bouillon, the illustrious conqueror of the Crusades.

The first church was that of the Abbey. It was destroyed during the Norman invasions. The Church of Saint-Martin in Samer, however, remains one of the most important churches built in the Boulonnais region during the Middle Ages.