One of the most popular and busy French ports for hundreds of years, Calais is the main crossing point for ferries traveling from the UK to France. With its economy revolving primarily around the famous “booze cruises”, in which people drive from the UK to Calais and take advantage of the distinct tax difference on alcohol in France, stock up on their favourite beverages and take them back to the UK. Whilst this is often frowned upon, it is completely legal. As long as the alcohol taken back is for personal use only, there are no restrictions on the amount of purchased goods that can be transferred between the two European Union countries.
Whilst the actual sale of these goods provides Calais with a regular and healthy income, Calais is also known for more traditional economic activities. Lace making and paper manufacturing are two of the more primary industries, aided tremendously with Calais direct rail route to the capital. Used for both public use and for industry, this direct rail route is one of the main reasons Calais is still a bustling port to this day.
As Calais is used almost solely for industry or as a thoroughfare for travelers, it doesn’t cater largely for tourists. Whilst there is quite a large amount of history in Calais, the majority of the town was decimated during World War II, meaning that the majority of Calais is only 50 years old. However, there are a small amount of historic buildings still visible today, including the beautiful hotel de ville, which is a perfect example of the architectural style Flemish Rennaisance.
For those who are planning to spend some time in Calais, a visit to the former German military headquarters, which is now a popular war museum, is highly recommended. Furthermore, a walk to the coastline should be a must, as on all but extremely bad weather days, the stunning White Cliffs of Dover can be seen – even though they are 21 miles away.
After your visit to the beautiful coastline, a visit to the west of Calais brings you to the famous Cote d’Opale, a fantastically striking cliff area of the surrounding coast line that is an almost like for like vision of the aforementioned White Cliffs of Dover.
Most strongly believe that Calais is only worth visiting for the cheap alcohol and as a thoroughfare on your journey to the south of France. Whilst these may be the primary two reasons for Calais visitors, a short stay in the town is well worthwhile. It has some very interesting history and caters for those who do visit with a variety of shops and restaurants. It’s on your journey, so why not stay that extra hour or two?
