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een in service for almost 200 years in what’s known as the Fishermen's area, called Kaleis in the 12th century. Take a cruise: On weekends take a cruise on the Calais Canal (details at the tourist office). History & Culture The destiny of Calais has been influenced by its proximity to England, just 38km across the Channel. When Edward III of England invaded France in 1337, the event started the Hundred Years War. And in 1347, Calais fell under English rule following an 8-month long siege, at the end of which, 6 burghers (leading citizens) offered their lives to save the rest of the townspeople. The English King spared them, and they are honoured in a magnificent larger-than-life sculpture by August Rodin outside the town’s historic town hall, where General Charles de Gaulle married Yvonne Vendroux, daughter of a local biscuit manufacturer. Calais didn’t become French again until 1558. For a bird’s eye view over the town, head to the top of the UNESCOlisted Belfry attached to the town hall, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful in France with its neo-Flemish façade and Art Deco-stained glass windows and decor. Calais Lighthouse © Office de Tourisme Calais Cote d'Opale Rodin's Burghers of Calais forces during WWII as a defence against an anticipated Allied invasion. In the Park St Pierre, in front of the town hall is a rather hidden, very interesting museum, Musée Mémoire, housed inside a bunker complete with 21 rooms of exhibits telling the history of Calais (73% of the old Calais district was destroyed) during WWII. The City of Lace and Fashion museum has a huge and fascinating collection of textiles and costumes reflecting the city’s position as the centre of the French lace making industry since the early 1800s. There are regular temporary exhibitions and a superb shop. Foodies Feeling peckish? You’re in the right place! There’s a huge choice of restaurants in Calais, from refined dining to cosy cafes and you’ll find a super list on the tourist office website (see bottom of the post). A short walk away, the Fine Arts Museum. It has a fine collection including a permanent Rodin exhibition which has been recently renovated in collaboration with the Rodin Museum of Paris. Only a few traces of Calais’ medieval past have survived including the 13th century Tour du Guet, the Watch Tower in Place d’Armes which in the 19th century was used as a telegraph station. It was from here that news of the death of Napoleon was transmitted to Paris. There is a ring of forts created to protect the city dating from the 14th century to the 16th century Citadel built on the site of a medieval castle. In the 17th century King Louis XIV’s military engineer Vauban undertook a revamp of these fortifications. More recently the Atlantic Wall was constructed by German Calais Town Hall Calais Town Hall 40 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 41
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