About

Calais, a fortified city? It makes perfect sense when you consider its geographical location. Between the Middle Ages and the World Wars of the 20th century, its proximity to England and, for a time, the Spanish Netherlands made it a much-coveted region. Furthermore, as well as being an English city for 2 centuries (1347-1558) after the Burghers of Calais incident, it was also a Spanish possession at the end of the 16th century. The coastline of the Calais region is typical of the Côte d’Opale, with vast expanses of sand, chains of dunes, seafront promenades and spectacular high tides at certain times of year. Bathed by good quality sea water, the shoreline of the Calais region is bordered on the west by the cliffs at Cap Blanc Nez, a major feature of the Sites des Deux Caps which, along with other attractions such as the Pont du Gard, the Pilat sand dune and the cliffs at Étretat, is a designated “Grand Site de France”.