La Citadelle de Calais

This site has long been the major defensive point of Calais. Originally, it was a 13th century fortified castle from which the city walls started. Over the centuries, modifications were made. The castle was transformed into a citadel, the civilian population into a military garrison. Today, it is a place dedicated to relaxation...and Remembrance.  

The citadel contains remains of the ramparts of medieval Calais, besieged by the English in 1346-1347. They are visible after the Porte de Boulogne, one of the access gates to the citadel. The car park runs along the old ramparts, and nothing remains of the XNUMXth century fortified castle.

Around the castle, there was a district of Calais, protected by the walls. There were bourgeois residences, a church, a palace (the Exchequer) of the English government. When France took back Calais in 1558, the district lost its civil character. After 211 years of English presence, King Francois II wanted to arm Calais with a fortress with its garrison. The castle and the surrounding district were destroyed at the end of the XNUMXth century. War techniques changed following the development of artillery. This was the era of bastion fortifications. The illustrious engineer Vauban had some developments and works carried out.

For several centuries, the citadel housed the garrison of Calais. The last feat of arms was the 36-hour resistance of the men of the citadel against the strong German attack of May 1940.    

The Germans settled in the citadel during the Occupation. Like the district and the port, it was heavily bombed during the war, until the German surrender in September 1944. 

After the war, the citadel lost its military role and was transformed into a place for walking and sports in the 1960s. It was in this decade that the Stade du Souvenir was inaugurated, that of the local Resistance fighters detained, tortured and some of whom died in these places. 

To note that : The interior of the citadel can be explored on foot or by bike. The entrance through the Porte de Neptune (Jacques Vendroux esplanade) is particularly pleasant with the Vauban square which borders the ramparts.