View source for Calais

{{about|the town in northern France}}
{{redirect|Kales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox French commune
|name               = Calais
|native name        = {{native name|pcd|Calés}}<br>{{native name|vls|Kales}}
|commune status     = [[Subprefectures in France|Subprefecture]] and [[Communes of France|commune]]
|image              = {{multiple image
|perrow = 1/2/2
|border = infobox
|total_width = 300
|image1 = Jielbeaumadier Calais 2008 35.jpeg
|caption1 = Calais skyline
|image2 = Burghers of calais.jpeg
|caption2 = ''Burghers of Calais'' and [[Hôtel de Ville, Calais|Hôtel de Ville]]
|image3 = Calais tour du guet.JPG
|caption3 = [[Tour du Guet]]
|image4 = Église Notre-Dame de Calais 2012 1.jpg
|caption4 = [[Église Notre-Dame de Calais|Notre-Dame de Calais]]
|image5 = Calais Nord phare.JPG
|caption5 = [[Calais Lighthouse]]
}}
|caption            =
|image flag         = Flag of Calais.svg
|image coat of arms = Coat of Arms of Calais.svg
|arrondissement     = Calais
|canton             = [[Canton of Calais-1|Calais-1]], [[Canton of Calais-2|2]] and [[Canton of Calais-3|3]]
|INSEE              = 62193
|postal code        = 62100
|mayor              = [[Natacha Bouchart]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=6 June 2023|language=fr|access-date=11 December 2020|archive-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628030259/https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|url-status=live}}</ref>
|term               = 2020&ndash;2026
|party              = [[The Republicans (France)|LR]]
|intercommunality   = [[Grand Calais Terres et Mers|CA Grand Calais Terres et Mers]]
|coordinates        = {{coord|50|56|53|N|01|51|23|E|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m        =
|elevation min m    = 0
|elevation max m    = 18
|area km2           = 33.5
|population         = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date    = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
|population_demonym = Calaisiens
|website            = [http://www.mairie-calais.fr City]; [http://www.calais-port.com Port]
}}

'''Calais''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|k|æ|l|eɪ}} {{respell|KAL|ay}}, {{IPAc-en|US|k|æ|ˈ|l|eɪ}} {{respell|kal|AY}},<ref>{{cite LPD|3}}</ref><ref>{{cite EPD|18}}</ref> <small>traditionally</small> {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|l|ᵻ|s}} {{respell|KAL|iss}}, {{IPA|fr|kalɛ|lang|fr-Calais.ogg}}){{efn|{{langx|pcd|Calés}}; {{langx|vls|Kales}}.}} is a French major port city in the [[Pas-de-Calais]] [[Departments of France|department]], of which it is a [[Subprefectures in France|subprefecture]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/commune/62193-calais |title=INSEE commune file |access-date=23 August 2024}}</ref> Calais is the largest city in Pas-de-Calais. The population of the city proper is 67,544; that of the urban area is 144,625 (2020).<ref name="pop2020">[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/1405599?geo=AAV2020-073+COM-62193 Comparateur de territoire: Aire d'attraction des villes 2020 de Calais (073), Commune de Calais (62193)], INSEE</ref> Calais overlooks the [[Strait of Dover]], the narrowest point in the [[English Channel]], which is only {{convert|34|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide here, and is the closest French town to [[England]].  The [[White Cliffs of Dover]] can easily be seen from Calais on a clear day.  Calais is a major port for ferries between France and England, and since 1994, the [[Channel Tunnel]] has linked nearby [[Coquelles]] to [[Folkestone]] by rail.

Because of its position, Calais  has been a major port and an important centre for transport and trading with England since the [[Middle Ages]]. Calais came under English control after [[Edward III of England]] [[Siege of Calais (1346–1347)|captured the city]] in 1347, followed by a treaty in 1360 that formally assigned [[Pale of Calais|Calais to English rule]].  Calais grew into a thriving centre for wool production, and came to be called the "brightest jewel in the English crown" because of its importance as the gateway for the [[tin]], [[lead]], [[lace]] and wool trades (or "staples"). Calais remained under English control until [[Siege of Calais (1558)|its recapture]] by France in 1558.

During [[World War II]], the town was virtually razed to the ground. In May 1940, it was a strategic bombing target of the invading German forces, who took it during the [[Siege of Calais (1940)|siege of Calais]].  The Germans built massive bunkers along the coast, in preparation for launching missiles at England.

The old part of the town, Calais-Nord, is on an [[artificial island]] surrounded by canals and harbours. The modern part of the town, St-Pierre, lies to the south and south-east. In the centre of the old town is the Place d'Armes, in which stands the Tour du Guet, or watch-tower, a structure built in the 13th century, which was used as a [[lighthouse]] until 1848 when a new lighthouse was built by the port. South east of the Place is the [[Église Notre-Dame de Calais|church of Notre-Dame]], built during the English occupancy of Calais. Arguably, it is the only church built in the [[Perpendicular Gothic|English perpendicular style]] in all of France. In this church, former French President [[Charles de Gaulle]] married [[Yvonne Vendroux]]. South of the Place and opposite the Parc St Pierre is the [[Hôtel de Ville, Calais|Hôtel-de-ville]] (the town hall), and the [[Belfries of Belgium and France|belfry]] from the early 20th century. Today, Calais is visited by more than 10&nbsp;million annually. Aside from being a key transport hub, Calais is also a notable fishing port and a centre for fish marketing, and some 3,000 people are still employed in the [[lace]] industry for which the town is also famed.

==Names and etymology<span class="anchor" id="Names of Calais"></span><span class="anchor" id="Etymology of Calais"></span>==
{{see also|Names of Calais in different languages}}

The name ''Calais'' first appears in the historical record late in the twelfth century AD in a mention by Count [[Gerard of Guelders]] of a charter by his father [[Matthew of Alsace]],<ref name="Dauzat">{{Cite book |language=fr |first1=Albert|last1=Dauzat |first2=Charles |last2=Rostaing|title=Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieu en France |location=Paris |publisher=Librairie Guénégaud |year=1979 |page=131b |isbn=2-85023-076-6}}.</ref> Some references mention the Latin name ''Calesium'' being used as early as the ninth century but without providing sources for the claim.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_908vAAAAMAAJ/page/n9/mode/2up "Calais"] ''Dictionnaire encyclopédique d la France.'' Philippe le Bas, ed. Volume 4. Paris, 1840. p. 4. {{inlang|fr}}</ref>  [[Medieval Latin]] ''Calesium'' derives ultimately from Latin ''Caletum'', in turn from [[Caletes]], a Belgic or Gallic tribe dwelling in [[Pays de Caux]], in present-day Normandy.  The [[Gaulish language|Gaulish]] [[ethnonym]] ''Caletoi'' literally means "the hard ones", that is to say "the stubborn" or "the tough" and derives from the [[Proto-Celtic language|Proto-Celtic]] stem ''*kaletos''- ("hard, cruel, strong")<ref>{{Cite book|last=Busse|first=Peter E.|title=Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia|date=2006|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-85109-440-0|editor-last=Koch|editor-first=John T.|page=199|chapter=Belgae|editor-link=John T. Koch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Delamarre|first=Xavier|title=Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise: Une approche linguistique du vieux-celtique continental|date=2003|publisher=Errance|isbn=9782877723695|author-link=Xavier Delamarre|page=98}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Lambert|first=Pierre-Yves|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TjMcAQAAIAAJ|title=La langue gauloise: description linguistique, commentaire d'inscriptions choisies|date=1994|publisher=Errance|isbn=978-2-87772-089-2|author-link=Pierre-Yves Lambert|page=34}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Matasović|first=Ranko|title=Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic|date=2009|publisher=Brill|isbn=9789004173361|author-link=Ranko Matasović|page=185}}</ref>  Early French sources use a bewildering array of spellings from ''Kaleeis'' to ''Kalais'' to ''Calays'' together with Latin-based ''Calaisiacum, Calesetum'' and ''Calasium''.<ref name="DicoTopo">{{Cite web |title=Calais |url=https://dicotopo.cths.fr/places/P84710378 |website=Dictionnaire topographique de la France |access-date=30 July 2024}}.</ref>{{efn|Other French variants included ''Kaleis, Kalet, Kales, Kalees, Chalais, Kalesium, Caleys, Calez, Calai, Chalays, Callais, Callès, Calisia'' and ''Callays''.<ref name="DicoTopo"/>}} The modern French spelling of ''Calais'' first appeared in 1331.<ref name="DicoTopo"/>

The earliest English name for the city was the [[Anglo-Norman language|Anglo-Norman]] ''Caleis''.  In [[Middle English|Middle]] and [[Early Modern English]], variants including ''Caleys, Calais, Calays, Callis'' and ''Cales'' were used.{{efn|In English sources, ''Caleis, Cales, Caleyes, Calis, Callaice, Callais, Calles, Calleis, Calleys, Callice, Callies, Callis, Calliss, Callys, Calys'' and ''Calysse'' are all attested.<ref>[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol21/no2/pp537-571 Index] of Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 21 Part 2, September 1546-January 1547. His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1910. Reprinted in British History Online. Retrieved 30 July 2024.</ref><ref>[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/foreign/vol22/pp435-443 Index] of Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume 22, July–December 1588. His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1936. Reprinted in British History Online. Retrieved 30 July 2024.</ref>}}  In later Middle English, the name of the city was most commonly spelt ''Cales'', and this spelling survived well into the modern period,{{efn|[[Samuel Pepys|Pepys]] uses "Cales" in the [[wikisource:Diary of Samuel Pepys/1664/June#16th|16 June 1664 entry]] of his diary.}} but Shakespeare for example used the spelling ''Callice''.<ref>{{Cite journal|first=Jürgen |last=Schäfer |title=The Orthography of Proper Names in Modern-Spelling Editions of Shakespeare |journal= Studies in Bibliography |volume=23 |date=1970 |page=17 |jstor=40371498}}</ref><ref>[https://www.shakespeareswords.com/public/glossary.aspx?id=22093 "Callice (n.)"] at Shakespeare's Words glossary. Retrieved 30 July 2024.</ref>  Confusingly, the name ''Cales'' found in the sarcastic rhyme beginning "A gentleman of Wales, a knight of Cales" and the ballad "The Winning of Cales" collected by [[Thomas Percy (bishop of Dromore)|Thomas Percy]] refers not to Calais, but to [[Cadiz]] in Spain.<ref>[https://www.exclassics.com/percy/perc93.htm "The Winning of Cales."] at the Ex-Classics project website. "The subject of this ballad is the taking of the city of Cadiz (called by our sailors corruptly Cales)..."</ref>

The ''Cales'' spelling was also used in other European languages at the time, including Spanish,<ref>Hipólito San Joseph Delpino. ''A new Spanish grammar; or, The elements of the Spanish language: ... A new edition [etc.]'' Revised and improved by Raymundo del Pueyo. F. Wingrave, 1814. [https://books.google.com/books?id=F9phAAAAcAAJ&pg=RA1-PA190 p. 190.]</ref> Italian<ref>''Lexicon geographicum, in quo universi orbis oppida, urbes, regiones, provinciae, regna [etc.]'' 1657. [https://books.google.com/books?id=7SNhAAAAcAAJ&q=Calais&pg=PA186 p. 186.]</ref><ref name="Duez"/> and German<ref name="Duez">Nathanaël Duez. ''Nova nomenclatura quatuor linguarum, Gallico, Germanico, Italico, & Latino idiomate conscripta.'' Latest edition, revised. 1652. [https://books.google.com/books?id=AfxmAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA125 p. 125.]</ref> and it is reflected in the city's name in the local [[Picard language]], ''Calés''.

