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Calais is a French port city in the Pas-de-Calais department, near the English Channel and the White Cliffs of Dover. It has a rich history of English occupation, trade and culture, and is a major ferry and rail hub for travel between France and England.
- Town Hall
- Burghers of Calais
- La Cité de La Dentelle et de La Mode
- Musée de La Guerre de Calais
- Calais Lighthouse
- Musée Des Beaux Arts de Calais
- Courgain Maritime
- City Parks
- Calais Beach
- Cap Blanc-Nez and Escalles
Calais’ town hall has a 75-metre-high belfry that is part of a UNESCO site straddling the French and Belgian border, made up of towers within the old Duchy of Burgundy and the historic County of Flanders. It may look historic from a distance, but it’s actually from the 20th-century, designed in a renaissance revival style. Inside you can see workin...
In front of the Town Hall on the edge of the Parc Saint-Pierre is one of Auguste Rodin’s best-known works. It was unveiled in 1895 and was designed to honour the self-sacrifice of six of Calais’ leaders after a year-long siege from 1346 to 1347 that was part of the 100 Years’ War. When Calais finally surrendered, Edward III promised that the townsp...
The City of Lace and Fashion reveals the past and present of lace manufacturing. The museum is set in one of Calais’ last collective lace factories, established in the 1870s. By 1902 there were 80 looms in operation here, and such was the weight and power of these iron and steel machines, the walls of the U-shaped building had to slope outwards to ...
Also in the Parc Saint-Pierre is a Nazi bunker almost 200 metres in length. When you get to the entrance you’ll understand how it could have escaped bomb damage in the war, as the structure is completely cloaked by the park’s foliage in summer. When Calais was taken the Canadian forces attacking the bunker used flamethrowers in their assault. The b...
The city’s 53-metre high lighthouse was completed in 1848 and also managed to escape damage in the Second World War. The main attraction is at the top, where on a clear day you can make out the White Cliffs of Dover. That’s provided you’re feeling spry, as you have to scale 271 steps to get up there. In the adjoining building a diverting little mus...
On the upper side of Parc Richelieu, Calais’ main art museum has some exciting pieces in an airy interior that belies the building’s stern and unwelcoming appearance from the street. The museum concentrates on French, Dutch and Flemish art from a variety of eras, with Gerrit van Honthorst and Balthasar van der Ast from the Dutch Golden age, and Eug...
The Art Museum and Lighthouse are both in Courgan Maritime, Calais’ historic fishing district. Like most of the city there isn’t much evidence of medieval architecture because of the considerable destruction during the wars, but eagle-eyed and informed visitors can find lots of exciting vestiges. One is the Tour du Guet, a medieval watchtower erect...
Many people waiting for their ferry, or fresh off the boat, will stop in Parc Richelieu to get some fresh air and stretch their legs. It’s a well-tended green space with a pond in the centre and paths through thickets and next to shrubberies and flower beds. Parc Saint-Pierre has more of a French feel, as you’ll notice from the locals playing pétan...
On a hot day you could do a lot worse than head down to the city’s beach, a little way to the west of the port. Many bathers might find the waters a bit brisk, but they’re shallow and safe, as the beach has a very low gradient. For the rest there’s a big spread of soft golden sand to relax on and rows of charming beach huts painted white. As you go...
Continue west along the seafront and things get a bit more spectacular. Just over ten kilometres from Calais is Cap Blanc-Nez, a headland with soaring white chalk cliffs that are the mirror image of those in Dover. The highest point is 134 metres and above the sheer chalk bluffs is grassy moorland cratered occasionally by Second World War bombs. Th...
Apr 21, 2024 · Discover Calais, a seaside town with a rich history, a vibrant culture and a stunning beach. Learn when to go, what to see and do, and how to get there from Paris or Dover.
Sep 9, 2024 · Calais, industrial seaport on the Strait of Dover, Pas-de-Calais département, Hauts-de-France région, northern France, 21 miles (34 km) by sea from Dover (the shortest crossing from England).
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Things to Do in Calais, France: See Tripadvisor's 38,221 traveler reviews and photos of Calais tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in September. We have reviews of the best places to see in Calais. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
First passenger transport port in France, Calais is a city with undeniable attractions. Located on the coast of the English Channel, the city has always been an important strategic point, a real connection node between Great Britain, France and North-West Europe.
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Jun 6, 2019 · Calais makes a great short trip from Paris or the U.K. Explore the restaurants, the Lace Museum, an art museum, and a golden sandy beach.
