A port town on the North Sea, Calais is also the French city closest to England. Its ideal geographical position and exceptional infrastructure, such as the new port, the Channel Tunnel and the rail and motorway network, naturally make Calais the focal point for passenger and freight traffic between the UK and Western Europe. A highly sought-after destination, the town is stepping up initiatives to boost its appeal and consolidate its status as a seaside resort. Calais can draw on a wealth of assets (beautiful landscapes, unspoilt natural areas, fine sandy beaches and historical heritage), as well as ambitious structural projects.
The complete renovation of the Calais seafront, marked by the launch of Calais LA Plage and the arrival of the Dragon de Calais, is part of a tourism development strategy aimed at making Calais an ever more attractive town. The considerable transformation of the Calais seafront marks a real turning point. Calais is now a benchmark seaside resort, with top-quality facilities adapted to the new consumer expectations of tourists.
The new seafront now offers a long, pedestrian walkway. Wooden decking runs the length of the beach, inviting visitors to stroll and contemplate, linking the various facilities together around 4 ways of experiencing the seafront: Move, Contemplate, Play, Discover.
The area has built up a reputation for street entertainment, "out of the ordinary" events and a packed programme of activities. Today, this reputation is perfectly illustrated by the annual street-art festival, the much-anticipated urban exhibitions and, of course, the arrival of the Dragon de Calais, a monumental machine, an artistic object for wandering and performing in the heart of the urban space, a new driver of cultural and tourist attraction.
The Calais Dragon is a colossal construction of steel and sculpted wood designed by François Delaroziere. It can be admired in all weathers in its nave, or while travelling along the Calais seafront. It's on board that the experience takes on its full dimension, with a breathtaking view of Calais, the beach and the Opal Coast. The dragon awakens, and a unique 45-minute journey begins, to the rhythm of this exceptional animal.
The region's development is also based on its cultural and heritage heritage, inherited from the past. Today, the area's cultural offer is structured around major facilities (Cité de la Dentelle with its top-quality exhibitions, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Scène Nationale, Grand Théâtre and concert/show halls, Conservatoire de Musique et de Danse, Ecole d'Arts, Médiathèques, etc.) focusing on teaching and artistic creation, live performances, events, public reading and heritage enhancement.
A number of world-famous landmarks, such as the belfry of Calais Town Hall and the Six Bourgeois, play a key role in enhancing the area's image, and helped Calais to be listed as a Town of Art and History.