Other archaic names for the city are Portuguese ''Calêsio''<ref>{{cite book|chapter=CAL |date=1849 |first=Eduardo Augusto de |last=Faria |location=Lisboa |page=25 |publisher=Typographia Lisbonense |title=Novo Diccionario da Lingua Portugueza |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0BqekMaFKt4C&pg=RA1-PA25 |volume=2}}<!-- auto-translated from Portuguese by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> and German ''Kalen''.  ''Kales'', the city's historic name in Dutch and [[West Flemish]] (once spoken in the area) was retained until more recently in the name for the [[Strait of Dover]], ''Nauw van Kales'', and is still used in Dutch sources wishing to emphasise former linguistic ties to the area.

Though the modern French spelling of ''Calais'' gradually supplanted other variants in English, the pronunciation {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|l|ᵻ|s}} ({{respell|KAL|iss}}) persisted and survives in other towns named for the European city including [[Calais, Maine]],<ref>{{Citation| author = The Canadian Press| author-link = The Canadian Press| title = The Canadian Press Stylebook| place = Toronto| publisher = [[The Canadian Press]]| edition = 18th| year = 2017}}</ref> and [[Calais, Vermont]], in the United States.  In "[[wikisource:"De Gustibus—"|De Gustibus]]" (1855), [[Robert Browning]] rhymes ''Calais'' with ''malice''.{{efn|Though paraphrasing [[Mary I of England]]: <br/>''"Queen Mary's saying serves for me—<br/>(When fortune's malice<br/>Lost her, Calais.)<br/>Open my heart and you will see<br/>Graved inside of it, "Italy.""''.<br/><br/>

This alludes to Mary's alleged comment on the [[Siege of Calais (1558)|1558 loss of Calais to France]]: "When I am dead and opened, you shall find 'Calais' lying in my heart."}}

The pronunciation shift can be seen in the 19th century where the {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|l|ᵻ|s}} pronunciation with the ''s'' ending was prescribed through much of the century,<ref>Rev. John Robinson. ''An Easy Grammar of History; Ancient and Modern.'' 4th ed. Philadelphia, Bennett & Walton, 1819. [https://books.google.com/books?id=iloQAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA134 p. 134.] "Ca′-lais, (pronounced Cal-lis,)"</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Laws of Etiquette; Or, Short Rules and Reflections for Conduct in Society |publisher=Carey, Lea, and Blanchard |location=Philadelphia |page=150 |date=1836 |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5681 |quote=In speaking of French cities and towns, it is a mark of refinement in education to pronounce them rigidly according to English rules of speech. Mr. Fox, the best French scholar, and one of the best bred men in England, always sounded the ''x'' in ''Bourdeaux'' [sic], and the ''s'' in Calais, and on all occasions pronounced such names just as they are written.}}</ref><ref>"Pedantic Pronunciation." ''The Christmas Bookseller 1871.'' London, 12 December 1871. [https://books.google.com/books?id=uRIDAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA48 p. 48.] "Whilst ashamed to call Paris ''Parry'' and Calais ''Cally'', the pedantic Englishman endeavours to pronounce St. Cloud and St. Denis in French fashion..."</ref> but was disappearing by the end.<ref>Alfred Ayres. ''The Orthoëpist: a Pronouncing Manual Containing about Four Thousand Five Hundred Words.'' New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1895. [https://books.google.com/books?id=VGpGAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA44 p. 44.] "Pronounced, if Anglicized, ''kăl′is''; but I have no recollection of ever having heard it so pronounced, except as the name of a town in Maine."</ref>  In the beginning of the twentieth century, the English pronunciation {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|l|eɪ}} {{respell|KAL|ay}} with stress on the first syllable was firmly established.<ref>C. O. Sylvester Mawson. [https://books.google.com/books?id=NbgoAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA228 "The Pronunciation of War Names."] ''Uncle Sam's Fact Book of the World War.'' New York: C. S. Hammond, 1918.</ref>

==History== 

===Early history===
Sources on the early history of habitation in the area is limited. It is sometimes claimed that [[Ancient Rome|the Romans]] called the settlement ''Caletum'' and that it was the departure point for [[Julius Caesar]]'s invasion of Britain.<ref name="Historyws">{{Cite web |title=History |url=http://www.calais.ws/History.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207224409/http://www.calais.ws/History.html |archive-date=7 February 2012 |access-date=5 February 2012 |publisher=Calais.ws|first1=June|first2=Len|last1=Riddell|last2=Riddell}}</ref> However, the name ''Caletum'' does not appear in Caesar's accounts of the invasion.<ref name="deBelloGallico">{{cite web |url=http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/caesar/gall4.shtml |title=C. IVLI CAESARIS COMMENTARIORVM DE BELLO GALLICO LIBER QVARTVS |access-date=8 November 2022 |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108222131/http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/caesar/gall4.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Caesar describes his departure point as ''Portus Itius'', which is believed to have been near [[Boulogne]]. At that time Calais was an island in the North Sea.<ref name="Caesar_Goldsworthy">Adrian Goldsworthy ''Caesar'', page 338</ref>

Calais was an English outpost for many centuries while it was an island surrounded by marshes, and difficult to attack from the mainland.  At some time before the 10th century, it would have been a [[Dutch language|Dutch]]-speaking fishing village on a sandy beach backed by pebbles and a creek,<ref>Delattre, Ch., Mériaux, E. and Waterlot, M. (1973) ''Région du nord : Flandre, Artois, Boulonnais, Picardie'', Guides géologiques régionaux, Paris : Masson, {{ISBN|2-225-36795-7}}, Fig. 18</ref> with a natural harbour<ref name="Ltd1877">{{Cite book |last=Thomas Cook Ltd |url=https://archive.org/details/cookstouristsha08ltdgoog |title=Cook's tourist's handbook for Holland, Belgium, and the Rhine |publisher=[[Thomas Cook & Son]] |year=1877 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> at the west edge of the early medieval estuary of the river [[Aa (France)|Aa]]. As the pebble and sand ridge extended eastward from Calais, the haven behind it developed into [[fen]], as the estuary progressively filled with silt and peat. Afterwards, canals were cut between [[Saint-Omer]], the trading centre formerly at the head of the estuary, and three places to the west, centre and east on the newly formed coast: respectively Calais, [[Gravelines]] and [[Dunkirk]].<ref>The pre-siltation counterpart of Dunkirk was [[Bergues]].</ref> Calais was improved by the [[Count of Flanders]] in 997 and fortified by the [[Count of Boulogne]] in 1224.<ref name="Historyws" /><ref name="Ltd1877" />

The first document mentioning the existence of this community is the town charter granted by [[Mathieu d'Alsace]], [[Count of Boulogne]], in 1181 to [[Gerard I, Count of Guelders|Gerard de Guelders]]; Calais thus became part of the county of Boulogne.<ref name="Historyws" /><ref name="Malo1898">{{Cite book |last=Malo |first=Henri |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cHAvAAAAMAAJ |title=Un grand feudataire, Renaud de Dammartin et la coalition de Bouvines: contribution a l'étude du règne de Philippe-Auguste |publisher=H. Champion |year=1898}}</ref> In 1189, [[Richard the Lionheart]] is documented to have landed at Calais on his journey to the [[Third Crusade]].<ref name="Historyws" />

===14th–15th century; the Pale of Calais===
{{Main|Pale of Calais}}
[[File:LeDevouementDesBourgeoisDeCalais.jpg|thumb|upright|"Le Devouement des Bourgeois de Calais 1347", "The Devotion of the Burghers of Calais". [[Philippa of Hainault]] begs King Edward III to spare the lives of the six volunteers for martyrdom. 19th-century mural in Council Chamber, ''Hôtel de Ville'', Calais.]]
[[Medieval English wool trade|English wool trade]] interests and King [[Edward III of England|Edward III]]'s claims to be heir to the Kingdom of France, led to the [[Battle of Crécy]], between England and France, in 1346,<ref name="Tucker2009">{{Cite book |last=Tucker |first=Spencer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h5_tSnygvbIC&pg=PA304 |title=A global chronology of conflict: from the ancient world to the modern Middle East |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-85109-667-1 |page=304}}</ref> followed by Edward's siege and capture of Calais, in 1347.<ref name="Philadelphia.)1856">{{Cite book |last=Baldwin |first=Thomas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sd0TAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA332 |title=Lippincott's pronouncing gazetteer: a complete pronouncing gazetteer or geographical dictionary of the world ... |publisher=J.B. Lippincott |year=1856 |page=332}}</ref> Angered, the English king demanded reprisals against the town's citizens for holding out for so long ("obstinate defence") and ordered that the town's population be killed ''en masse''.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} He agreed, however, to spare them, on condition that six of the principal citizens would come to him, bareheaded and barefooted and with ropes around their necks, and give themselves up to death.<ref name="Goodrich1861">{{Cite book |last=Goodrich |first=Samuel Griswold |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RmAAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA124 |title=A pictorial history of France |publisher=E.H. Butler & Co. |year=1861 |page=124}}</ref> On their arrival, he ordered their execution, but [[pardon]]ed them when his queen, [[Philippa of Hainault]], begged him to spare their lives.<ref name="Larrington2004">{{Cite book |last=Larrington |first=Carolyne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T2sCEpD4dLEC&pg=PA180 |title=Women and Writing in Medieval Europe: A Sourcebook |publisher=Taylor and Francis |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-203-35824-5 |page=180}}</ref><ref name="TresemerSchiappacasse2007">{{Cite book |last1=Tresemer |first1=David Ward |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yfUdccGRmdIC&pg=PT277 |title=Star wisdom & Rudolf Steiner: a life seen through the oracle of the solar cross |last2=Schiappacasse |first2=Robert |publisher=SteinerBooks |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-88010-574-3 |page=277}}</ref> This event is commemorated in ''[[The Burghers of Calais]]'' (''Les Bourgeois de Calais''), one of the most famous sculptures by [[Auguste Rodin]], erected in the city in 1895.<ref name="ElsenJamison2003">{{Cite book |last1=Elsen |first1=Albert Edward |url=https://archive.org/details/rodinsartrodinco00else |title=Rodin's art: the Rodin Collection of the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University |last2=Jamison |first2=Rosalyn Frankel |last3=Barryte |first3=Bernard |last4=Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University |date=13 March 2003 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-513381-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/rodinsartrodinco00else/page/65 65] |access-date=5 February 2012 |url-access=registration}}</ref> Though sparing the lives of the delegation members, King Edward drove out most of the French inhabitants, and settled the town with English. The municipal charter of Calais, previously granted by the [[Countess of Artois]], was reconfirmed by Edward that year (1347).<ref name="Finance and Trade Under Edward Iii.">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cA0NAQAAIAAJ&pg=PR12 |title=Finance and Trade Under Edward Iii. |publisher=Manchester University Press ND |year=1965 |page=12 |id=GGKEY:ZB8KKXHK4QY |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>
[[File:VlaanderenArtesie1477.png|left|thumb|220x220px|Map showing the situation of 1477, with Calais, the English Pale and neighbouring counties]]
In 1360, the [[Treaty of Brétigny]] assigned [[Guînes]], [[Marck, Pas-de-Calais|Marck]] and Calais—collectively the "[[Pale of Calais]]"—to English rule in perpetuity, but this assignment was informally and only partially implemented.<ref name="Grummitt2008">{{Cite book |last=Grummitt |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yIthoIVk1lgC&pg=PA143 |title=The Calais Garrison: war and military service in England, 1436–1558 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer Ltd |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-84383-398-7 |page=143 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> On 9 February 1363 the town was made an [[English staple port]].<ref name="Rose2008">{{Cite book |last=Rose |first=Susan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BTN3CkBigm8C&pg=PA44 |title=Calais: an English town in France, 1347–1558 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer Ltd |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-84383-401-4 |page=44}}</ref> It remained part of the [[Diocese of Thérouanne]] from 1379, keeping an ecclesiastical tie with France.<ref name="Patourel1984">{{Cite book |last=Patourel |first=John Le |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aGlLTOOeBG0C&pg=RA1-PA53 |title=Feudal empires: Norman and Plantagenet |publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group |year=1984 |isbn=978-0-907628-22-4 |page=1 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>

