A father and son driving a pedal car along the Calais LA Plage seawall.

Calais by bike with the family: a city centre route

Sometimes all it takes is a good idea to start a day and change its course. In Calais, this family bike tour is just that. It begins on the sandy slope, follows the sea, passes a ten-meter-long dragon sculpture, climbs to the top of a UNESCO-listed belfry, and ends at a hidden farm in the heart of the city. The route is largely accessible on dedicated cycle and pedestrian paths, with a short section on a shared road between the beach and the Place d'Armes.

We're getting equipped for a family bike ride

Rental, self-service bike or pedal car: choose your ride

No bike in the trunk? No problem! The Vél'in network has several stations along the seafront and throughout the city: ideal for picking up bikes at the start and dropping them off at any station along the way. Prefer to stay on the seafront? 62 Game Street offers pedal cars for rent each season on the Gaston Berthe Promenade. These vehicles are reserved for the beach: a fun warm-up before tackling the actual cycling route.

For stays of several days, Opale Vélo Services (located on Boulevard Gambetta) also offers rentals by the half day, day, week or even month!

Find a bike to rent

A family driving a Rosalie on the promenade of Calais beach with the sea and the sea wall in the background.

Useful Information

The suggested route is largely passable on offset cycle and pedestrian paths. The passage between the Henri Hénon bridge and the Place d'Armes is on a shared road: recommended for children comfortable with cycling in the city or walking for about a hundred meters.

Find a bike

The stations Vellum cover the seafront and the city center. For a stay, Opal Bike Services (Boulevard Gambetta) offers daily or weekly rentals. Tip: when renting your bike from Opale Vélo Services, the route starts from the end!

Need a map?

Don't panic, we're here to help! Stop by the Tourist Office, located right in the middle of this route next to Richelieu Park, and ask our team for advice. Complete maps are available free of charge.

The seafront: the initial momentum

The cycle and pedestrian path along the beach is wide, flat, and offers something that few city routes can promise: The sea on one side, freedom on the other. On a clear day, the white cliffs of England stand out against the horizon. Children love this detail, which has something surprising about it, somewhere between landscape and geography. It is also here that the Dragon of Calais It takes its outings along the beach: the cycle path merges with its lane, and you might well cross paths with the giant along the way. On this section, you share the road with the machine, but not with cars!

Discover Calais LA Plage

The cycle path at the foot of the Dragon of Calais, or bicycles, also travels the way of the colossus.

The City of the Dragon: the extraordinary stage

Heading west along the seafront, the City of the Dragon dominates the landscape even before you've looked for it. This is where they reside the Dragon of Calais (ten meters high, twenty-five meters long) and the Traveling Monitor Lizard, another creature from the bestiary of the Dragon Company Conceived by the artist François Delaroziere, the Cité encompasses the Machines' Lair, the shop, and the Flamme restaurant. Even without boarding, a visit is a must. The scale of the resting animal is a spectacle in itself, and children are generally amazed.

Visit the Dragon Company

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

Route to the city: Calais North

The route then heads back towards the historic center via a short section of shared road to the Henri Hénon bridge, before joining a wide, one-way cycle path in the opposite direction. Caution is advised, and younger cyclists may need to walk with their bikes for a few dozen meters. The lock system and the Tom Souville statue They also make an ideal stop to discover the flow of water that descends towards the sea from the 'flushing basin'.

Stop at Place d'Armes: a break on a terrace and playful water jets

Place d'Armes is the vibrant heart of this district: its numerous terraces, sheltered from traffic, provide the perfect spot for a family meal or afternoon snack. The square's fountains offer a natural sensory respite in good weather, and the water jets quickly become the main attraction for children!

Photo of the Statue of the privateer Tom Souville and the blue and white flag of the port city of Calais.

Fountains in the Place d'Armes in Calais, perfect for escaping the heat. The Watchtower overlooks the scene.

Richelieu Park and the Museum of Fine Arts: culture and playground

Leaving the Place d'Armes, you walk up the Rue Royale with its glowing red facades. You then pass alongside the Parc Richelieu, whose playgrounds offer a welcome first green respite. The Museum of Fine Arts borders this same park, and its layout has been completely redesigned to spark the curiosity of young visitors: the gallery dedicated to Rodin is designed in a playful way, intended for both children and adults. To discover Rodin in Calais in a different way than facing the Bourgeoisie on their pedestalThis is an option not to be missed.

Calais Museum of Fine Arts

The colorful flowers surrounding the statue in Parc Richelieu

The belfry: the ascent that leaves a lasting impression

Going up the cycle paths that run alongside Calais train station, opposite Saint-Pierre Park, stands the Belfry of CalaisThis unmissable monument is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside, you have two options: the elevator to reach the ramparts directly at a height of 55 meters, or the immense staircase (which passes behind the clocks!) for a climb that children often manage better than adults. In fact, a small race is marked out on site.

From the ramparts, the panorama encompasses the entire city, the port and the English Channel. Family photos taken up there speak for themselves: it is one of the most striking viewpoints on the northern coast.

The interior of the belfry of Calais Town Hall, offering a unique view of the back of the clock face, illuminated by the exterior light.

A family enjoys the panoramic view from the rampart walk of the UNESCO-listed Calais Belfry during a sunny sightseeing tour.

The Belfry of Calais and the French Remembrance Monument in Saint-Pierre Park.

Saint-Pierre Park: the Fountain of the Three Graces and the Aquarium

Opposite the belfry, the Parc Saint-Pierre is worth lingering in. In its center, the fountain of the Three Graces dates from 1863: its basin is directly borrowed from the gardens of Versailles, adorned with the Three Graces sculpted by Germain Pilon. Signs equipped with QR codes also allow visitors to explore the park's natural environment in a fun way, learning to identify trees. Children often spend more time there than expected.

Le aquarium circle The park offers a cool and peaceful respite, perfect between two stages. Just a stone's throw away, the Memory Museum 39-45 It offers reenactments of local life during the Occupation: content that speaks to children in a different way than text, within the setting of the longest reinforced concrete bunker in Europe. A suggestion not to be missed if time allows.

Children observing the models presented at the 39-45 Memory Museum in Calais.

Aquarium of the Calais aquarium society in Saint Pierre park.

The Urban Farm: the secret of Boulevard Jacquard

The final stop is the most unexpected. On Boulevard Jacquard, a glass facade marks the entrance. You have to pass under the archway to discover it: a 5,000 m² space in the heart of the city, managed by the association Les Animaliens, where some sixty animals live peacefully. Chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, Anglo-Nubian goats, miniature horses, and miniature donkeys, all selected for their sociable nature and their ability to interact with children.

The farm is open to the public during opening hours, and feeding and discovery workshops are offered for children aged 4-12, by reservation. It's the kind of place that children remember for a long time, precisely because nothing about it gave it away from the street, right in the city center.

Visit the Urban Farm