What can I do in Calais (France)?

Question

I am planning to visit Cité Europe (the largest shopping centre in the Nord Pas de Calais region). I also wish to split my time by also visiting the centre of Calais; could anyone suggest different things which I could do in Calais? (Any Internet links relating to Tourist Information about Calais would be excellent!). Thank you!

Answer 1

What to do in Calais?

Wait for the ferry to England!!!

Answer 2

Cycle around with a string of onions around your neck.  Eat lots of cheese and develop body odour.

Answer 3

Just go, you will find plenty to do and see,and the Cite Europe is enough in it's own right to keep you amused all day.

Answer 4

get drunk on cheap plonk.

Answer 5

Rand'Opale

May (annual)

The Rand'Opale is, in effect, a long walk along the spectacular Opale coast in Nord Pas de Calais. It takes place every year and attracts around 3000 hiking and walking aficionados. Several different routes (eight, 15, 25 and 40km) are available to suit each person's endurance and inclination. The start and finish lines are in front of Leubringhen's town hall, 15 minutes away from Calais.

Foire de Calais

May (annual)

Each year the Foire de Calais settles along the western coast of the city for five days of activities and exhibitions. Over 25,000 people gather to enjoy themselves.



Calais Christmas Parade

Dec (annual)

Every Christmas, Calais comes alive with an annual parade in which Father Christmas and his elves take to the streets accompanied by marching bands and singers.

The parade starts at Boulevard de l'Egalité and lasts four hours, following a route along Boulevard Lafayette, Pasteur, rue des Fontinettes, Boulevard Jacquard and rue Royale.

Calais Christmas Lights

Dec (annual)

A million bulbs light up the 40ft-high festive displays in Calais - a town that's not shy about celebrating Christmas. The illuminations spread across the whole city centre, spanning all the main shopping streets.

Calais Christmas Market

Dec (annual)

Calais' Christmas market extends around the Theatre Square and along the main shopping streets of the city centre. Some 100 stalls display arts and crafts and mouth-watering local specialties such as ostrich pâté and festive Rond de Saint Nicolas - delicious crunchy biscuits.

Christmas Shop Window Contest

Dec (annual)

Calais is a magnet for British Christmas shoppers and over 150 local shopkeepers welcome the seasonal rush by going all out to win the annual Best Christmas Window Display competition.

Watches are smothered under fake snow, Santa sits in state surrounded by delicious foie gras and French wine and the Three Kings bear the shop's fanciest goods in commercial nativity scenes. Best of all, the public get to vote as to which shop they think deserves the accolade.

Place d'Armes Market

Wed and Sat only

Calais' Place d'Armes hosts a morning market every Wednesday and Saturday. Local specialties include ostrich pate and a savoury tart known as flamiche. This is a Flemish word for cake, but is made with leeks or Maroilles, a strong local cheese. Also Anguilles au vert - eels cooked with spinach and sorrel leaves in white wine, garnished with herbs and served hot or cold on fried bread - and Andouillettes - small sausages made from offal which are an Arras specialty. The Tarte a Gros bords is hard to resist - it's an open-topped sweet custard tart, cooked traditionally in a wood-fired oven.

Answer 6

Sit back and watch the hordes of scruffy wretches from eastern europe on the final leg of their journey coming  to fleece soft johnny english till the well runs empty.