Places to go
Its worth remembering that Calais was an important sea port and town long before the hypermarkets and booze warehouses arrived. There is a lot to see and do in Calais besides shopping.
Buildings
Hotel de Ville - The town hall is a magnificent structure with a huge brick clock tower. The building is home to many paintings and the elaborately decorated interior is a inspiration to many visitors. Outside the town hall, next to the clock tower, is a bronze sculpture created in the 19th century by Rodin as a tribute to 'Les Six Bourgeois de Calais'. The Six Burghers of Calais surrendered to King Edward II at the end of the Hundred Years War with the intent of sacrificing their own lives to save the people of Calais.
Museums
Musee de Beaux Arts et de la Dantelle - Open Wednesday to Monday.
Paintings and sculptures dating back to the 15th Century and examples from the Calais lace industry.
For war museums look in the World War II section
Other attractions
Nausicaa sea centre - Open all year
Only 15 minutes from Calais, head into Boulogne and follow the signs.
An amazing centre with over 10,000 marine animals on display. Features include two shark tanks, underwater tunnel through sea-lions enclosure, and pacific island with coral reef, lagoon and a mangrove swamp.