Harbour

Calais

4.0Calais, France

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Maximum length: 20 m
VHF channel: 17
Maximum draught: 3.5 m

Marina of 418 berths inside the commercial port of Calais, on the Strait of Dover, the closest French harbour to England.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach through a busy TSS with constant ferry traffic to Dover. Mandatory VHF contact with Calais Port Control on channel 17 before entering the fairway. The marina lies in the Bassin Ouest, behind a lock that opens from HW minus 2 to HW plus 1, depending on coefficient. Maximum draught 3.5 m. Strong tidal streams in the approaches, up to 3 knots at springs.

Practical

Harbour office open every day in season. Water and electricity on pontoons, fuel berth with diesel. Showers, laundry, chandlery and boatyard on site. City centre and SNCF station Calais-Ville at 800 m. Supermarkets, restaurants and the Channel Tunnel terminal 4 km east.

Ashore

Place d'Armes and the Tour du Guet of the 13th century at 600 m. Musee des Beaux-Arts with its collection on lace-making at 900 m. The Rodin sculpture of the Burghers of Calais stands in front of the town hall, a UNESCO listed belfry from 1923. Long sand beach west of the port.

History

Calais was held by the English crown from 1347 after the siege by Edward III, until recaptured by the Duc de Guise in 1558. The port was heavily bombed in 1940 and 1944 and rebuilt post-war. It remains the main passenger ferry port between France and the United Kingdom.

Story

Auguste Rodin cast The Burghers of Calais in 1889 to commemorate the six citizens who offered their lives to Edward III in 1347 to spare the town during the Hundred Years' War.