Calais Travel guide by Eurapart

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Calais, Pas de Calais, France

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Calais ¦Dunkerque¦ Cassel¦ St Omer¦ Le Touquet¦ Lille¦ Arras¦ Boulogne¦ Abbeville ¦ Douai ¦ Montreuil ¦ Ieper¦ Lens¦ Cambrai
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"The English stayed for 200 years but their influence extended much longer"

Calais Hotel de Vile

Where to stay>
The links in this section lead away from the Eurapart site to the Hotel Chain web sites. The web sites have hotel addresses, location maps and in many instances booking facilities.

Budget hotel accommodation
in Calais
Hotel Formule 1 - 1 Hotel
EtapHotel1 Hotel
Balladins - 1 Hotel
villages Hôtel - 1 Hotel
B&B HOTEL - 1 Hotel

Mid Price hotels
Cottage Hotel - 1 Hotel

Meurice
Campanile Hotel - 1 Hotel
Ibis - 2 Hotels + 1 at Tunnel
Kyriad - 1 Hotel

Holiday Inn Hotels
Mercure

Food and fuel

Shopping
Some of the lowest priced food, fuel and other consummables may be obtained in the Hypermarkets. Supermarkets can also offer good deals , those with a presence in Calais include Intermarché, Champion, Aldi and Lidl.

Hypermarkets
Auchan Ave Roger Salengro Route de Boulogne RN1 62100 CALAIS	Tel 03 21 46 92 92 Mon - Sat 9h30 -22h00	Fuel
Carrefour Bd Kent Cîte de l'Europe 62231 COQUELLES	Tel 03 21 46 75 55 Mon - Fri 9h00 -22h00 Sat 8h30 -22h00	Fuel Cafeteria Restuarants nearby
Carrefour Ave Guynemer BP 19 62102 CALAIS	Tel 03 21 19 64 64 Mon - Sat 8h30 - 21h00	Cafeteria

Before you lies a giant chess game with squares of green maize and golden wheat, ornate belltower playing pieces pierce the skyline.

Your move
Calais
To many Britons, Calais is their first sight of mainland Europe. Quite what the locals think, I'm not sure, as they watch cars being laden with beer and wine until the suspension groans. The cross channel shopping trade flourishes due to a weak Euro and low alcohol and tobacco taxation on the French side. As Calais is the closest port to the UK it has led to it becoming Europe's busiest passenger port. This geographical closeness has also afforded the town a rich history but World War Two bombing has destroyed many of its physical manifestations. Calais has been invaded by numerous countries throughout its history, including the Romans, Spanish, English, Germans and again today by cross channel shoppers.

Tourist Information Office is within the old town. The town walls have gone but the canal that formed the moat around the town remains. The 13th Century Watchtower in the Place d'Armes survives. It was close to this watchtower that six Burghers offered their lives if the English would spare the lives of the towns occupants. Edward III had just defeated the town following a seven month siege in 1347. They were only spared on the intervention of Edwards' wife Phillipa of Hainault. The famous statue by Rodin outside the Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville) commemorates these 6 Burghers
The English stayed for 200 years but their influence extended much longer. In the 19th Century, Lacemakers from Nottingham settled in the town. You can learn more about the history of lacemaking by visiting the Musée des Beaux Arts et de la Dentelle. It also displays a fine selection of watercolours and sculpture related drawings.
Other sights worthy of a visit include the old harbour and old lighthouse (Le Phare) which dates from 1848. The lighthouse affords a good view of the Port and environs.
Hidden amidst the trees in the park opposite the Town Hall is an old German communications bunker. This is now home to the Musée de la Guerre (War Museum). The displays show life during the Second World War.

Excursions
You should include time to visit the Cîte de l'Europe
and the Eurotunnel Terminal if you are in Calais. To the South West of Calais the Cap Blanc Nez and Cap Griz Nez and the bay of Wissant are quite beautiful. The Atlantic Wall Museum and La Fortresse de Mimoyecues are two World War Two Museums that shouldn't be missed if you are interested in WW2 history.

Tourist Information
Tourist Information Office
OFFICE DE TOURISME
12 Boulevard Clemenceau
BP 94
62100 CALAIS
Tel 03 21 96 62 40
Fax 03 21 96 01 92
E mail: ot@ot-calais.fr
Web: www.OT-calais.fr

Musée de la Guerre (War Museum)
Parc Saint Pierre
62100 CALAIS
Tel 03 21 34 21 57
Open 1 Feb - 1 Oct Not Tuesdays
11:00 to 1700 1Apr - 30 Sep 10h00- 18h00

Musée des Beaux Arts et de la Dentelle
Fine Art and Lace Museum
25, rue Richeliieu
62100 CALAIS
Tel 03 21 46 48 40

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