Cheap Hotels Calais
What to see by foot: Calais
    
Calais has a number of interesting sights and charming buildings. In addition,
as the city is not so big, it's possible to find most of the obvious of these
on a walking tour. The town walls are no longer standing, but the canal that formed
the moat around the town remains. In the place d'Armes, you'll find a watchtower
that dates all the way back to the 13th century.
One of Calais' most poignant stories lies encapsulated in the history of this
watchtower. Across from the site, six Burghers offered their lives in exchange
for the English sparing the lives of the town's occupants. Edward III had just
defeated the town following a seven-month siege in 1347; the six Burghers, as
well as the townspeople, were only spared on the intervention of Edward's wife,
Phillipa of Hainault. The famous statue by Rodin, outside the Town Hall (Hôtel
de Ville), commemorates these six Burghers.
From here, head to rue de la Paix, which leads to the church of Notre-Dame,
where Charles de Gaulle married a local girl, Yvonne Vendroux, in 1921. This
is supposedly the only English perpendicular church on the continent.
Take a walk over to the Musée des Beaux Arts et de la Dentelle, and
learn about the history of lace making in Calais; also worth noting in the museum
is a grand selection of watercolours and sculpture-related drawings.
If you don't have a predilection for art, then head to the old harbour and
its old lighthouse (Le Phare), which dates from 1848. The lighthouse affords
a panoramic view of the port and environs.
Enshrouded in verdant woodland in the park opposite is the Town Hall, which
once was a German communications bunker. It is now home to the Musée
de la Guerre (War Museum). Inside the museum, you'll find a comprehensive account
of the stark reality of war. If you have the time, then it's worthwhile visiting
the Cîte de l'Europe and the Eurotunnel Terminal as well.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Ibis Calais Car Ferry | | Cottage Hotel | | Metropol Hotel | | Le George V Hotel | | Suitehotel Calais Coquelles | | Copthorne Hotel Coquelles - Calais | |
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full list of hotels and online booking
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