The canals divide Calais into two parts: the restored Old Town (Calais-Nor) and the modern neighborhoods (Calais-Sud). You should start exploring the town from the Place Placed'Armes, sometimes called "the heart of Calais". It was a marketplace under the British, and when the town was returned to the French, it became a tradition to hold fairs twice a year on the square. Nowadays, on Wednesdays and Saturdays there is a bustling market, which is a must-see.
Food lovers will love the local cuisine, which combines the best culinary traditions of both countries. The pride of Calais is Maroilles cheese with a very delicate flavor. Another delicacy is Potjevleesch, a roll made of different kinds of meat. Appreciate Waterzooi - a stew of vegetables, fish and chicken, which is borrowed from Belgian cuisine.
The Christmas Extravaganza festival starts at the end of November and is eagerly awaited by residents and visitors. One of the most amusing events is the turkey parade, during which the birds march through the streets of Calais as guests of honor. If you visit the city on Catholic Christmas Eve, you will find numerous fairs operating in almost all districts. Here you can buy locally made souvenirs, food and sweets.
Calais
Window to England
Calais is the closest French settlement to Great Britain, only 34 kilometers in a straight line separating it from Dover. The town passed from one country to another several times, and only finally became part of France in 1598. Today it is a major port (ferries to Britain depart from here) and the largest town in the Pas-de-Calais region (about 74,000 people live here).
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