Audinghen

• Name — Audinghen • Native Name — Oudinghen • Commune Status — Commune • Arrondissement — Boulogne-sur-Mer • Canton — Desvres • Insee — 62054 • Postal Code — 62179 • Mayor — Marc Sarpaux • Term — 2020–2026 • Intercommunality — CC Terre des Deux Caps • Elevation M — 68 • Elevation Min M — 0 • Elevation Max M — 123 • Area Km2 — 13.09

A farming commune, comprising several hamlets, some 14 mi north of Boulogne-sur-Mer, at the junction of the D940 and the D191 roads. Cap Gris-Nez, the nearest part of France to the English coast, forms the western boundary of the commune.

The town was originally named Odingehem, 'home of Odin', by the Vikings who built a temple here dedicated to the Germanic god Odin. Audinghen has been rebuilt several times after being completely destroyed, including: • In 1643 or 1644, according to the interpretations, by a party of soldiers of the King of England, who burned the village population inside the church; • Three centuries later, in November 1943, by the British, who bombed and totally destroyed the village (then occupied by the German army) and a centre for Organisation Todt.

• The church of St. Pierre, dating from the twentieth century. • The ruins of the lighthouse at Cap Gris Nez. • World War II German defences, part of the Atlantic wall. • Illustration — Part of the German defences, at the Todt Battery

• Gabriel Auguste Ferdinand Ducuing, soldier who died here in 1940. • Raoul de Godewaersvelde, composer, died here in 1977.