The Dragon of Calais, a colossal mechanical animal that moves along the renovated Calais seafront and its fine sandy beach in the background. ©Fred Collier

Discover the rich history of Calais

A recent city because it was reclaimed from the waters, Calais quickly entered history. Its geographical location, facing England and close to the borders, made it a coveted city and port. Between great epics, historical facts and dark hours, Calais led its development against all odds.

From the origins to the English presence

On a territory reclaimed from the sea, Calais developed rapidly. A fortified town with a port, it attracted many covetous people... At the start of the Hundred Years' War, the story of the Burghers of Calais brought the town into History.

The Burghers of Calais

The Monument to the Burghers of Calais, a famous work by the sculptor Auguste Rodin, is among the most famous statues in France. This massive bronze ensemble is located opposite theCalais Town Hall. To complete this visit, the Calais Museum of Fine Arts presents a space on Rodin's preparatory works. This statue symbolizes the dedication of six notables from Calais during the siege of the city in the Middle Ages. At the beginning of the Hundred Years' War, the fortified city of Calais was an objective of the King of England Edward III. After an 11-month siege, the English seized Calais in August 1347. This episode of the Bourgeois brought Calais into the history books.

Calais and England: a long history
Statutory Group by Auguste Rodin: the Burghers of Calais facing the Calais Town Hall and its belfry. ©Nohcab

At the time Calais was a recent city, a territory reclaimed from the waters. But this Calais of the 11th – 13th century already had many assets, those of a fortified city with a port. The Bassin du Paradis remains the oldest part of the vast area of ​​the current port of Calais. Calais became a fortified city at the beginning of the 13th century. A powerful castle and ramparts protected what is now the Calais-nord district, facing the port. The Place d'Armes was the heart of the medieval city and the watchtower was part of the fortified system. This building is considered the oldest in the city. It was this fortified Calais that was besieged in 1346-1347 to become the English Calais between 1347 and 1558. 

Necessary fortifications

A coveted city, Calais quickly had to fortify itself. The defenses were increased over the centuries in a Europe with a turbulent history. Garrison and walls in the city, forts to protect the port or access to the city, the achievements were numerous and varied!

Imposing and made up of numerous towers, the ramparts of Calais date from the beginning of the 1558th century. You can see remains of them at the Citadel, on the Porte de Boulogne side. After the departure of the English in 1596, the fortified castle and its wealthy district were transformed into a military fortress. Calais remained a coveted city and Spain seized it for a short period (1598-1960). Over the centuries, the Citadel reinforced its major role as protector of the center of Calais. Since the XNUMXs, it has been a stadium and a peaceful place for walking, including the Vauban square on the Porte de Neptune side.

The Citadel of Calais
View of the fortifications of the Citadel of Calais, a medieval vestige. ©Nohcab
The Watchtower which stands on the Place d'Armes is one of the visible medieval remains of Calais. ©Nohcab

Just like its neighbour the watchtower, the powerful bell tower of Notre Dame watches over the Place d'Armes. At the heart of a district rebuilt after the Second World War, these two heights bear witness to the intense medieval past of Calais. The Church of Our Lady of Calais was considerably enlarged during the English period (1347-1558). Its massive character attests that it could serve as a refuge for the population. In the same preventive register, the late XNUMXth century cistern collected rainwater from the roofs of Notre-Dame. The environment of the church where Charles de Gaulle's wedding took place is embellished by the Tudor garden which recalls its English character

The Church of Our Lady of Calais
The Notre Dame de Calais church and its central bell tower showing the English influence in its architecture. ©Nohcab

The Sea Forts

Le Fort Risban is the sentinel of the port of Calais for many centuries. It was the English who used a large sandbank to gradually build a solidly armed fort. The purpose of the Fort Risban garrison was to control access to the port of Calais, a vital mission. In a Europe that was often in conflict for centuries, the port of Calais was of major importance. Fort Risban was the first in a series of maritime forts dedicated to its protection. The remains of Fort Lapin are visible during a walk in the dunes of Blériot-Plage.

The Western Fortress

In the Calais defense system, Fort Nieulay had a very specific role, to lock the west of the city. Originally a toll bridge, the place was transformed into a fort built by the English. It was in the 17th century that the engineer Vauban considerably enlarged it and designed its current architecture. He made it a massive fortress… and rare, a lock fort allowing the control of water. You have to walk around to discover in real life the genius of Vauban in terms of strongholds.

Photo of Fort Risban and its foothills today in a green setting. ©Nohcab
Gate of Fort Nieulay, a lock fort deconstructed and relocated by Vauban. ©Nohcab

The great turning point of the 19th century

The 19th century was a decisive period in local history. It was synonymous with growth and the acceleration of the city's influence. Facing the sea, Calais established itself as an essential port for going to England. Nearby, Saint Pierre lived to the rhythm of the explosion of the lace industry. These successes came together to give birth to the Calais of today.

Calais becomes a passenger port

At the beginning of the 1347th century, Calais had been an important port on the coast of northern France for several centuries. The English added the transport of goods to the original fishing port during their presence (1558-XNUMX).