The town came to be called the "brightest jewel in the English crown" owing to its great importance as a gateway port for the [[tin]], [[lead]], [[cloth]] and [[wool]] trades (or "staples").<ref name="Froude1870">{{Cite book |last=Froude |first=James Anthony |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rl8JAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA75 |title=History of England from the fall of Wolsey to the defeat of the Spanish Armada |publisher=Longmans, Green and Co |year=1870 |page=75}}</ref> Its customs revenues amounted at times to a third of the English government's revenue, with wool being the most important element by far. Of its population of about 12,000 people, as many as 5,400 were recorded as having been connected with the wool trade. The governorship or [[Captaincy of Calais]] was a lucrative and highly prized public office; the famous [[Richard Whittington|Dick Whittington]] was simultaneously [[Lord Mayor of the City of London]] and [[Mayor of the Calais Staple]] in 1407.<ref name="Arnold-Baker2001">{{Cite book |last=Arnold-Baker |first=Charles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VNAMjuMw_5kC&pg=PA220 |title=The companion to British history |publisher=Routledge |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-415-18583-7 |page=220}}</ref>

[[File:MarchesOfCalaisTempHenryVIII.jpg|thumb|220x220px|The Marches of Calais in the time of Henry VIII. (Top: south, bottom: north): "Cales Market" within citadel, shown at bottom, top "[[Guînes|Gyenes Castel]]", bottom left "[[Gravelines|Graveling]]", bottom right "[[Sangatte|Sand Gat]]"]]
Calais was an integral part of the English trading economy, though not regarded as being a part of the [[Kingdom of England]] until the days of [[Henry VIII of England|King Henry VIII]], from which time the Pale of Calais sent two members to the English [[Parliament of England|Parliament]]. The continued English hold on Calais however depended on expensively maintained fortifications, as the town lacked any natural defences. Maintaining Calais was a costly business that was frequently tested by the forces of France and the [[Duchy of Burgundy]], with the Franco-Burgundian border running nearby.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lvjtoAmUIToC&pg=PA262 |title=The Chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet |year=1853 |page=262}}</ref> The British historian [[Geoffrey Elton]] once remarked "Calais—expensive and useless—was better lost than kept".<ref>Rose (2008), p.172</ref> The duration of the English hold over Calais was, to a large extent, the result of the feud between Burgundy and France: both sides coveted the town, but preferred to see England control it rather than their domestic rivals. The stalemate was broken by the victory of the French crown over Burgundy following [[Joan of Arc]]'s final battle in the [[siege of Compiègne]] in 1430, and the later incorporation of the duchy into France.<ref name="VillalonKagay2005">{{Cite book |last1=Villalon |first1=L. J. Andrew |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=apzpiXLLy48C&pg=PA430 |title=The Hundred Years War: a wider focus |last2=Kagay |first2=Donald J. |publisher=BRILL |year=2005 |isbn=978-90-04-13969-5 |page=430}}</ref>

===16th century===
[[File:Borough of Calais arms.svg|right|140px|The arms of English Calais recorded in the College of Arms]]
In 1532, the English King [[Henry VIII]] visited Calais and his men calculated that the town had about 2,400 beds and stabling to keep some 2.000 horses.<ref name="Calais1846">{{Cite book |last=Calais |url=https://archive.org/details/chronicleofcalai00turprich |title=The chronicle of Calais, in the reigns of Henry vii, and Henry viii |publisher=Camden society |year=1846 |editor-last=[[John Gough Nichols]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/chronicleofcalai00turprich/page/26 26] |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> Following the royal visit, the town's governance was reformed in 1536, aiming to strengthen ties with England. As part of this move, Calais became a [[Calais (Parliament of England constituency)|parliamentary borough]] sending [[burgess (title)|burgesses]] to the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of England]].<ref>[http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/constituencies/calais "Calais"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411134858/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/constituencies/calais |date=11 April 2021 }}; in {{cite book |last1=Bindoff |first1=S.T. |title=The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558 |date=1982 |publisher=Boydell and Brewer}}</ref>

In September 1552, the English adventurer [[Thomas Stukley]], who had been for some time in the French service, betrayed to the authorities in London some French plans for the capture of Calais, to be followed by a descent upon England.<ref name="Froude1860">{{Cite book |last=Froude |first=James Anthony |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Mc9AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA453 |title=History of England from the fall of Wolsey to the death of Elizabeth |publisher=Parker |year=1860 |page=453}}</ref> Stukley himself might have been the author of these plans.

On 7 January 1558, King [[Henry II of France]] sent forces led by [[Francis, Duke of Guise]], who laid [[Siege of Calais (1558)|siege to Calais]].<ref name="Groot2005">{{Cite book |last=Groot |first=Wim de |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k5rqlZeWQIUC&pg=PA25 |title=The seventh window: the king's window donated by Philip II and Mary Tudor to Sint Janskerk in Gouda (1557) |publisher=Uitgeverij Verloren |year=2005 |isbn=978-90-6550-822-5 |page=25}}</ref> When the French attacked, they were able to surprise the English at the critical strongpoint of Fort Nieulay and the sluice gates, which could have flooded the attackers, remained unopened.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jj8KAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA15 |title=The London encyclopaedia: or Universal dictionary of science, art, literature, and practical mechanics, comprising a popular view of the present state of knowledge |year=1829 |page=15}}</ref> The loss was regarded by Queen [[Mary I of England]] as a dreadful misfortune. When she heard the news, she reportedly said, "When I am dead and opened, you shall find '[[Philip II of Spain|Philip]]' [her husband] and 'Calais' lying in my heart."<ref>Holinshed, Raphael (1808) [1586] ''Holinshed's chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland'', Vol. 4 (England), Ellis, Sir H. (ed.), London : J. Johnson ''et al.'', 952 p.</ref> The region around Calais, then-known as the ''[[Calaisis]]'', was renamed the ''Pays Reconquis'' ("Reconquered Country") in commemoration of its recovery by the French.<ref name="TurpynBritain)1846">{{Cite book |last=Turpyn |first=Richard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1v0UAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR24 |title=The chronicle of Calais: in the reigns of Henry VII. and Henry VIII. to the year 1540 |publisher=British Library, Printed for the Camden Society by J.B. Nichols |year=1846 |page=24 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> Use of the term is reminiscent of the Spanish [[Reconquista]], with which the French were certainly familiar—and, since it occurred in the context of a war with Spain ([[Philip II of Spain]] was at the time Queen Mary's consort), might have been intended as a deliberate snub.<ref name="Larousse(Firm)1960">{{Cite book |last=Larousse |first=Pierre |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ft9MAQAAIAAJ |title=Grand Larousse encyclopédique |publisher=Librarire Larousse |year=1960 |page=59}}</ref>

The town was [[Siege of Calais (1596)|captured by the Spanish]] on 24 April 1596 in an invasion mounted from the nearby [[Spanish Netherlands]] by Archduke [[Archduke Albert, sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands|Albert of Austria]], but it was returned to France under the [[Treaty of Vervins]] in May 1598.<ref name="CWStc" /><ref name="Crowe1830">{{Cite book |last=Crowe |first=Eyre Evans |url=https://archive.org/details/historyoffrance01crowiala |title=The history of France |publisher=Printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, & Green |year=1830 |page=[https://archive.org/details/historyoffrance01crowiala/page/368 368] |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>

===17th century to World War I===
[[File:The Official Visits To the Western Front, 1914-1918 Q9825.jpg|thumb|[[George V]] of the United Kingdom meets French and Belgian officers in Calais in 1918.]]
Calais remained an important maritime city and smuggling centre throughout the 17th century. However, during the next century, the port of Calais began to stagnate gradually, as the nearby ports of [[Boulogne]] and [[Dunkirk]] began to rise and compete.

The French revolution at the end of the 18th century did not disturb Calais and no executions took place.<ref>{{Cite web |year=1827 |title=The Edinburgh gazetteer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VeL5EHRiGC4C&q=%22peace+of+Vervins%22+%22calais%22+%22dutch%22&pg=PA25}}</ref>

In 1805, Calais hosted part of Napoleon's army and invasion fleet for several months before his [[Napoleon's planned invasion of the United Kingdom|aborted invasion of Britain]].<ref name="Whitfield2005">{{Cite book |last=Whitfield |first=Dr. Peter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WS4jgVqnck8C&pg=PA57 |title=Cities of the world: a history in maps |publisher=University of California Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-520-24725-3 |page=57}}</ref> From October to December 1818, the British army used Calais as their departing port to return home after occupying post-Waterloo France. [[George Murray (British Army officer)|General Murray]] appointed Sir [[Manley Power]] to oversee the evacuation of British troops from France. Cordial relations had been restored by that time and on 3 December, the mayor of Calais wrote a letter to Power to express thanks for his "considerate treatment of the French and of the town of Calais during the embarkation."<ref name="powerfile">Herefordshire Record Office, [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/records.aspx?cat=044-e60&cid=-1&Gsm=2008-06-18#-1 Reference E60/IV/14], The Old Barracks, Harold Street, [[Hereford]], HR1 2QX</ref>

The population in 1847 was 12,580, many of whom were English.<ref>''The National Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge, Vol.IV'', (1848), London, Charles Knight, p.19</ref> It was one of the main ports for British travellers to Europe.

