L’Eglise Notre-Dame de Calais
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L’Eglise Notre-Dame de Calais
7 rue Notre Dame - 62100 CALAIS
The Notre-Dame church in Calais: a jewel of heritage in the heart of Calais-Nord
The Church of Notre-Dame is located in the district that was Calais in the Middle Ages. The most imposing religious building in Calais is the result of several periods of construction since the 13th century.
When the English took possession of Calais in 1347, a church had existed on this site since the beginning of the 13th century. The English carried out a major enlargement, helped by Flemish workers. It was in the 17th century that the chapel of the Virgin and a monumental marble altarpiece appeared. A reconstruction of the main portal proved necessary after the period of the French Revolution (end of the 18th century).
As early as 1913, the church was listed as a Historical Monument. It was there that Captain Charles de Gaulle and Yvonne Vendroux, the daughter of prominent citizens of Calais, were married. The church was severely damaged; the imposing bell tower, typical of English religious architecture, had collapsed. The slow reconstruction of the building began in the 1960s.
It was in the 2016st century that many interior works were carried out. To reinforce the British character, the Tudor garden was inaugurated in XNUMX, according to the plans of Caroline Holmes, an eminent specialist in English gardens.
©Nohcab Anecdotes and curiosities
- Henri Verneuil's "Weekend à Zuydcoote" is one of Jean Paul Belmondo's first major films. Filming took place in 1964, and an important scene was shot at Notre-Dame de Calais.
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In the immediate vicinity, the Tudor Garden, inaugurated in 2016, recalls the English influence on the history of Calais.
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The church also marks the starting point on the mainland of the Via Francigena, famous pilgrimage route linking Canterbury to Rome
Charles de Gaulle and Yvonne Vendroux
Notre-Dame Church is also famous for having hosted a significant event in French history: the marriage of Captain Charles de Gaulle to Yvonne Vendroux from Calais.
The civil ceremony took place at Calais Town Hall on April 6, 1921, before the religious wedding was celebrated the following day, April 7, 1921, in Notre-Dame Church.
Yvonne Vendroux, from a family of industrialists in Calais, was born in the city in 1900. She met Charles de Gaulle in Paris in 1920. According to family tradition, the young woman reportedly told her parents after meeting him:
"It will be him or no one."
Today, a commemorative stele and a square marked with the Cross of Lorraine in front of the church recall this event. This wedding remains one of the most famous ever celebrated in Calais.
An essential stop during a visit to Calais
Today, Notre-Dame Church is a must-see for visitors. Located near the Place d'Armes and surrounded by landscaped areas such as the Tudor GardenIt fits perfectly into a stroll through the historic center.
Between heritage, history and collective memory, this iconic monument alone tells a large part of the story of Calais.
©Calais XXL-Nohcab 
