The Town Hall clock tower
Go up to the top of the Town Hall clock tower and admire Rodin’s statue of the Six Burghers in front of the Town Hall
Visit the International Lace & Fashion Museum or go to the Meccano Lab. Admire Rodin’s statue of the Six Burghers or spend time on the fine sandy beach. There’s something to be found for everyone in Calais !
A few ideas of visits to make in Calais
Discover heritage sites
Vauban’s fortifications
Stroll around Vauban’s fortifications, which include Fort Risban, Fort Nieulay and the Citadel
Notre Dame church
Visit Notre Dame church, where Charles de Gaulle and Yvonne Vendroux (a local girl) got married in 1921
Calais lighthouse
Climb up the 271 steps of the Calais lighthouse for an incredible view over the port and the town
If you like museums, concerts and culture in general
The Fine Arts museum
The Fine Arts museum in Calais has a vast collection of paintings, sculptures, water colours, sketches and photographs dating from the 16th to the 21st century, including, notably, a whole gallery dedicated to the sculptor Rodin
The world of fashion
The world of fashion and industrial history The International Lace & Fashion Museum presents weaving techniques as well as haute-couture lingerie creations. The high point of the visit is a demonstration in action of how lace weaving looms work, those monumental machines in cast iron which produce this exceptional, luxury fabric.
The Channel
The Channel, national theatre and arts complex, creates and gives performances of plays, shows and artistic, festive and mainstream events in general. It is also an out-of-the-ordinary living space and meeting place, with a bar, a restaurant, a bookshop and a panoramic look-out point.
The Gérard Philippe Cultural Centre
The Gérard Philippe Cultural Centre and the Main Theatre: with their rich and varied programmes, ranging from classical theatre performances to the most extravagant heavy metal concerts, no-one will be disappointed!
What to do in Calais with kids when it rains ?
Meccano Lab
Feel like trying out toys all afternoon? Come to the Meccano Lab !
The local library
Go to the local library, shelter from the rain and read.
Have a ride on the Majest'In
The canal boat trip that leaves the town centre and goes as far as Coulogne.
L'alhambra
A cinema outing to see one of the films selected by the expert team at the Alhambra !
Kids activities for sunny days ?
The Urban Farm
We love the Ferme Urbaine (urban farm), with its animals, vegetable garden and curiosity corner!
The beach
Off to the beach with all its attractions, including mini golf, skate park, games for kids from 2 to 12 and its city stadium. And, at the end of 2019, Delarozière’s Dragon will be arriving, a huge machine which will move about the seafront opposite the hostel. See posts on our blog for more details about this incredible project !
Shopping
Rue Royale
In town, along the Rue Royale - mainly clothes and interior decoration boutiques
Calais coeur de Vie
In town, in the Calais Coeur de Vie shopping centre - the Comptoir de l’Ilot (shop selling products made by Calais designers/artisans)
La Caverne du Jeu
In town, our favourite shop is La Caverne Du Jeu, a haven of board games where you can seek advice and, most important, try out all the games before buying!
The Cité Europe
The Channel Outlet Store
Explore further afield :
The Louvre in Lens
Arras
Dunkirk