In [[World War I]] the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War I)|British Expeditionary Force]] or BEF arrived in Calais on its way to the nearby frontline cutting through [[Nord-Pas-de-Calais]] and [[Flanders]]. Calais was a key port for the supply of arms and reinforcements to the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]].<ref name="Halpern1995">{{Cite book |last=Halpern |first=Paul G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6hwb6ovvYCcC&pg=PA349 |title=A naval history of World War I |publisher=Psychology Press |year=1995 |isbn=978-1-85728-498-0 |page=349}}</ref> In the 1930s, the town was known for being a politically socialist stronghold.<ref name="Perry2007">{{Cite book |last=Perry |first=Matt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=okNGTtMQFL8C&pg=PA146 |title=Prisoners of want: the experience and protest of the unemployed in France, 1921–45 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7546-5607-4 |page=146}}</ref>

===World War II===

[[File:Monument to Charles de Gaulle and Winston Churchill in Calais.jpg|thumb|Monument to Charles de Gaulle and Winston Churchill in Calais]]
[[File:Old bunkers at Calais 1 (Piotr Kuczynski).jpg|thumb|right|World War II bunkers at Calais]]
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-383-0337-19, Frankreich, Calais, zerstörte Fahrzeuge.jpg|thumb|right|Debris from the siege of Calais]]

Calais was virtually razed to the ground during [[World War II]].<ref name="Michelin2010">{{Cite book |last=Michelin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SQB7D5ILi4sC&pg=PA412 |title=Michelin Green Guide France |publisher=Michelin Apa Publications |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-906261-78-8 |page=412}}</ref> In May 1940, it was a key objective of the invading [[Germany|German]] forces and became the scene of a last-ditch defence—the [[Siege of Calais (1940)|siege of Calais]]—which diverted a sizable amount of German forces for several days immediately prior to the [[Battle of Dunkirk]]. A total of 3,000 British and 800 French troops, assisted by [[Royal Navy]] warships, held out from 22 to 27 May 1940 against the [[10th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|10th Panzer Division]]. The town was flattened by artillery and precision [[dive bombing]] and only 30 of the 3800-strong defending force were evacuated before the town fell. This may have helped [[Operation Dynamo]], the evacuation of Allied forces at Dunkirk, as 10th Panzer would have been involved on the Dunkirk perimeter had it not been busy at Calais.<ref name="Mitcham2008">{{Cite book |last=Mitcham |first=Samuel W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DW66ejQS2xoC&pg=PA325 |title=The rise of the Wehrmacht: the German armed forces and World War II |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-275-99659-8 |page=325}}</ref> Between 26 May and 4 June 1940, some 330,000 Allied troops escaped from the Germans at Dunkirk.<ref name="Apple2006">{{Cite book |last=Apple |first=David J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tMVSVumHzHUC&pg=PA118 |title=Sir Harold Ridley and his fight for sight: he changed the world so that we may better see it |publisher=SLACK Incorporated |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-55642-786-2 |page=118}}</ref>

During the ensuing German occupation, it became the command post for German forces in the Pas-de-Calais/Flanders region and was very heavily fortified, as the Germans generally believed  that the Allies would invade there.<ref name="Rider2005">{{Cite book |last=Rider |first=Nick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jwG65xpOh9oC&pg=PA32 |title=Short Breaks Northern France, 2nd |publisher=New Holland Publishers |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-86011-183-9 |page=32}}</ref> It was also used as a launch site for [[V1 flying bomb]]s and for much of the war, the Germans used the region as the site for [[railway gun]]s to bombard the south-eastern corner of England. In 1943 they built massive bunkers along the coast in preparation for launching missiles on the southeast of England.<ref name="KirschFlint2011">{{Cite book |last1=Kirsch |first1=Scott |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M__6c49rdz4C&pg=PA160 |title=Reconstructing Conflict: Integrating War and Post-War Geographies |last2=Flint |first2=Colin |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-4094-0470-5 |page=160}}</ref> Despite heavy preparations for defence against an amphibious assault, the Allied invasion took place well to the west in [[Normandy]] on [[D-Day]]. Calais was very heavily bombed and shelled in a successful effort to disrupt German communications and persuade them that the Allies would target the Pas-de-Calais for invasion (rather than Normandy). The town, by then largely in ruins, was [[Operation Undergo|laid siege to]] and liberated by [[Daniel Spry|General Daniel Spry]]'s [[3rd Canadian Infantry Division]] between 25 September and 1 October 1944.<ref name="Chant1986">{{Cite book |last=Chant |first=Christopher |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MNcNAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA312 |title=The encyclopedia of codenames of World War II |publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul |year=1986 |isbn=978-0-7102-0718-0 |page=312}}</ref> On 27 February 1945 Calais experienced its last bombing raid—this time by [[Royal Air Force]] bombers who mistook the town for Dunkirk, which was at that time still occupied by German forces.<ref name="Vance2011">{{Cite book |last=Vance |first=Mark A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QsA1cH8gBswC&pg=PA157 |title=Flight of the Forgotten |publisher=Mark Alan Vance |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-615-47376-5 |page=157}}</ref> After the war there was little rebuilding of the historic city and most buildings were modern ones. {{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}

===21st century – migration issues===
{{main|Migrants around Calais}}
Since 1999 or earlier, an increasingly large number of [[illegal immigrant]]s and [[asylum seeker]]s started to arrive in the vicinity of Calais, living in the [[Calais jungle]], the nickname given to a series of [[Tent city|makeshift camps]]. The people lived there while attempting to enter the [[United Kingdom]] by [[stowing away]] on lorries, ferries, cars, or trains travelling through the [[Port of Calais]] or the [[Eurotunnel Calais Terminal]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 July 2015 |title='Hundreds' of migrants now target Eurotunnel every night |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33649334 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-date=11 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211134006/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33649334 |url-status=live }}</ref> or while waiting for their [[Asylum in France|French asylum]] claims to be processed.<ref>Francesca Ansaloni, 'Deterritorialising the Jungle: Understanding the Calais camp through its orderings' in ''Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space'' (25/02/20) doi.org/10.1177/2399654420908597</ref> The people were a mix of [[asylum seeker]]s and [[economic migrant]]s from [[Darfur]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Syria]], [[Iraq]], [[Eritrea]] and other [[Least Developed Countries|underdeveloped]] or conflict-stricken countries in Africa and Asia.

The [[Calais migrant crisis]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 July 2015 |title=Cameron expects migrant crisis to last all summer |publisher=RTÉ News |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0731/718369-migrant-crisis/}}</ref> led to escalating tension between the UK and France in the summer of 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Angelique Chrisafis |title=The Calais migrant problem: a continual drip of poison in Anglo-French relations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/29/calais-migrant-problem-poison-anglo-french-relations |website=The Guardian|date=29 July 2015 }}</ref> The UK blamed France for not doing enough to stop migrants from entering the Channel Tunnel or attempting to scale fences built along the border. The [[British Prime Minister]] [[David Cameron]] released a statement saying that illegal immigrants would be removed from the UK even if they reached the island.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Josh Halliday |title=Cameron chairs Cobra meeting after overnight standoff in Calais |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/31/calais-crisis-david-cameron-chairs-cobra-meeting-as-mod-role-discussed |website=The Guardian |date=31 July 2015 |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-date=22 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122000846/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/31/calais-crisis-david-cameron-chairs-cobra-meeting-as-mod-role-discussed |url-status=live }}</ref> To discourage migrants and refugees from jumping on train shuttles at Calais, the UK government supplied fencing to be installed around the Eurotunnel complex, where the vehicles are loaded onto train shuttles in Calais.

On 26 October 2016, French authorities announced that the camp had been cleared.<ref>{{Cite web |title=French Authorities Confirm 'the Jungle' Refugee Camp Is Empty |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/french-authorities-confirm-jungle-refugee-020209875.html |website=uk.news.yahoo.com |date=27 October 2016 |access-date=14 November 2019 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727060855/https://uk.news.yahoo.com/french-authorities-confirm-jungle-refugee-020209875.html |url-status=live }}</ref> By January 2017, 500–1,000 migrants, mostly [[unaccompanied minor]]s, had returned and were [[Homelessness|living rough]] in Calais<ref>{{cite report |author1=[[Marta Welander]] |author2=Fee Mira Gerlach |date=2020 |title=Refugees and displaced people in northern France: a brief timeline of the human rights situation in the Calais area |url=https://refugee-rights.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/History-Of-Calais_Refugee-Rights-Europe.pdf |publisher=Refugee Rights Europe |access-date=16 April 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416124613/https://refugee-rights.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/History-Of-Calais_Refugee-Rights-Europe.pdf|archive-date=16 April 2020}}</ref> and there has been a presence ever since.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Malfatto |first1=Emilienne |title=Four years after it became a symbol of Europe's failures, migrants are still stranded in Calais |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/calais-jungle-migrants-channel-crossings/ |access-date=31 January 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=14 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |author1=[[Marta Welander]] |author2=Fee Mira Gerlach |author3=Camille Boittiaux |date=2020 |title=A brief timeline of the human rights situation in Northern France |url=https://refugee-rights.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RRE_Northern-France-Timeline-2020.pdf |publisher=Refugee Rights Europe |access-date=31 January 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131182353/https://refugee-rights.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RRE_Northern-France-Timeline-2020.pdf|archive-date=31 January 2021}}</ref>

==Geography and climate==
{{stack|float=right|
[[File:LondonCalaisParis.png|thumb|right|upright=1.25|Map showing Calais in relation to Dover, London and Paris]]
[[File:Map of Calais.png|thumb|right|upright=1.25|Map of Calais]]
}}
Calais is located on the [[Pas de Calais]], which marks the boundary between the [[English Channel]] and [[North Sea]] and located at the opposite end of the [[Channel Tunnel]], {{convert|40|km|0|abbr=off}}<ref name="Google Maps">{{Google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@51.0924308,1.566016,72506m/data=!3m1!1e3 |title= |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref> from [[Dover]]. On a clear day the [[White Cliffs of Dover]] can be viewed across the channel.<ref name="Anderson2008">{{Cite book |last=Anderson |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sZnSl8VTsDcC&pg=PA169 |title=Modern law of the sea: selected essays |publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers |year=2008 |isbn=978-90-04-15891-7 |page=169}}</ref> Aside from being an important port and boarding point between France and England, it is at the nucleus of many major railway and highway networks and connected by road to [[Arras]], [[Lens, Pas-de-Calais|Lens]], [[Béthune]] and [[Saint-Omer|St. Omer]]. [[Dunkirk]] is located about {{convert|37|km|0|abbr=on}} to the east.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distance entre Dunkerque et Calais en voiture |url=https://frdistance.com/route/dunkerque/calais |access-date=18 December 2018 |website=frdistance.com |language=fr |archive-date=18 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218193359/https://frdistance.com/route/dunkerque/calais |url-status=live }}</ref> Calais is located {{convert|236|km|0|abbr=on}} north of the French capital of [[Paris]], or around {{convert|295|km|0|abbr=on}} by car.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distance entre Paris et Calais en voiture |url=https://frdistance.com/route/paris/calais |access-date=18 December 2018 |website=frdistance.com |language=fr |archive-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404044626/https://frdistance.com/route/paris/calais |url-status=live }}</ref> The commune of Calais is bordered by the English channel to the north, [[Sangatte]] and [[Coquelles]] to the west, [[Coulogne]] to the south and [[Marck, Pas-de-Calais|Marck]] to the east. The core area of the city is divided into the Old Town area within the old city walls, and the younger suburbs of St. Pierre, which are connected by a boulevard.

