Pas de Calais - 62. Latitude: 50.9529 Longitude: 1.85164
Some useful information on restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and shops in Calais, for visitors and shoppers, which we have collated from various sources for ferry travellers to Calais. Calais is the most commonly used place of entry into France for ferry travellers and is a useful gateway to many interesting and historical towns in the North of France.
Calais is France’s busiest passenger port although it only has a population of about 80,000. The ferry business dominates the town.
History
Calais was destroyed in WWII. The town divides into two: Calais-Nord, the old town rebuilt after the war and, separated from it by canals, Calais-Sud. The Hôtel de Ville, on the main shopping street of Bd. Jacquard is a landmark, outside which Rodin's famous bronze Burghers of Calais.
This town started life as a small fishermen's village, but received a "charter of customs " in 1181, and a charter of concession for the port in 1190. The statue of the Bourgeois de Calais records the self-sacrifice of these local dignitaries who offered their lives to spare the town and its remaining citizens during Edward III's 1347 siege.
Following its seizure by Edward III after the battle of Crécy in 1346, the towns people were eventually evicted. It remained English until 1558, and the association has been maintained across the centuries.
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Calais Transport / Rail travel in France / Airports in France
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Chemists (Pharmacies)
Pharmacie Hieulle, 7, Av. Guynemer. Tel: 0033 321 36 27 63.
Pharmacie Gyselinck, 83, Bd. Gambetta. Tel: 0033 321 34 46 68.
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 - Calais Football Club (Calais racing Union Football Club). allezcalais.free.fr
A few years ago the local football club shot to prominence when it reached the final. Things have settled back to normal since, but if you are interested, here is some useful information.
Address; Stade Julien Denis, Av. St. Exupery, 62100. Calais Tel: 0033 321 96 79 79.
Club Shop; 162 Bld de la Fraternité, Calais.
Useful links; Lens football club. Tel: 0033 321 69 28 99. www.rclens.fr
French Football League. Tel: 0033 1 53 65 38 00.
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Golf Courses
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Budget - Good Value - Quality - Logis and Gîtes de France - Camping
 - Book a hostel or a local tour worldwide. www.hostelworld.com
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Karting in Calais
Opale'Kart, 87, Quai Lucien l'Heureux. 62100. Calais Tel: 0033 321 19 45 48.
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Internet Cafés
Spicy - Web-bar, 68, rue Royale, 62100. Calais Tel: 0033 321 96 84 20. Buy a meal and use the net for free.
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Lost and Found in Calais
Office Number 2 in the basement of the Town Hall is the place to go.
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Place d'Armes; Wednesday and Saturday mornings
Place Crèvecoeur; Thursday and Saturday mornings
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Photographs of Calais - www.ville-calais.fr
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Nightclubs and Casino's in Calais
Le Casino de Calais - 59, rue Royale, 62100. Calais Tel: 0033 321 19 16 64. Open: every day 11.00am to 3.00am.
Channel Paradise Casino. Avenue du Saint Exupéry. 62100. Calais. Tel: 0033 321 34 34 22. www.channel-paradise.com
Le Duplex Discotheque, 93, rue de verdun. Calais Open from 9.00pm.
Karaoke - Le KVO, 14, rue du Duc de Guise. Tel: 0033 321 97 27 17.
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Overnight parking in Calais
There have been a spate of burglaries from United Kingdom cars in Calais. Overnight parking is best found in a hotel car park.
Parking in Calais / Police in Calais / Security in Calais
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Politics in Calais
Natacha Bouchard, of the French UMP Party ended 37 years of Communist rule in Calais in 2008 when she was elected Mayor with 54,1% of the vote. She defeated Jacky Henin.
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Galway Irish Pub, 6 Boulevard Gambetta. 62100. Calais. Tel: 0033 321 85 85 82
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Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Shops
- Factory shopping in France -
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Port of Calais
Tides / Air quality / Sailing information
Port de Calais (Capitainerie). Tel: 0033 321 96 31 20. www.calais-port.com
Link to French site giving information on tides in Calais. www.shom.fr
Sailing Information
 - Plaisance Opale. www.plaisance-opale.com
 - National "Plaisance" port website. www.ffports-plaisance.com
Air Quality
 - ATMO, air quality. www.atmo-npdc.fr
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 - Le Brazza TABAC in Calais
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Nord - Pas-de-Calais - Calais
To visit in Calais - To visit outside Calais - Beach Walks
Calais Tourist Office, 12, Bd. Clémenceau, Calais 62100. Tel: 0033 321 96 62 40.
They have an excellent site which is comprehensive and attractive. more info
 - Nord-Pas de Calais Regional Tourist Board. www.tourisme-nordpasdecalais.fr
Regional; Comité Région al du Tourisme, Nord - Pas de Calais, 6 Place Mendès France, 59028 Lille Cedex. Tel: 0033 320 14 57 57.
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Useful Outside links
 - BBC Weather for Calais. www.bbc.co.uk
 - Calais Tourist Office English web site. www.calais-cotedopale.com
 - Port of Dover. www.doverport.co.uk
 - Port of Calais. www.calais-port.com
 - Calais Town Hall. www.calais.fr
 - Calais TV, some news about Calais. www.calaistv.fr
Some statistics contained in this magazine. www.calais-port.com
Chambre de Commerce. www.cotedopale.cci.fr
An interesting historical piece. www.lepg.org/seige.htm
From the Nord Pas-de-Calais regional Council. www.nordpasdecalais.fr
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