Calais guide | Calais attractions and things to do
Situated in the north west corner of France on the Opal Coast (la Côte d'Opale), Calais is often referred to as the most English town in France. Not only are they a mere 22 miles apart, but for more than 200 years – until 1558 – Calais was actually in English hands. Furthermore, the town remains home to a famous lace industry that was set up by Nottingham lace makers in the early nineteenth century.
Of course, many visitors will only ever come to take advantage of cheap shopping. But those who venture further out are consistently surprised at how much more Calais has to offer both in its town and the surrounding area.
Calais is easily accessible from the UK either by train or ferry. The high-speed Eurostar train service links London to Calais and beyond, with a journey time of 1 hour 20 minutes.
Ferries from the UK leave from Dover on the south coast, and reach Calais in 1 hour 15 minutes. Many visitors take this option for the speed, comfort and reasonable cost. There are a number of ferry companies offering service at all hours of the day and night. Dover can be reached via Eurotunnel from London.
An alternative, and quicker, sea-bound way to travel from the UK to Calais is via Seacat from Dover, which takes 50 minutes.
The nearest international airport to Calais is Paris' Charles de Gaulle, which is 270km away. From the airport Calais can be reached by train, including high-speed TGV and Eurostar services, which depart from Gare du Nord.
Despite is proximity to England, Calais tends to enjoy a slightly milder average climate. Even if you get caught in bad weather, there are plenty of indoor activities and places of interest, making Calais a good all-year-round destination. In the summer months, the weather is warm enough for visitors to take advantage of the local beaches.
Firstly, let’s get the shopping out of the way. If you’re in Calais for a bulk bargain, you should visit the Cité Europe shopping centre, which is a huge hypermarket with an enormous choice of boutiques. You can’t go wrong.
If you want to see more of this fascinating town, there are several places of interest both in Calais and the surrounding area which are worth visiting.
A permanent reminder of Calais’ intriguing history, as well as its links with England, is the Six Burghers Monument. Sculpted by Rodin in 1895, the statue represents the six noblemen who surrendered themselves to Edward III of England, following the siege of the city in 1347.
If that has served to whet your historical appetite, you may want to check out the Fine Art and Lace Museum (Musée des Beaux Arts et de la Dentelle), which exhibits the history of lace-making and tells the story of how the lace industry in Calais originated in Nottingham, England.
Furthermore, the War Museum (Musée de la Guerre) houses a fascinating collection of arms, uniforms, flags, models, period newspapers, posters, items from planes shot down in the region, and propaganda from wartime.
The Calais Lighthouse dates back to the mid-19th century and stands 51m high. If you are happy to tackle its 271 steps then you’ll be rewarded with magnificent views over Calais and its surroundings.
For fun and relaxation, Calais has a number of fine sandy beaches that extend along the coast for 50 kilometres. In summer time, they offer a range of activities including beach games, sailing and windsurfing.
There are a variety of bars and nightspots in Calais, mostly situated in the Rue Royale and Rue de la Mer. These include theme bars, cafes, live music spots and nightclubs such as Le Discothèque 555 and the Casino Le Touquet in Rue Royale.
Calais is a relatively low-key place, but the one time it really comes to life is at Christmas. From 30 November to 6 January, the town hosts its Sommets de Noël Christmas Extravaganza. Activities in the Place d'Armes include street entertainment and a market, but the highlight is without doubt the Grande Parade – a procession where live turkeys are the guests of honour. The event reaches a crescendo on the last day of November when the mayor turns on the Christmas lights in front of the town hall.
The Calais' Christmas market, from 12 – 20 December, extends from Theatre Square to the main shopping streets of the city centre. Some 100 stalls display arts and crafts and local specialities such as Rond de Saint Nicolas - crunchy biscuits.
It may not be the height of culture, but Christmas shopping in Calais is given extra spice by the Christmas Shop Window contest, which runs from 1 December through to Christmas Eve. More than 150 local shopkeepers welcome the seasonal rush by going all out to win the annual event with all manner of extravagant shop window arrangements. In the interests of democracy, the public get to vote for the winning shop.
Away from the festive period, the biggest event to hit Calais is the Calais Fair (Foire de Calais). Each year, usually in the first week of May, the fair settles along the western coast of the city for four days of activities and exhibitions, regularly attended by over 25,000 people.