Calais is part of the [[Côte d'Opale]] (Opal Coast), a cliff-lined section of northern French coast that parallels the [[White Cliffs of Dover|white cliffs]] on the British coast and is part of the same [[Formation (stratigraphy)|geological formation]]. It is known for its scenic [[cliff]]s such as [[Cape Blanc Nez]] and [[Cape Gris Nez]] and for its wide area of dunes. Many artists have been inspired by its landscapes, among them the composer [[Henri Dutilleux]], the writers [[Victor Hugo]] and [[Charles Dickens]], and the painters [[J. M. W. Turner]], [[Carolus-Duran]], [[Maurice Boitel]] and [[Eugène Boudin]]. It was the painter {{Interlanguage link|Édouard Lévêque|fr}} who coined the name for this area in 1911 to describe the distinctive quality of its light.<ref>''Le Touquet-Paris-Plage à l’aube de son nouveau siècle'', éditions Flandres-Artois-Côte d’Opale, 1982, p.22</ref>

Calais has a temperate [[oceanic climate]] (''Cfb'' in the [[Köppen climate classification]]). Temperature ranges are moderate and the winters are cool with unstable weather. It rains on average about {{convert|700|to|800|mm|0|abbr=on}} per year.

{{Clear}}

{{Weather box
|location = Calais ([[Calais-Dunkerque Airport|CQF]]), elevation: {{convert|2|m|ft|0|abbr=on|}}, 1991–2010 normals, extremes 1991–present
|collapsed =
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 15.0
|Feb record high C = 18.6
|Mar record high C = 22.6
|Apr record high C = 25.5
|May record high C = 31.1
|Jun record high C = 34.0
|Jul record high C = 39.9
|Aug record high C = 35.7
|Sep record high C = 32.0
|Oct record high C = 27.6
|Nov record high C = 20.2
|Dec record high C = 17.0
|Jan high C = 7.4
|Feb high C = 8.2
|Mar high C = 10.4
|Apr high C = 13.3
|May high C = 16.4
|Jun high C = 19.2
|Jul high C = 21.7
|Aug high C = 22.2
|Sep high C = 19.3
|Oct high C = 15.3
|Nov high C = 10.9
|Dec high C = 7.4
|year high C = 14.3
|Jan mean C = 4.9
|Feb mean C = 5.4
|Mar mean C = 7.2
|Apr mean C = 9.3
|May mean C = 12.4
|Jun mean C = 15.1
|Jul mean C = 17.5
|Aug mean C = 17.8
|Sep mean C = 15.3
|Oct mean C = 11.9
|Nov mean C = 8.2
|Dec mean C = 4.9
|year mean C = 10.9
|Jan low C = 2.4
|Feb low C = 2.7
|Mar low C = 3.9
|Apr low C = 5.3
|May low C = 8.4
|Jun low C = 11.0
|Jul low C = 13.2
|Aug low C = 13.5
|Sep low C = 11.2
|Oct low C = 8.4
|Nov low C = 5.5
|Dec low C = 2.5
|year low C = 7.4
|Jan record low C = -14.0
|Feb record low C = -11.3
|Mar record low C = -5.9
|Apr record low C = -5.0
|May record low C = -0.4
|Jun record low C = 3.3
|Jul record low C = 4.9
|Aug record low C = 5.6
|Sep record low C = 0.9
|Oct record low C = -5.7
|Nov record low C = -7.1
|Dec record low C = -13.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 55.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 42.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 39.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 41.3
|May precipitation mm = 54.5
|Jun precipitation mm = 53.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 54.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 63.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 63.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 86.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 90.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 77.1
|year precipitation mm = 722.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 11.0
|Feb precipitation days = 9.3
|Mar precipitation days = 8.8
|Apr precipitation days = 8.6
|May precipitation days = 9.1
|Jun precipitation days = 8.8
|Jul precipitation days = 8.4
|Aug precipitation days = 8.4
|Sep precipitation days = 10.1
|Oct precipitation days = 11.7
|Nov precipitation days = 13.3
|Dec precipitation days = 12.0
|year precipitation days = 119.0
|source 1 = [[Meteo France]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_62548002.pdf
| title = Calais-Marck (62)
| work = Fiche Climatologique: Statistiques 1981–2010 et records
| publisher = Meteo France
| language = fr
| access-date = 14 February 2019
| archive-date = 27 July 2020
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200727063412/https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_62548002.pdf
| url-status = live
}}</ref>

}}

The commune of Calais is divided into 13 ''quartiers'':

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Quartier du Beau Marais (Calais)|Beau Marais]]
* [[Quartier du Cailloux (Calais)|Cailloux]]
* [[Quartier du Calais-Nord (Calais)|Calais-nord]]
* {{Interlanguage link|Quartier du Courgain Maritime|fr}}
* [[Quartier des Fontinettes (Calais)|Fontinettes]]
* [[Quartier du Fort-Nieulay (Calais)|Fort-Nieulay]]
* [[Quartier Gambetta (Calais)|Gambetta]]
* [[Quartier de Nouvelle-France (Calais)|Nouvelle-France]]
* [[Quartier de la Mi-Voix (Calais)|Mi-voix]]
* [[Quartier du Petit-Courgain (Calais)|Petit Courgain]]
* [[Quartier Plage (Calais)|Plage]]
* [[Quartier du Pont-du-Leu (Calais)|Pont-du-Leu]]
* [[Quartier Saint-Pierre (Calais)|Saint-Pierre]]
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
Changes in the number of inhabitants is known throughout the population censuses conducted since 1793 in Calais. Note the massive growth in population from 13,529 in 1881 to 58,969 in 1886, a growth of 335.9%; this is because the city of Saint-Pierre-lès-Calais merged with Calais in 1885.<ref name=ehess/> According to the [[National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies|INSEE]] census of 2017, Calais has 73,911 people (a decrease of 4.4% from 1999).<ref name=pophist/> The town's population ranked 60th nationally, down from 53rd in 1999.
{{Historical populations
 | 1793 | 6549
 | 1800 | 6996
 | 1806 | 8102
 | 1821 | 8854
 | 1831 | 10437
 | 1836 | 10865
 | 1841 | 12508
 | 1846 | 11444
 | 1851 | 10993
 | 1856 | 11969
 | 1861 | 12934
 | 1866 | 12727
 | 1872 | 12843
 | 1876 | 12573
 | 1881 | 13529
 | 1886 | 58969
 | 1891 | 56867
 | 1896 | 56940
 | 1901 | 59743
 | 1906 | 66627
 | 1911 | 72322
 | 1921 | 73001
 | 1926 | 71629
 | 1931 | 70213
 | 1936 | 67568
 | 1946 | 50048
 | 1954 | 60340
 | 1962 | 70372
 | 1968 | 74624
 | 1975 | 78820
 | 1982 | 76527
 | 1990 | 75309
 | 1999 | 77317
 | 2007 | 75293
 | 2012 | 72589
 | 2017 | 73911
| source= EHESS<ref name=ehess>{{Cassini-Ehess|6584|Calais}}</ref> and INSEE<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-62193#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
| percentages = pagr
| graph-pos = bottom
| cols = 3
| align = none
}}

==Economy==
[[File:Calaiscentreville.jpg|thumb|upright|Town centre]]
The city's proximity to England has made it a major port for centuries. It is the principal ferry crossing point between England and France, with the vast majority of Channel crossings being made between [[Dover]] and Calais. Companies operating from Calais include [[SeaFrance]] (currently in liquidation<ref>{{Cite news |last=Willsher |first=Kim |date=9 January 2012 |title=SeaFrance ferry firm sunk by legal ruling on French bailout |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/jan/09/seafrance-ferries-sunk-bailout-ruling |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>), [[DFDS Seaways]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=DFDS Seaways |url=http://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/ |access-date=16 December 2012 |publisher=[[DFDS Seaways]] |archive-date=15 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215022346/http://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[P&O Ferries]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=P&O Ferries |url=http://www.poferries.com/ |access-date=5 February 2012 |publisher=[[P&O Ferries]] |archive-date=19 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919184305/http://www.poferries.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The French end of the [[Channel Tunnel]] is situated in the vicinity of Calais, in [[Coquelles]] some {{convert|4|mi|km}} to the west of the town. Calais possesses direct rail links to Paris, {{convert|148|mi|km}} to the south. More than 10&nbsp;million people visit Calais annually.<ref name="Whitfield2005" />

From medieval times, English companies thrived in Calais. Calais was a particularly important centre in the production and trade of wool and cloth, which outweighed the costs of maintaining the town as part of England. In 1830 some 113 manufacturers were based in Calais and the St Pierre suburbs, the majority of which were English.<ref name="Ruler69" /> There are still two major lace factories in Calais with around 700 looms and 3000 employees.<ref name="Ruler69">Ruler (2011), p.69</ref> The town exports in the early 20th century were lace, chemicals, paper, wines, especially champagne, spirits, hay, straw, wool, potatoes, woven goods, fruit, glass-ware, lace and metal-ware.<ref name="EB">[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] 11th ed. 1911</ref> Principal imports in the early 20th century included cotton and silk goods, coal, iron and steel, petroleum, timber, raw wool, cotton yarn and cork.<ref name="EB" /> During the five years 1901–1905 the average annual value of exports was £8,388,000 (£6,363,000 in the years 1896–1900), of imports £4,145,000 (£3,759,000 in 1896–1900).<ref name="EB" />

As a fishing port, Calais has several notable fishing markets including Les Délices de la Mer and Huîtrière Calaisenne on the Boulevard La Fayette, the latter of which is noted for its [[oyster]]s, [[lobster]] and [[crab]]s from Brittany. The Emile Fournier et Fils market on the Rue Mouron sells mainly smoked fish including [[salmon]], [[trout]], [[herring]] and [[halibut]].<ref>Ruler (2011), p.66</ref>

== Politics ==
[[File:Pierre-Henri Dumont 3.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Pierre-Henri Dumont]], [[Member of Parliament (France)|MP]] for Calais (2017–2024)]]
Calais is part of [[Pas-de-Calais's 7th constituency]] for the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]]; the current [[Deputy (France)|deputy]] is [[Marc de Fleurian]] of the [[National Rally]], who ousted [[Pierre-Henri Dumont]] of [[The Republicans (France)|The Republicans]] at the [[2024 French legislative election|2024 election]].

For elections to the Pas-de-Calais [[departmental council (France)|departmental council]], the commune of Calais is divided between the [[canton (France)|canton]]s of [[Canton of Calais-1|Calais-1]],  [[Canton of Calais-1|Calais-2]], and [[Canton of Calais-3|Calais-3]], the first two of which also contain adjoining [[commune (France)|commune]]s.

