The city of Calais is located at the northern tip of France, right on the coast, only 21 miles across the Channel from England. This busy seaport town is the closest point for the landing of ferries crossing from Dover. It has a long history as a crossing point, including being occupied by the English for two centuries, ending in 1558 when it was recaptured by the French - earning it the nickname pays reconquis (reconquered country). Nowadays, the city of Calais is very much culturally French, although it experiences a daily conquering by English tourists and would-be bargain hunters, streaming off the ferry.
For English visitors, Calais has become a shopping destination, where it is possible to take the ferry from Dover for a day trip, and return with a car loaded down with goodies. Shoppers are attracted by savings of up to 50% on the UK price of wine and champagne, as well as significantly lower prices for tobacco, clothing, French cheeses and specialty products. For shopping, visit the Auchan Hypermarket, the Carrefour Hypermarket and the Marque Avenue Factory Shopping Mall for some real bargains. UK food giant Tesco even has a Calais branch dedicated to wines and champagnes.
Many will make the trip on the ferry solely for a shopping expedition, but others will use the trip as a chance to take in a bit of French culture. Much of the city was destroyed in the two World Wars, so there are not many examples of local historic architecture. The medieval Citadelle at Calais did survive to some extent, and the remains of both French and English fortifications can be seen at Fort Nieulay. At the heart of the city is the beautiful Hôtel de Ville, with its neo Flemish towers and arches. The city hall is now a UNESCO world heritage monument, and was the site of Charles De Gaulle's marriage in 1921. Across from the city hall is a statue, by Rodin, which depicts Les Six Bourgeois. It commemorates six noblemen who were prepared to give their lives for the city of Calais in 1347.
To get a feel for the way Calais would have looked when it was a simple, pre-war fishing village, visit Le Courgain maritime. Completely destroyed in WWII, this historic quarter has been rebuilt to resemble the original façade. It remains the gathering place for local fisherman, who sell their catch here directly off their boats.
