Sunday shopping tips for day trippers & visitors to Calais, France - looking for supermarkets, tobacco shops and wine and beer shops which are open - Day-tripper.net.
Sunday Shopping in Calais
Many shoppers get caught out when visiting Calais for a day trip on a Sunday - most shops are closed. We list those we know are open on Sunday on this page. If you are looking do some grocery shopping, there is not much choice. However Leader Price (closest to Eurotunnel) and Intermarche (closest to the port) are open open until 11.30am. They have a range of food items available.
Previously shops could apply to open on a Sunday six times a year. This generally happened before Christmas and during the sale periods. In 2009 proposals were put forward to allow shops to open on Sundays in certain areas (500 tourist towns, 30 commercial zones, and French cities with populations of more than a million would be affected by any new law). A proposal to allow Sunday opening throughout France failed in 2008.
16th August 2009 - New rules on Sunday opening apply from today. Take up of the new opportunities is expected to be slow though.
23rd July 2009 - "PARIS, France (CNN) -- The French Senate early Thursday narrowly passed a controversial law to allow many more shops across the country to open on Sundays, in what would be a significant cultural shift. The law would permit shops, department stores, and shopping malls to open on Sundays in 20 zones.The vote, which followed two days of debate, was expected to happen Friday. But the Senate put the measure to a vote at 2 a.m. Thursday (8 p.m. ET Wednesday), when it passed 165-159. The law, however, is not a fait accompli. The opposition Socialist party immediately appealed to the Constitutional Council, asking it to make sure the measure is constitutionally sound. A decision from the council is expected in about two weeks.
If the Constitutional Council approved the law, it would mark a significant cultural shift in France, where Sundays have officially been set aside as a day of rest for more than a century. A 1906 law forbids Sunday trading in all but the largest cities."
Sometimes shops open on a Sunday when the sales are on (more about sales in France). Factory shopping centres often have Sunday openings, usually during the sale periods, but sometimes during quiet periods as well.
Sainsbury's Calais is now open on Sundays.
Xmas Shopping - many shops open on Sunday from mid - November
McArthur Glen at Troyes is occassionally open on Sundays - check the web site for the latest info.
Unless you are happy with the more limited selection of groceries at Intermarche we would not recommend a Sunday shopping visit to Calais. Tobacco and Wine and Beer shoppers will find enough to keep them happy though, from the independent shops which are open.
However with some cross channel companies charging more for a Saturday journey a well planned Sunday shopping trip can be just as worthwhile.
Latest news (16th July 2009) - Sunday opening
The French National Assembly adopted a private bill Wednesday (15th July 2009) authorising the opening of stores on a Sunday in areas of commercial interest (Paris, Lille, Marseilles, 500 estimated in all).
It was only adopted by a small majority though, and must now pass the Senate.
In some areas workers will be required to work Sunday's and be paid as if it is a normal day. In other areas they will be entitled to doubled time.
The existing rules that say a Mayor can authorise five Sunday openings a year will remain in other areas. Importantly food shops can now open until 1.00pm.
CREDIT CARDS - we suggest you ring your credit card company before shopping in France - increased fraud means they are turning down shoppers cards if their spending deviates from the norm. Take your mobile - you can often sort the problem out over the phone.
Useful outside links
Shopping timesMonday to Friday - shops are open all day. Many shops close on Monday morning. Some shops still close during the lunch period (generally midday - 2.00pm). Saturday - shops close at 1.00pm. Cite Europe is open until 8.00pm. Sunday - Quiet - check before going that the shop you wish to visit is open. |
Supermarkets open on a Sunday - Intermarché. Sunday 8.30am - 11.30am.
Match Supermarket is open Sundays in the Summer. Wine & Beer Shops open on a SundayLe Bar a Vins, 52, place d'Armes. 10.00am to 3.00pm  - Calais Vins, rue Gutenberg, Zone Curie. 10.00am to 7.00pm.
 - Eastenders. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
 - Euroshop. Open 24 hours.
 - Franglais. 9.30am - 6.00pm.
 - Intercaves. 10.00am - 12.30pm.
 - Le Chais. 9.30am - 6.30pm.
Le Terroir - 9.30am - 1.00pm.  - Nicolas Wines, Cité de l’Europe. Closed 2009.
 - Oddbins. 9.00am - 7.00pm.
 - Perardel - 9.00am - 7.30pm.
 - Pidou Wine and Beer. Open all day.
 - Sainsbury Wine. Sunday 10am to 6.00pm.
 - Wine Beer World. (1) Rue de Judee, ZA Marcel Doret - 7.00am - 10.00pm. (2) Av. Roger Salengro, Route de Boulonge - 8.00am - 8.00pm.
TESCO is closed on Sunday - however they will open in the run up to Xmas. |
- Dunkirk ED Supermarket, rue de Gravelines. Loon Plage. Open: Sunday 9.00am - 1.00pm. |
During the Xmas period many shops are open on Sunday in the run up to Xmas Day. |
Sales in January and July each yearDuring the sale periods in January and July each year, many of the shopping centres are open on some Sundays. Check out the local web site for up to date information. |
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Main Hypermarkets and ShopsAuchan - Carrefour Mi-voix - Carrefour cite - Cite Europe - Sainsbury's - Tesco |
Public HolidaysPublic Holidays see most shops closed. However as in Britain, many of the larger hypermarkets are now opening. More Remember that French time is one hour ahead of British time. Summer time starts on the last Sunday in March at 2.00am, and ends on the last Sunday in October at 3.00am. |