The [[mayor (France)|mayor]] of Calais has been [[Natacha Bouchart]] since 2008, first for the [[Union for a Popular Movement]] and then its successor The Republicans. From 1971 to 2008, the mayor was a member of the [[French Communist Party]] (PCF): [[Jean-Jacques Barthe]] (1971–2000) and [[Jacky Hénin]] (2000–2008).<ref>{{cite news |title=Calais. L'UMP Bouchart met fin à 37 ans de gestion communiste |url=https://www.letelegramme.fr/gratuit/generales/france/calais-lump-bouchart-met-fin-37-ans-de-gestion-communiste-20080317-2720632_1257898.php |access-date=18 February 2022 |work=Le Télégramme |date=17 March 2008 |language=French |archive-date=18 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218152707/https://www.letelegramme.fr/gratuit/generales/france/calais-lump-bouchart-met-fin-37-ans-de-gestion-communiste-20080317-2720632_1257898.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable landmarks==

===Place d'Armes===
Place d'Armes is one of the largest squares in the city of Calais. It adjoins the watchtower, and during medieval times was once the heart of the city. While Calais was a territory of England (1347–1558), it became known as Market Square (place du Marché). Only at the end of English rule did it take the name of Place d'Armes. After the reconquest of Calais in 1558 by Francis, Duke of Guise, Francis II gave Calais the right to hold a fair twice a year on the square, which still exists today, as well as a bustling Wednesday and Saturday market.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Place d'Armes |url=http://www.calais-guide.co.uk/sights/place-darmes.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313060639/http://www.calais-guide.co.uk/sights/place-darmes.html |archive-date=13 March 2012 |access-date=5 February 2012 |publisher=Calais Guide.co.uk}}</ref>

===Hôtel de Ville===
[[File:Calais_hotel_de_ville_face.jpg|thumb|[[Hôtel de Ville, Calais|Hôtel de Ville]]]]
The town centre, which has seen significant regeneration over the past decade, is dominated by its distinctive town hall ([[Hôtel de Ville, Calais|Hôtel de Ville]]) at Place du Soldat Inconnu. It was built in the Flemish [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance style]] between 1911 and 1925 to commemorate the unification of the cities of Calais and Saint Pierre in 1885.<ref name="CGhv">{{Cite web |title=Hôtel de Ville |url=http://www.calais-guide.co.uk/sights/hotel-de-ville.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208131820/http://www.calais-guide.co.uk/sights/hotel-de-ville.html |archive-date=8 February 2012 |access-date=5 February 2012 |publisher=Calais Guide.co.uk}}</ref> An extra terrace had been erected at the previous town hall in 1818.<ref name="Demotier1856">{{Cite book |last=Demotier |first=Charles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6bs_06S5W7YC&pg=PA345 |title=Annales de Calais |publisher=L'auteur |year=1856 |page=345}}</ref> One of the most elegant landmarks in the city, its ornate 74-metre (246&nbsp;ft) high clock tower and belfry can be seen from out to sea and chimes throughout the day and has been protected by [[UNESCO]] since 2005 as part of [[Belfries of Belgium and France|a series of belfries across the region]].<ref name="FréretBalédent2007">{{Cite book |last1=Fréret |first1=Sophie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pFBP0_sriPQC&pg=PA73 |title=Nord Pas-de-Calais Picardie |last2=Balédent |first2=Martin |publisher=MICHELIN |year=2007 |isbn=978-2-06-712165-2 |page=73}}</ref> The building parts have also been listed as a series of historic monuments by government decree of 26 June 2003, including its roofs and belfry, main hall, glass roof, the staircase, corridor serving the first floor, the rooms on the first floor (including decoration): the wedding room, the VIP lounge, the lounge of the council and the cabinet room. The hall has stained glass windows and numerous paintings and exquisite decor.<ref name=CGhv/> It houses police offices.<ref name="Perry2007" />

===Église Notre-Dame===
[[File:Église_Notre-Dame_de_Calais_2012_1.jpg|thumb|right|Église Notre-Dame]]
[[Église Notre-Dame de Calais|Église Notre-Dame]] is a great church which was originally built in the late 13th century and its tower was added in the late 14th or early 15th century. Like the town hall it is one of the city's most prominent landmarks. It was arguably the only church in the English perpendicular style in France.<ref name="CWSndc">{{Cite web|title=Notre Dame Church|url=http://www.calais.ws/EgliseDeNotreDame.htm|access-date=5 February 2012|publisher=Calais.ws|first1=June|first2=Len|last1=Riddell|last2=Riddell|archive-date=1 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201224324/http://www.calais.ws/EgliseDeNotreDame.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Much of the current 1,400-capacity church dates to 1631–1635.<ref name="CWSndc" /> It contains elements of Flemish, Gothic, Anglo-Norman and Tudor architecture. In 1691, an {{Convert|1800|m3|adj=on}} [[cistern]] was added to the church by order of [[Vauban]].<ref name="CGndc">{{Cite web |title=Notre Dame Church |url=http://www.calais-guide.co.uk/sights/notredame-church.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105012410/http://www.calais-guide.co.uk/sights/notredame-church.html |archive-date=5 January 2012 |access-date=5 February 2012 |publisher=Calais Guide.co.uk}}</ref> The church is dedicated to the Virgin, and built in the form of a cross, consisting of a nave and four aisles—<ref name="Calton1852">{{Cite book |last=Calton |first=Robert Bell |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_t8snAAAAYAAJ |title=Annals and legends of Calais |publisher=J. R. Smith |year=1852 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_t8snAAAAYAAJ/page/n98 89] |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> The old grand altar dated to 1628 and was built from Carrara marble wrecked on the coast, during its transit from [[Genoa]] to [[Antwerp]]. It contained eighteen figures, the two standing on either side of the altarpiece—representing [[St. Louis]] and [[Charlemagne]].<ref name="Calton1852" /> The organ—of a deep and mellow tone, and highly ornamented by figures in relief—was built at [[Canterbury]] sometime around 1700. The pulpit and reading-desk, richly sculptured in oak, is another well-executed piece of ecclesiastical workmanship from [[Saint-Omer|St. Omer]]. The altarpiece, the Assumption, was often attributed to [[Anthony van Dyck]], though in reality it is by [[Gerard Seghers]]; whilst the painting over the side altar, once believed to be by [[Peter Paul Rubens]]<ref name="Calton1852" /> is in fact by [[Pieter Van Mol]]. A high and strongly built wall, partaking more of the fortress than a cathedral in its aspect, flanks the building, and protects it from the street where the old river formerly ran, in its course through Calais to the sea.<ref name="Calton1852" />

The square, massive Norman tower has three-arched belfry windows on each face, surmounted by corner turrets, and a conically shaped tower of octagonal proportions, topped again by a short steeple. The tower was a main viewing point for the [[Anglo-French Survey (1784–1790)]] which linked the [[Paris Observatory]] with the [[Royal Greenwich Observatory]] using [[trigonometry]]. Cross-channel sightings were made of signal lights at [[Dover Castle]] and [[Fairlight, East Sussex]].

The church was assigned as a historic monument by decree of 10 September 1913, only to have its stained glass smashed during a Zeppelin bombardment on 15 January 1915, falling through the roof.<ref name="MFPM2010">{{Cite book |last=Michelin / MFPM |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1F1kHo5cZTkC&pg=PA106 |title=Nord Pas-de-Calais Picardie |publisher=Michelin |year=2010 |isbn=978-2-06-714775-1 |page=106}}</ref><ref name="Information quarterly">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rmI9AAAAYAAJ |title=Information quarterly |publisher=R.R. Bowker |year=1916}}</ref> General de Gaulle married Yvonne Vendroux on 6 April 1921 at the cathedral.<ref name="CGndc" /> The building sustained extensive damage during World War II, and was partially rebuilt, although much of the old altar and furnishings were not replaced.

===Towers===
[[File:Tour du Guet, Calais.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tour du Guet]]]]
The [[Tour du Guet]] (Watch Tower), situated in Calais Nord on the Places d'Armes, is one of the few surviving pre-war buildings. Dating from 1229, when [[Philip I, Count of Boulogne]], built the fortifications of Calais, it is one of the oldest monuments of Calais, although the oldest remaining traces date to 1302.<ref name="CWSltdg">{{Cite web|title=Le Tour de Guet|url=http://www.calais.ws/FrLeTourDuGuet.htm|access-date=5 February 2012|publisher=Calais.ws|first1=June|first2=Len|last1=Riddell|last2=Riddell|archive-date=2 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302021636/http://www.calais.ws/FrLeTourDuGuet.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It has a height of {{Convert|35–39|m|disp=or}} (sources differ). An [[1580 Dover Straits earthquake|earthquake in 1580]] split the tower in two, and at one time it threatened to collapse completely.<ref name="Lepage2011">{{Cite book |last=Lepage |first=Jean-Denis G. G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jpT2BJ0BF_MC&pg=PA276 |title=British Fortifications Through the Reign of Richard III: An Illustrated History |publisher=McFarland |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-7864-5918-6 |page=276}}</ref> The tower was repaired in 1606, and then had the purpose of serving as a hall to accommodate the merchants of Calais.<ref name="Lepage2011" /> It was damaged in 1658 when a young stable boy set fire to it, while it was temporarily being used as royal stables during a visit of King [[Louis XIV]].<ref name="Lefèbvre1766">{{Cite book |last=Lefèbvre |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oXtGKdW_QawC&pg=PA606 |title=Histoire de la ville de Calais et du Calaisis: précis de l'histoire de Morins |publisher=Lebure |year=1766 |page=606}}</ref> It was not repaired for some 30 years. In 1770,<ref name="Rider2005b">{{Cite book |last=Rider |first=Nick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jwG65xpOh9oC&pg=PA29 |title=Short Breaks Northern France, 2nd |publisher=New Holland Publishers |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-86011-183-9 |page=29}}</ref> a bell identical to the original bell of 1348 was cast. Due to its height, from the late 17th century it became an important watchout post for the city for centuries until 1905;<ref name="CWSltdg" /> the last keeper of the tower was forced to leave in 1926. [[Abraham Chappe]] (a brother of [[Ignace Chappe]]) installed a telegraph office in the tower in 1816 and operated for 32 years.<ref name="Demotier1856" /> It was this office which announced the death of Napoleon I to the French public in 1821. It also had the dual function as lighthouse with a rotating beacon fuelled by oil from 1818.<ref name="CWSltdg" /> The lantern was finally replaced by a new lighthouse on 15 October 1848. During the First World War, it served as a military observation post and narrowly missed destruction during World War II.<ref name="Lepage2011" /> This tower has been classified as a historic monument since 6 November 1931.<ref name="Lepage2011" />

The [[Calais Lighthouse]] (Le phare de Calais) was built in 1848, replacing the old watch tower as the lighthouse of the port. The {{convert|55|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} tower was electrified in 1883 and automated in 1992. The staircase has 271 steps leading up to the lantern. By day it is easily distinguishable from other coastal lighthouses by its white color and black lantern. The lighthouse was classified as a historical monument on 22 November 2010.