Le Calais is also a military and privateer port, with Tom Souville. The Restoration of the Monarchy in 1814, symbolised by the Louis XVIII column, ushered in a new era. Napoleon's Empire collapsed and led to détente with England. Passenger ship rotations between Calais and Dover increased in strength: these were the beginnings of today's cross-Channel traffic. This new activity reinforced the major role of the port of Calais.

The maritime history of Calais
tom souville calais statue corsair
fort risban calais panorama port courgain

Saint Pierre, city of lace

The 19th century was synonymous with the industrial revolution. At the gates of the ramparts of the medieval city of Calais and its port, the village of Saint Pierre expanded considerably. Throughout the 19th century, The village of 3 inhabitants is transformed into a town of 000 inhabitants. The reason for this is the emergence and rapid growth of the lace industry. Buildings proliferated: homes, shops, public buildings, workshops and of course lace factories. One of them, rehabilitated, offers visitors the numerous collections of the City of Lace and Fashion.

Calais-Caudry Lace, the luxury of Calais XXL
Tulle maker at work supervising the operation of a lace weaving machine. ©Fred Collier

Calais and Saint Pierre are now one

Calais the maritime and Saint Pierre the lacemaker experienced strong development in the 1885th century. The arrival of the railway, the increase in trade and other circumstances led to a major decision at the end of a century where horizons had expanded. In XNUMX, Calais and Saint Pierre joined forces to form a single city. In view of its long history, it took the name of Calais. New public buildings were built, including theater and especially City HallConsidered among the most beautiful in France, it is the symbol of the fusion between Calais and Saint Pierre.

Calais Town Hall
The Belfry of the Town Hall overlooking the statutory group by Auguste Rodin: the Burghers of Calais. ©Nohcab

Conflicts… then big projects!

The first half of the 1th century was heavily impacted by global conflicts. Facing England, Calais still has a major stake in its location. The post-war period was an opportunity for reconstruction and then development. The end of the XNUMXth century was marked by the opening of the Channel Tunnel and the opening up of Calais XXL by land. Projects followed one after the other, including the development of the seaside and maritime facade.

First World War and interwar period

The expanded and flourishing Calais of the early 1910th century is home to a modern infrastructure of the time. The brand new Bassin Carnot is home to a submarine base. In 1914, one of them, the Pluviose, sank off Calais. From 1920, Calais was targeted by the German army. The Northern Front stabilized in Flanders and Artois and Calais became a vast Allied rear-line base. This led to Calais and its port being targeted by bombing raids, particularly by Zeppelin airships. The nationalities of the victims buried in the military cemeteries of Calais Nord and Blériot Plage sadly illustrate the internationalization of this base. In the 1930s and XNUMXs, economic activity resumed and experienced upheavals. The buildings of the time also bear here and there the signature of Art Deco or the architect Roger Poyé, whose Labor Exchange. 

Art Deco in Calais
Panoramic view of the Carnot basin in Calais and the port infrastructure in the background. ©Nohcab
The Pluviose Monument in Calais was erected in tribute to those lost in the sinking of the submarine of the same name in 1910. ©Nohcab

The ravages of World War II

The 1939-1945 Memory Museum is the place to go to learn everything about the Second World War in Calais. After 4 days of fierce fighting (22-26 May 1940), the German army took Calais. After more than 4 years of occupation and bombing, Calais and its surroundings were liberated by Canadian troops. The area around the port was almost destroyed. The long reconstruction of the city began, with 2 different architectural styles. Today, on the coast of Calais XXL, there are remains of bunkers from the Atlantic Wall built by the Germans. Among these concrete fortresses is the massive Oldenburg battery.
General de Gaulle occupies a prominent place in this conflict which has set the entire world ablaze.

The 39-45 Memory Museum
The German Oldenburg battery in the Deux Mers area on the eastern part of Calais. ©Nohcab

XXL projects and epics!

Resilient Calais is recovering from the disaster of the last world war. The Calais-Nord district is changing its architectural appearance. The city is expanding and new public buildings are regularly appearing. At the end of the 2th century, Calais experienced two major epics that would increase its reputation! The 1980-1990 hinge was marked by the Chantier du XXe Siècle, the construction of the Channel Tunnel. In addition, Calais became easily accessible, connected to the TGV network and 2 motorways (A16 and A26). In 2000, the local football club had a string of exploits: it was the first amateur club to reach the final of the Coupe de France. In the years 2010-2020, the passenger port expanded to a new dimension. As for the seafront, it was renovated to restore Calais' seaside splendor. This is where the Calais Dragon will take up residence in 2019. This titanic machine inaugurates the beginning of a new cultural and urban project, that of the Dragon Company.

The Virginie Tunneller visible in Coquelles in homage to the builders of this construction site of the century. ©Nohcab
The Dragon of Calais, a colossal mechanical animal that moves along the renovated Calais seafront and its fine sandy beach in the background. ©Fred Collier
See more images