Dragon, Varan et Chimères
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Dragon, Varan et Chimères
Rond-Point du Risban - 62100 CALAIS
Openings
| Tuesday | 14 AM - 00PM |
| Wednesday | 14 AM - 00PM |
| Thursday | 14 AM - 00PM |
| Friday | 14 AM - 00PM |
| Open on Saturday | 14 AM - 00PM |
| Sunday | 14 AM - 00PM |
In the Major's Lodge: Drawing Brings Giants to Life
This is where it all begins. At the Logis du Major, the walls still rustle with the pencil of François Delaroziere. Sketches galore, precious models, and rare drawings reveal the first drafts of the Dragon… but not only that. In the magnificent space of the large glass roof, you will come face to face with the model of the Varan de Voyage, this new 15-meter machine which will soon be arriving in Calais.
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao For the more curious, don't miss out on the Page Turning Machine, a little interactive nod to the playful world of La Machine. Take the time to read the captions of the sketches, you will sometimes see projects that never saw the light of day... and which still fuel dreams. You will thus discover creatures imagined for other cities, as evidenced by the wooden molt of the crocodile from La Roche-sur-Yon exhibited upstairs, a distant cousin of the Calais Dragon.
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao 
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao In the Powder Magazine: Construction, Step by Step
Usually closed to the public, the Powder Magazine is the beating heart of this exhibition. There, a large circular fresco retraces the birth of the Dragon of Calais month by month. Workshop photos, construction notes, mechanical fragments... We follow the stages, like a life-size logbook. No step or skill is overlooked, from the initial studies to the creation of the performance costumes that will be presented in the center of the Powder Magazine.
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao Suspended in the air, the stagehands' costumes recall the inaugural show in 2019. Presented in the style of a hanging room, they interact with the history of the venue, once a military arsenal.
For those who like to get a taste of the craft, samples of carved and painted wood are available: you'll discover the textures of the Dragon... and above all, the preparatory tests for making the skin of the Travel Monitor. It remains to be seen what the final result will be...
Thirty years of giants and theater
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao 
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao The coastal path: a stroll between history and creation
Get some fresh air and walk along the ramparts. Here, the scenery changes but the imagination remains intact. Signs mark the promenade, telling how the adventure of the machines transformed an entire neighborhood. Urban sketches and archive photos show you a side of Calais you might not have suspected: that of a reinvented seafront, once occupied by a campsite. Also surprising is the Sentinel Iguana of the Dragon Company has decided to set up shop at the most strategic point of the buttress and lets you operate its controls on a remote desk.
As you stroll along, you'll reach the Perré Risban, where portraits of the craftsmen and technicians who keep the heart of the machines beating are displayed. And if you look up, an XXL panorama awaits you: the port, the Courgain Maritime, the beach... so many places that tell the strategic history of the fort and the city.
Dive into the maritime identity of Calais
©Timothé Lovergne 
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao 
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao Until March 1, 2026
The “Dragon, Varan and Chimera” exhibition is free of charge. Tuesday to Sunday, 14 p.m. to 18 p.m., within Fort Risban until March 1, 2026. The trail begins at the Logis du Major, continues outside along the ramparts and ends in the Powder Magazine. The main entrance is located at the foot of the fort, a few steps from the beach and the Dragon Company.
Allow approximately one and a half hours to fully enjoy the visit, taking the time to admire the panoramic view of the city and the seafront. More curious walkers will appreciate extending the experience to the Courgain Maritime district or the nearby Calais beach.