===Forts===
[[File:Citadelle de Calais - La Porte de Neptune.JPG|thumb|right|The Citadel of Calais]]

The [[Citadel of Calais|Citadel]], located on the Avenue Pierre Coubertin, was built between 1560 and 1571 on the site of a former medieval castle which was built in 1229 by Philippe de Hureprel.<ref name="CWStc">{{Cite web|title=La Citadelle|url=http://www.calais.ws/LaCitadelle.htm|access-date=5 February 2012|publisher=Calais.ws|first1=June|first2=Len|last1=Riddell|last2=Riddell|archive-date=14 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214075250/http://www.calais.ws/LaCitadelle.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The purpose of its construction was to fend off would-be invaders, but it wasn't long until the city was successfully invaded by Archduke Albert of Austria on 24 April 1596. Both [[Louis XIII]] and [[Cardinal Richelieu]] at one time considered expanding the citadel and Calais into a great walled city for military harbour purposes but the proposals came to nothing.<ref name="CWStc" />

[[Fort Risban]], located on the coast on the Avenue Raymond Poincaré at the port entrance, was built by the English to prevent supplies reaching Calais by sea during the siege in November 1346 and continued to be occupied by them until 1558 when Calais was restored to France. In 1596, the fort was captured by the Spanish Netherlands until May 1598 when it was returned to the French following the [[Peace of Vervins|Treaty of Vervins]]. It was rebuilt in 1640.<ref name="Lepage2009">{{Cite book |last=Lepage |first=Jean-Denis G. G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aeVAPShsbTMC&pg=PA185 |title=French Fortifications, 1715–1815: An Illustrated History |publisher=McFarland |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7864-4477-9 |page=185}}</ref> Vauban, who visited the fort some time in the 1680s, described it as "a home for owls, and place to hold the Sabbath" rather than a fortification.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fort Risban |url=http://www.calais.ws/FortRisban.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208083741/http://www.calais.ws/FortRisban.htm |archive-date=8 February 2012 |access-date=5 February 2012 |publisher=Calais.ws|first1=June|first2=Len|last1=Riddell|last2=Riddell}}</ref> During World War II it served as an air raid shelter. It contains the Lancaster Tower, a name often given to the fort itself.<ref name="Lepage2011b">{{Cite book |last=Lepage |first=Jean-Denis G. G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jpT2BJ0BF_MC&pg=PA275 |title=British Fortifications Through the Reign of Richard III: An Illustrated History |publisher=McFarland |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-7864-5918-6 |page=275}}</ref>

Fort Nieulay, located along the Avenue Roger Salengro originally dated to the 12th or 13th century. During the English invasion in 1346, sluices gates were added as water defences and a fort was built up around it in 1525 on the principle that the people of the fort could defend the town by flooding it.<ref name="CWSfn">{{Cite web|title=Fort Nieulay|url=http://www.calais.ws/FortNieulay.htm|access-date=5 February 2012|publisher=Calais.ws|first1=June|first2=Len|last1=Riddell|last2=Riddell|archive-date=24 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224201719/http://www.calais.ws/FortNieulay.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In April and May 1677, [[Louis XIV]] and Vauban visited Calais and ordered a complete rebuilding of Fort Nieulay. It was completed in 1679, with the purpose to protect the bridge of Nieulay crossing the [[Hames River]].<ref name="Lepage2010">{{Cite book |last=Lepage |first=Jean-Denis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fzp3MWRNPFAC&pg=PA151 |title=Vauban and the French military under Louis XIV: an illustrated history of fortifications and strategies |publisher=McFarland |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-7864-4401-4 |page=151}}</ref> By 1815 the fort had fallen into a ruined state and it wasn't until 1903 that it was sold and improved by its farmer tenants.<ref name="CWSfn" /> The fort was briefly the site of a low-key scuffle with Germans in May 1940.

===Museums, theatres and cultural centres===
[[File:Calais theatre.jpg|thumb|right|Calais Theatre]]
Calais contains several museums. These include the [[Musée des Beaux-Arts et de la Dentelle de Calais]], [[Cité internationale de la Dentelle et de la Mode de Calais]] and the Musée de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale (World War II museum). Cité internationale de la Dentelle et de la Mode de Calais is a lace and fashion museum located in an old Boulart factory on the canalside and contains workshops, a library and a restaurant and regularly puts on fashion shows.<ref name="Ruler69" /> The World War II museum is located at Parc St Pierre opposite the town hall and south of the train station. The building is a former Nazi bunker and wartime military headquarters, built in 1941 by the [[Todt Organisation]]. The {{Convert|194|m|4=-long|adj=mid}} structure contains twenty rooms with relics and photographs related to World War II, and one room dedicated to World War I.<ref name="Ruler69" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=War Museum |url=http://www.calais-guide.co.uk/sights/war-museum.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313052338/http://www.calais-guide.co.uk/sights/war-museum.html |archive-date=13 March 2012 |access-date=5 February 2012 |publisher=Calais Guide.co.uk}}</ref>

Theatres and cultural centres include Le théâtre municipal, Le Centre Culturel Gérard Philipe, Le Conservatoire à rayonnement départemental (CRD), L'auditorium Didier Lockwood, L'École d'Art de Calais, Le Channel, Le Cinéma Alhambra and La Médiathèque municipale. Le théâtre municipal or Calais Theatre is located on the Boulevard Lafayette and was built in 1903 on a plot of land which was used as a cemetery between 1811 and 1871.<ref name="CWSct">{{Cite web|title=Calais Theatre|url=http://www.calais.ws/CalaisTheatre.htm|access-date=5 February 2012|publisher=Calais.ws|first1=June|first2=Len|last1=Riddell|last2=Riddell|archive-date=1 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201224319/http://www.calais.ws/CalaisTheatre.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The theatre opened in 1905. On the first floor of the façade are statues which represent the performing arts subjects of Poetry, Comedy, Dance and Music.<ref name="CWSct" />

===Monuments and memorials===
[[File:Calais statue bourgeois.jpg|thumb|right|''[[The Burghers of Calais]]'']]
[[File:Calais colonne louis XVIII.JPG|thumb|right|Louis XVIII column]]

Directly in front of the town hall is a bronze cast of ''Les Bourgeois de Calais'' ("[[The Burghers of Calais]]"), a sculpture by [[Auguste Rodin]] to commemorate six men who were to have been executed by Edward III in 1347.  The cast was erected in 1895, funded by a public grant of 10,000 francs.<ref name="ElsenJamison2003" /> Rodin (who based his design on a fourteenth-century account by [[Jean Froissart]]) intended to evoke the viewer's sympathy by emphasizing the pained expressions of the faces of the six men about to be executed.<ref name="ElsenJamison2003" />

The ''Monument des Sauveteurs'' ("Rescuers' Monument") was installed in 1899 on Boulevard des Alliés, and transferred to the Quartier of Courgain in 1960.  It is a bronze sculpture, attributed to [[Edward Lormier]]. The ''Monument Le Pluviôse'' is a {{convert|620|kg|0|abbr=on}} bronze monument built in 1912 by [[Émile Oscar Guillaume]] on the centre of the roundabout near the beach of Calais, commemorating the accidental sinking of the submarine ''[[French submarine Pluviôse (Q51)|Pluviôse]]'' in May 1910, off the beach by the steamer ''Pas de Calais''.<ref name="Chisholm1913">{{Cite book |last=Chisholm |first=Hugh |url=https://archive.org/details/britannicayearb00chisgoog |title=The Britannica year book |publisher=The Encyclopœdia Britannica Company, Ltd. |year=1913 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> [[Armand Fallières]], president of the Republic, and his government came to Calais for a state funeral for its 27 victims.  One of these victims, Delpierre Auguste, (1889–1910), drowned at age 21 before the beach at Calais; a dock in the city is named for him.  The monument was dedicated on 22 June 1913.

Monument "Jacquard" was erected on the square in 1910, opposite the entrance to the Calais theatre.  It commemorates [[Joseph Marie Jacquard]], popular in Calais because of his contribution to the development of lace through his invention of the [[Jacquard loom]].<ref name="MuirheadMonmarché1930">{{Cite book |last1=Muirhead |first1=Findlay |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f-lnAAAAMAAJ |title=North-eastern France |last2=Monmarché |first2=Marcel |publisher=Macmillan & co. ltd |year=1930 |pages=16–17 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> A tall [[Louis XVIII column|column]] in the Courgain area of the city commemorates a visit by [[Louis XVIII]].

''Parc Richelieu'', a garden behind the war memorial, was built in 1862 on the old city ramparts and redesigned in 1956.<ref name="(France)1986">{{Cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=x1IpAQAAIAAJ |title=Monuments historiques |date=1 January 1986 |publisher=Caisse nationale des monuments historiques |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> It contains a statue designed by [[Yves de Coëtlogon]] in 1962, remembering both world wars with an allegorical figure, representing Peace, which clutches an olive branch to her breast.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Richelieu Garden|url=http://www.calais.ws/ParcRichelieu.htm|access-date=5 February 2012|publisher=Calais.ws|first1=June|first2=Len|last1=Riddell|last2=Riddell|archive-date=1 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201224401/http://www.calais.ws/ParcRichelieu.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Another monument in the Parc Richelieu, erected on 23 April 1994, marks the approximate site of [[Emma, Lady Hamilton]]'s last resting place. She died in Calais on 15 January 1815.<ref name = Brayne>Brayne, Martin (2016), ''Gone to the Continent: the British in Calais, 1760–1860''</ref>

===Historic hotels===
For many years the most famous hotel in Calais was the Hôtel d'Angleterre, often called Dessin's or Dessein's, after the family which owned it for almost a hundred years.<ref name = Brayne/> Its popularity increased after [[Laurence Sterne]] set the early chapters of his 1768 novel ''[[A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy]]'' there. With the arrival of the railway fewer British visitors stopped in Calais and Dessin's closed in 1860.<ref name = Brayne/>

[[Hôtel Meurice de Calais]] is a hotel, established in 1771 as Le Chariot Royal by the French postmaster, [[Charles-Augustin Meurice]], who would later establish the five-star [[Hôtel Meurice]], one of Paris's most famous luxury hotels. It was one of the earliest hotels on the continent of Europe to specifically cater for the British elite.<ref name="GublerGlynn2008">{{Cite book |last1=Gubler |first1=Fritz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5inN5WqkdOAC&pg=PT47 |title=Great, grand & famous hotels |last2=Glynn |first2=Raewyn |publisher=Great, Grand & Famous Hotels |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-9804667-0-6 |page=47}}</ref> The hotel was rebuilt in 1954–55.<ref name="Ruler2011">{{Cite book |last=Ruler |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UwXioEolUbMC&pg=PA63 |title=Cross-Channel France: Nord-Pas de Calais: The Land Beyond the Ports |publisher=Bradt Travel Guides |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-84162-327-6 |page=63}}</ref> It has 41 en-suite rooms.

==Education==
There are several schools in Calais. These include [[Groupe Scolaire Coubertin]], [[Eglise Saint-Pierre]], [[Universite du Littoral]], [[Centre Universitaire]],<ref name="GM">{{Cite map |title=Maps |publisher=[[Google Maps]]}}</ref> Lycée HQE Léonard de Vinci on Rue du Pasteur Martin Luther-King, École d'Art de Calais on Rue des Soupirants, and the Centre Scolaire Saint-Pierre on Rue du Four à Chaux which provides education in the primary grades, high school, and vocational school.<ref name="saintpierrecalais.fr">{{Cite web |title=Centre Scolaire Saint-Pierre de Calais |url=http://www.saintpierrecalais.fr/ |access-date=9 February 2012 |website=saintpierrecalais.fr |language=fr}}</ref> There are at least seven colleges in the city, such as Collège Martin Luther King on Rue Martin Luther King, Collège Nationalisé Lucien Vadez on Avenue Yervant Toumaniantz, Collège Les Dentelliers on Rue Gaillard, College Jean Mace on Rue Maréchaux, Collège République on Place République, Collège Vauban on Rue Orléansville, and Collège Privé Mixte Jeanne d'Arc on Rue Champailler.

