Cheap Calais Hotels
What to see by car: Calais
    
It seems the majority of tourists opt to travel non-stop through the Pas-de-Calais
en route to a more affable climate and more vaunted tourist spots. However, if
you have the time and luxury of your own vehicle, the region has many charming
places to visit. Cassel in particular, is a much overlooked gem.
At the seaside resort of Le Touquet you'll find clean beaches, lots of seafront
activities and, most of all, a frenetic nightlife that consists of noisy discos
and the kaleidoscopic illuminations of casinos. The resort's popularity has
not waned; on public holidays, the roads in and out of Le Touquet get gridlocked
with crawling traffic.
A short drive from Calais is the town of Dunkerque, and even though industry
pervades the town, there are plenty of historical sights on offer. It's not
surprising when you think Dunkerque has been a port since 800 AD, and had been
ruled by France, Spain, England and Holland before Louis XIV returned it to
France in 1662.
You should definitely place the town of St Omer towards the top of your itinerary.
Notre Dame Cathedral, started in the 13th century and opened in 1559, boasts
beautiful Gothic architecture - some of the best in the Pas-de-Calais. Notre
Dame's astrological clock was made in 1558 and continues to work with its original
mechanism.
Walking around the quaint old town, you'll find 17th century mansions on rue
Gambetta, as well as the Musée Henri-Dupois, which has natural history
displays and an example of an old Flemish kitchen. The Musée de l'Hotel
Sandelin has displays of paintings, sculptures and furniture.
Lastly, you should visit the aforementioned town of Cassel, where you can take
the stony path up to the top of the famous hill and be rewarded with spectacular
views across northern France. Through the centuries, the fortified town of Cassel
has been of great military importance. It is believed that Cassel was the hill
up which the Grand Old Duke of York marched his 10,000 men.
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 | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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