Citadel of Calais — Attraction in Calais

The citadel at Calais is free to enter and is open during daylight hours. There is a large sports complex inside now and almost nothing remains of the citadel other than the massive walls and moat, the interior building having all been finally destroyed in the German capture of the citadel in 1940.

I visited on a sunny February afternoon in 2025 and there were several joggers running the circuit of the ramparts and families walking around the interior so it was a safe place to visit. I didn’t notice any information boards, other than on the Neptune Gate and the path to it from Esplanade Jacques Vendroux, where there were several detailing the 1940 and 1944 events. Calais Citadel is a big fortress so I’d allow a good 30 mins to walk the walls.

Built after the capture of Calais from the English the citadel was remodelled several times before the current structure. Almost all the interior buildings were destroyed in 1940 by the...

A sports college with very little historical information about the citadel itself, but an interesting and very photogenic...

Fácilmente la ciutadella más fea que he visto y veré en la vida. Básicamente es una pista atletismo. Si tu existencia te ha tratado tan mal como para llegar a Calais en meses de oscuro y frío invierno, hazte el favor, ahórrate el tiempo y date la vuelta. La vida te lo devolverá con tres años de bonanza, prosperidad y buena fortuna. Aún...