Calais Hotels

Despite the millions upon millions who commute and travel through Calais via Eurostar and LGV Nord trains, there’s a prevailing sense that some of the city’s charms have been lost in the wake of the megaproject. As a potential new wonder of the modern world, the Chunnel is a transport experience to savour, without question. However, travellers on the way to and from Paris or London, or indeed, on a Côte d'Opale tour, should give Calais a second glance. The city is much more than a gateway to Flanders or comely La Manche communes, though it serves nicely as such. Culture in Calais is most notably on hand at the lovely Musée des Beaux-Arts and Auguste Rodin’s original Les Bourgeois de Calais is a proud showpiece monument in front of the beautiful Flemish Renaissance town hall (subsequent casts of which now stand in squares and museums in Copenhagen, London, New York City and Paris). In a tragically redundant scenario across the north coast of France, few pre-Second World War traces of Calais remain. Nonetheless, keen amblers will find more than enough to love in this tidy city of 75,000 people.

Attractions

• Musée de la Dentelle et de la Mode
• Cap Blanc Nez
• Les Bourgeois de Calais by Auguste Rodin
• Musée de la Guerre
• Musée des Beaux-Arts de Calais

Activities

• Parc Natural Régional Nord-Pas-de-Calais
• Cité Europe
• Marché Place Crève Coeur
• Calais International Festival
• Calais Round Britain Race

Restaurants

• Au Cadre Vert
• Au Tonnerre de Brest
• L’Ambrosia
• Babel
• L’Hovercraft

Nightlife

• Le Baba O Rum
• Le Temple
• Le Casino de Calais
• Disco 555
• L’Arsenic

Climate

Calais has a temperate oceanic climate, with moderate to heavy rain throughout the year and temperatures between 1°C and 21°C.