©Charles Delcourt Calais and its museums: art, memory and fashion
Few cities of this size concentrate so many places capable of telling such a unique story! In Calais, museums are not mere interludes in the visit, They are at its heart. From the master of Bourgeois of Calais with Leavers machines which have made the lace world-famous, from the Second World War to Haute Couture, each site opens up a different facet of a territory that does things on a grand scale.
City of Lace and Fashion
In the Saint-Pierre district, a former collective factory from the late 19th century houses one of the most unique museums in France. Designated a "Musée de France," the Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode (City of Lace and Fashion) tells the story of a craft, Calais-Caudry lace, whose reputation has long since extended beyond the borders of the urban area.
A living factory
The visit is organized around the Leavers machines, these monumental looms whose demonstration, performed by former lace-making technicians, the "tullistes," is a highlight in itself. Around these machines, the complete history of lace unfolds: from its handmade production in the 16th century to its industrialization, which began in 1816 when three Englishmen crossed the Channel—by smuggling—to establish the first mechanical looms. This adventure even gave the museum's contemporary façade its wave-like shape, a nod to the sea that separates France and England.
A place to live and fashion
More than just a museum, the Cité de la Dentelle (Lace City) is a vibrant hub with its program of temporary exhibitions, workshops for children and adults, its restaurant Les Petites Mains, and its auditorium. Fashion and textile enthusiasts will also find a specialized documentation center. The Cité is accessible via the Calais Majest'in river shuttle—a way of arriving that echoes the history of English smugglers who came by sea.
Discover the City of Lace and Fashion
©F. Collier 
©Elouviews Beaux-arts museum
Between the town hall and the beach, the Calais Museum of Fine Arts stands out as a major cultural institution on the coast. Built in 1966 by architect Paul Pamart in a clean, modernist style, the building has now been awarded the "Remarkable Contemporary Architecture" label by the Ministry of Culture. Its understated red brick façade, sculpted to showcase the artworks, gives no hint of the richness of what lies within.
Calais Museum of Fine Arts
©Charles Delcourt Permanent exhibition and Rodin gallery
Inaugurated in 2023 following a major transformation, the Fine Arts Gallery offers a journey through more than 250 works, from the 16th century to the present day. The chronological and thematic journey brings landscapes, seascapes and portraits into dialogue with contemporary creations: William Turner is juxtaposed with Jean Dubuffet, Annette Messager, Ben or even Jean Fautrier.
Since 2025, a new scenographic space immerses the visitor in the genesis of Monument to the Burghers of Calais, one of the most famous works in the history of sculpture. The exhibition is structured around six themes: from the beginnings of Auguste Rodin to his influence on 20th century artists, including the relationship between the sculptor and Omer Dewavrin, then mayor of Calais.
The work of Auguste Rodin
©Charles Delcourt 
©Charles Delcourt Exhibitions 2026: Art, Design, Haute Couture and Memory
This year, Calais' museums are showcasing their complementary strengths. On the one hand, a unique double exhibition brings together, for the first time, the Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode (City of Lace and Fashion) and the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts) around a major artistic duo. On the other hand, the Musée Mémoire 1939-1945 (Museum of Memory 1939-1945) is reviving everyday objects rescued from oblivion to tell the story of the exodus and the Occupation. And throughout the city, 90 street art pieces make Calais one of the densest open-air galleries in the Hauts-de-France region.
The guide to exhibitions in Calais
Memory Museum 39-45
Installed in the longest German bunker in Europe, in the heart of Saint-Pierre Park facing at the town hallThe Calais Memorial Museum 39-45 is a unique place. Its architecture is not merely decorative: it is the raw testimony of an occupation that reshaped Calais. The 94-meter central corridor, the concrete rooms, the absence of natural light—everything contributes to an immersive experience that is only intensified by the period objects, posters, uniforms, and photographs.
A journey through 20 rooms, from the invasion to the Liberation
The route is both chronological and thematic. It recreates life under the Occupation, the local resistance, and the decisive military episodes that made Calais a site of major conflict.
©Nohcab 
Planning your day at the museums in Calais
These three museums are ideally visited in combination with the major heritage sites in the city center. Museum of Fine Arts and Burghers of Calais are located a stone's throw from Richelieu Parkitself built on former fortifications. Le Memory Museum 39-45 et the City of Lace are in the Saint-Pierre district, a ten-minute walk from Calais-Nord.
©Nohcab