Calais France Travel Guide Introduction
Calais is the main French ferry port linking the UK and France
with the shortest sea crossing route, in fact on a clear day the UK coastline can easily
be seen from Calais. Thousands of travelers from the UK pass through Calais every
year on their way to European destinations and never stop to explore it's delights.
Since the competition of the channel tunnel in May 1994 the french have invested
intensively in Calais to transform it from just a port to a vibrant town.
Calais France Travel Guide Shopping
France is known worldwide for it's great food and wine and Calais
has plenty of shopping opportunities. Place d'Armes is a good place to start after your
arrival in Calais and hosts two morning markets a week, Saturdays and Wednesdays.
Fresh fruit, vegetables, French cheese and tasty bread are all in plentiful supply.
On other days except when exhibitions and events are staged, Place d'Armes turns
back into a car park. The Match supermarket at rue des Thermes, just a few steps
from the Place d'Armes car park is very handy for French picnic food and has a
surprisingly good wine selection.
Head for Rue Royale to discover gift shops,
small fashion outlets, banks and French estate agents. The Rue Royale is also home to
Patisserie, Boulangerie and Tabac Shops.
Rue Royale has many restaurants and cafes with open air seating, perfect for taking a break from the shops.
Moules Mariniere avec Frites, Mussels and Chips in english, are a firm favorite with the
british, best washed down with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc white wine.
To discover the larger upmarket shops in Boulevard Jacquard and Boulevard Lafayette
continue walking towards the main Calais railway station. Once past the railway
bridge, Parc Pierre is on your right after which the shops start and continue
all along Boulevard Lafayette until the larger Match supermarket at the end which
has plenty of car parking spaces.
The Auchan Hypermarket is located on Avenue Roger Salengro,
take the bus from the stop near Calais railway station or drive, there is a petrol station
and plenty of parking spaces are available. The smaller Carrefour supermarket is
located at Avenue Georges Guyneme Calais, whilst the much larger Carrefour Hypermarket
is to found at Boulevard de Kent, Cite de l'Europe, Coquelles, Calais.
Calais France Travel Guide Sightseeing and Relaxing
The sandy beach at Calais is ideal for sunbathing and relaxing and is located at
Digue Gaston Berthe around 1 kilometer from Place d'Armes. To walk to the beach
head towards Rue de la Mer and over pont Henri Henon a swing bridge which temporarily
closes the road when yachts and boats pass through to the pretty harbour on the right.
Walk past the Fort Risban on the right and up Avenue Raymond Poincare, past the
Calais campsite entrance to the Seafont. Walk to the end of the pier for sea air
and great harbour views, see photo lower centre. At this end of the sea front
fast food is available, in addition ice cream vans are dotted along the promenade in the
summer months.
Calais town hall, which can be easily seen from the ferry in the english channel
is the home of the Burghers of Calais sculptures by Auguste Rodin, see photo top left.
In the spring time the gardens in front of the town hall are awash with colorful flowers,
well worth a visit.
Parc St Pierre is located across the road from the town hall and is ideal for
enjoying the sunshine whilst sitting amongst the well kept gardens. Besides the extensive
tree and garden areas, the war museum which is housed in a former bunker has exhibits
from both world wars 1 and 2. Parc Richelieu located at Place du Maréchal Foch offers
plenty of park bench seating which is set amongst the flower beds and well kept lawns, ideal for picnics.
The french game of Boules is sometimes played in this park in the summer months and is watched by fascinated
british day trippers.
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