==Sport==
Calais was represented in [[association football]] by the [[Calais RUFC]], who competed in the [[Championnat National]]. The club was founded 1902 as Racing Club de Calais and in 1974 was renamed as Calais Racing Union Football Club.<ref>{{Cite web |title=France – Trainers of First and Second Division Clubs |url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/trainers-fran-clubs.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618093752/http://www.rsssf.com/players/trainers-fran-clubs.html |archive-date=18 June 2009 |access-date=5 February 2012 |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref>
Calais RUFC had a good reputation in French cup competitions and went as far as [[2000 Coupe de France Final|the final in the 1999/2000 season]], losing out finally to [[FC Nantes Atlantique|Nantes]].
From 2008 they played at the [[Stade de l'Épopée]], a stadium which holds about 12,000 spectators. Calais Racing Union was liquidated in September 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Liquidation du Calais Racing Union Football Club: Clap de Fin Pour Une Étoile Filante di Football |url=https://sport.francetvinfo.fr/tout-le-sport/liquidation-du-calais-racing-union-football-club-clap-de-fin-pour-une-etoile-filante |access-date=26 May 2018 |archive-date=26 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426163552/https://sport.francetvinfo.fr/tout-le-sport/liquidation-du-calais-racing-union-football-club-clap-de-fin-pour-une-etoile-filante |url-status=live }}</ref>

The rugby club in Calais is [[Amicale Rugby Calaisien]].<ref name="Journal de la marine marchande">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W-UiAQAAMAAJ |title=Journal de la marine marchande |date=January 1971 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> Basketball is popular in Calais with the teams [[Calais Basket]] (male)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dernières infos |url=http://www.calaisbasket.fr/ |access-date=5 February 2012 |publisher=Calais Basket |archive-date=29 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129081905/http://www.calaisbasket.fr/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[COB Calais]] (female)<ref>{{Cite web |title=ACCUEIL SAISON |url= http://www.cobcalais.com/modulosite2/accueil-saison-2011-2012.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125073548/http://www.cobcalais.com/modulosite2/accueil-saison-2011-2012.htm |archive-date=25 January 2012 |access-date=5 February 2012 |publisher= COB Calais}}</ref> as is volleyball with the [[Lis Calais]] (male)<ref>{{Cite web|title=LIS St Pierre Calais Volley Ball|url=http://www.lisspcalaisvb.com/|access-date=4 December 2020|publisher=Lis Calais|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126212047/http://www.lisspcalaisvb.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Stella Calais]] (female) teams.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Bienvenue |url=http://www.stellaescalais.com/modulosite2/bienvenue-sur-notre-site.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111231235208/http://www.stellaescalais.com/modulosite2/bienvenue-sur-notre-site.htm |archive-date=31 December 2011 |access-date=5 February 2012 |publisher=Stella Calais}}</ref> There is also the [[SOC (sports club)|SOC]] club which caters in a range of sports including athletics, handball and football and [[Yacht Club de Calais]], a yachting club.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bienvenue sur le site web officiel du YACHT CLUB DU CALAISIS |url=http://www.calais-voile.fr/ |access-date=5 February 2012 |publisher=Yacht Club de Calais |archive-date=3 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303220227/http://www.calais-voile.fr/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Calais also has [[Les Seagulls]], an American football team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=News |url=http://seagullscalais.sup.fr/ |access-date=5 February 2012 |publisher=Les Seagulls |archive-date=8 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808001702/http://seagullscalais.sup.fr/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:Calais Port.JPG|right|thumb|Cranes in the Ferry Terminal, Calais]]
[[File:Calais, rue Royale (France, August 2011).jpg|thumb|right|Boulevard Jacquard]]

===Sea===
{{main|Port of Calais}}
The [[Port of Calais]] was the first cable ship port in Europe and is the fourth largest port in France and the largest for passenger traffic.<ref name="NFI" /> The port accounts for more than a third of economic activity of the town of Calais. Cargo traffic has tripled over the past two decades. In 2007 more than 41.5&nbsp;million tonnes of traffic passed through Calais with some 11.52&nbsp;million passengers, 1.4&nbsp;million trucks and trailers, 2.249&nbsp;million cars and 4,700 crossings a year.<ref name="NFI">{{Cite web |title=Calais |url=http://www.nordfranceinvest.fr/?action=loadPage&pageId=146 |access-date=10 February 2012 |publisher=Nord France Invest |archive-date=23 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123073137/http://www.nordfranceinvest.fr/?action=loadPage&pageId=146 |url-status=live }}</ref> Passenger numbers for the Dover to Calais route in 2018 were 9,168,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Booker |first=France Ferry |date=18 November 2019 |title=Ferry to France Statistics - Passenger Numbers |url=https://www.franceferrybooker.co.uk/news/ferry-to-france-statistics |access-date=30 December 2019 |archive-date=30 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230110614/https://www.franceferrybooker.co.uk/news/ferry-to-france-statistics |url-status=live }}</ref> On average, ships sail from the port every 30 minutes.<ref name="NFI" /> A new 400&nbsp;million euro project is underway at the port to create a breakwater protecting a pool of 700 meters long, thus allowing virtually all types of ships to stop at Calais.

===Rail===
{{Railways in Calais}}
As well as the large port, the town is served by three railway stations: [[Calais-Fréthun station|Gare de Calais-Fréthun]], [[Gare de Calais-Ville]], and [[Gare des Fontinettes]], the former being the first stop on mainland Europe of the [[Eurostar]] line. [[Gare de Calais-Ville]] is the nearest station to the port with trains to [[Gare de Boulogne-Ville]] and either [[Gare de Lille Flandres]] or [[Gare de Lille Europe]].

Calais was also served by [[Gare de Calais Saint-Pierre|Saint-Pierre]] and [[Gare de Calais-Maritime|Calais-Maritime]]. Both now closed.

Saint-Pierre was two separate stations. A temporary station was opened by the [[Chemins de fer du Nord]] in 1846, and closed in 1849 when Calais-Ville opened. It subsequently became the site of a marshalling yard.{{sfn|Farebrother |Farebrother |2008 |pp=25, 49}} The second Saint-Pierre station was opened by the [[Chemin de fer d'Anvin à Calais]] (CF AC) on 1 October 1881. It closed in 1900 when the CF AC extended their line to Calais-Ville.{{sfn|Farebrother |Farebrother |2008 |p=31}} The CF AC closed on 1 March 1955.{{sfn|Farebrother |Farebrother |2008 |pp=281-82}}

===Road===
Local bus services are provided by STCE. Free car parking facilities are available in front of the Calais ferry terminal and the maximum stay is three days.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calais Ferry &#124; Calais Ferry Port |url=http://www.aferry.co.uk/calais-ferries-uk.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225043735/http://www.aferry.co.uk/calais-ferries-uk.htm |archive-date=25 February 2011 |access-date=6 April 2011 |publisher=Aferry.co.uk}}</ref>

===Air===
Calais is served by an airport and an airfield. [[Calais–Dunkerque Airport]] is located at [[Marck, Pas-de-Calais|Marck]], {{convert|7|km|mi}} east north east of Calais. [[Saint-Inglevert Airfield]] is located at [[Saint-Inglevert]], {{convert|13|km|mi}} south west of Calais.

==Notable people==
{{main category|People from Calais}}

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in France}}

Calais is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Découverte de la Ville |url=https://www.calais.fr/fr/Ville-de-Calais/envie-de-bouger/a-visiter-a-voir/patrimoine-&-monuments/566efe02655e3e12cd397ea1/decouverte-de-la-ville |access-date=12 November 2019 |website=calais.fr |publisher=Calais |language=fr}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|SVK}} [[Bardejov]], [[Slovakia]] <small>''(since 6 September 2002)''</small>
*{{flagicon|ROU}} [[Brăila]], [[Romania]] <small>''(since 8 May 2002)''</small>
*{{flagicon|DEU}} [[Duisburg]], [[Germany]] <small>''(since 25 June 1964)''</small>
*{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Dover]], [[Kent]], [[United Kingdom]] <small>''(since June 1973)''</small>
<!--Riga - twinning ended-->
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Wismar]], Germany <small>''(since December 1971)''</small>
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Xiangtan]], China

==See also==
{{Portal|France}}
* [[Communes of the Pas-de-Calais department]]
* [[France–UK border]]
* [[List of mayors of Calais]]
{{Clear}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==

===Footnotes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{EB1911|wstitle=Calais}}
* {{Cite book |last=Calton |first=Robert Bell |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_t8snAAAAYAAJ |title=Annals and Legends of Calais |publisher=J. R. Smith |year=1852 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_t8snAAAAYAAJ/page/n10 1]}}
* {{Cite book |last=Cooksey |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1EkMAAAACAAJ |title=Calais: France |date=1 September 2000 |publisher=Casemate |isbn=978-1-58097-011-2}}
*{{cite book | first1 =Martin J B | last1 =Farebrother |last2=Farebrother | first2 =Joan S | year =2008 | title =Tortillards of Artois | publisher =The Oakwood Press | location =Usk | isbn =978-0-85361-679-5 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Grummitt |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yIthoIVk1lgC |title=The Calais Garrison: War and Military Service in England, 1436–1558 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer Ltd |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-84383-398-7}}
* {{Cite book |last=Guérin de Tencin |first=Claudine Alexandrine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P3F7ZVGWW6kC |title=The Siege of Calais |publisher=Garland Pub. |year=1740 |isbn=978-0-8240-1101-7}}
* {{Cite book |title=Handbook for Travellers in France |publisher=John Murray |year=1861 |edition=8th |location=London |chapter=Calais |ol=24627024M |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/handbookfortrave1861john#page/n37/mode/2up}}
* {{Cite book |last=Kenna |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JYtQAAAAMAAJ |title=Calais Lace |date=31 October 2003 |publisher=[[Nazraeli Press]] |isbn=978-1-59005-050-7 |access-date=5 February 2012}}
* {{Cite book |title=Northern France |publisher=Karl Baedeker |year=1899 |edition=3rd |location=Leipsic |chapter=Calais |oclc=2229516 |ol=24872324M |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/northernfrance00karl#page/2/mode/2up}}
* {{Cite book |last=Rose, Susan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BTN3CkBigm8C |title=Calais: an English town in France, 1347–1558 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer Ltd |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-84383-401-4}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ruler |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UwXioEolUbMC&pg=PA69 |title=Cross-Channel France: Nord-Pas de Calais: the land beyond the ports |date=25 January 2011 |publisher=[[Bradt Travel Guides]] |isbn=978-1-84162-327-6}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sandeman |first=George Amelius Crawshay |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1KS1Q9ZHGgkC |title=Calais under English Rule |date=20 August 2008 |publisher=BiblioBazaar |isbn=978-0-554-73198-8}}
* {{Cite book |last=Turpyn |first=Richard |url=https://archive.org/details/chroniclecalais00turpgoog |title=The Chronicle of Calais: in the reigns of Henry VII. and Henry VIII. to the year 1540 |publisher=Printed for the Camden Society by J. B. Nichols |year=1846}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{wikivoyage}}
{{EB1911 poster|Calais (France)}}
* {{Official website|http://www.mairie-calais.fr}} {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://www.agglo-calaisis.fr/ Agglomération] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427002211/http://www.agglo-calaisis.fr/ |date=27 April 2007 }} {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://www.portboulognecalais.fr/en/ Info about the port and city] {{in lang|en}}
* [http://www.calais.ws/ Info about the port and city] {{in lang|en}}
*[http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/france/calais/calais.html Old maps of Calais] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110222324/http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/france/calais/calais.html |date=10 January 2021 }}, [http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/historic_cities.html Historic Cities site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325051637/http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/historic_cities.html |date=25 March 2022 }}

{{Pas-de-Calais communes}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Calais| ]]
[[Category:Ephemeral islands]]
[[Category:Communes of Pas-de-Calais]]
[[Category:Former islands of France]]
[[Category:France–United Kingdom border crossings]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns on the French Atlantic coast]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the North Sea]]
[[Category:Pale of Calais]]
[[Category:Vauban fortifications in France]]