Day trip to Calais - what to do whilst there?

Poignard

Poignard

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We are having a day trip to Calais this week with P&O ferries. (Car + 2 people plus 6 bottles of wine plus 2-for-1 meal deal on the ferry - all for £19!)

Anyway, I hope to stock up with that French varnish (Le Tonkinois, it's called) but I don't know Calais. Is there a fair-sized chandlery in the town, or out of town, where I might find it?

Having done that, what else is there to do in Calais in mid-March to while away the hours before and after the main event of the day, i.e. eating a big lunch?

Did the Luftwaffe leave anything worth seeing? I would be quite happy to saunter around the marina criticizing other people's boats but her ladyship likes a bit of culture - art galleries, historic buildings and suchlike.
 
Go to Boulogne! or maybe to the German cross-Channel gun batteries - were those guys armed to the teeth! Were it not for the Battle of Britain heroes we would not have had a chance in 1940
 
Wander up the street to the Town Hall & see Rodin's Burghers

I used to enjoy the list of visiting yachts that didn't pay before leaving, at the capitainerie, but I don't know if it's still there.
 
The only chandlery I have found is at the marina quite well stocked. Eating out get away from the main street and you will find better food and value.
Have a drive up to Gravelines if you have time. Nice bar by the marina.
 
If you need to stock up on wine and beer go on the majestic website-calais and pre-order £300 (at their cheap French prices!) and they will give you £30 to pay for the ferry crossing.
 
Us too!

Did the same trip Friday and took two friends. Great deal...6 bottles of californian red (or white if you prefferred) plus two farmhouse breakfasts for the price of one....all for 19 squid, brilliant.
We went early and took friends to Gravelines as they had not been befor...coffee in "Le Queen Mary" and a mooch round market (Friday only) then along to Auchan in Dunkirk for the "supplies".
SWMBO then suggested a drive to De Panne and then a tram ride to Ostend for a meal. just made it back to Calais for the 21.35 ferry.
Do you think we got our monies worth????
Peegee
 
parsifal said:
We are having a day trip to Calais this week with P&O ferries. (Car + 2 people plus 6 bottles of wine plus 2-for-1 meal deal on the ferry - all for £19!)


WWII - big bunker museum opposite the town hall in the park - very engrossing and poignant.

Culture - town hall and reception rooms - usually free to wander round. Burghers of Calais -Rhodin in the gardens - magnificent.

Shopping in Le Cite - 2 miles, signposted, near the tunnel entrance. All the booze you can carry, Sainsbury and Tesco there too, and Carrefour for cheese to engine oil

Drive round Calais - the Napoleonic fortifications are something to see.

Eating - restaurants opposite the market square close to the marina - 3 in a row - all good.
Steak houses along the main road to be avoided for best results!

Drive on? Gravelines is v nice; stay away from Dunkirk, it's a dump. St Omer is the best thereabouts with genuine French food and atmosphere. Boulogne has its points and the road along the coast is nice; if you go there park near the castle and wander round, take a meal in the shadow of the cathedral.

How much can you pack into one day?

Bonne route!

PWG
Click to expand...
 
Hi,

Following on from previous threads on the subject, if you have an older Volvo engine how about purchasing the correct grade engine oil,as not available in UK,

Rob
 
Thanks for the suggestions - maybe we had better go for a week!

The answer to ChattinLil is that we heard of it from a friend who did the trip. I'm not sure where they learnt of it but it is mentioned here

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-dover-calais-tickets

The bad news is that I think the offer is now closed but this sort of deal is often coming up in newspapers and websites like the one linked to above. Also worth keeping an eye on the ferry operators websites.
 
Or an hour and a half up the coast to Blankenberge in Belgium, just the other side of Ostend. There's half a dozern fabulous fresh fish shops. We bought some Dover Sole there and they skin them for you. Beautiful fish all stunningly presented with each shop trying to out do the next with their displays. Well worth the trip.
 
Went for a meal in a popular part of town - in the main street, car parked just round the corner, rear door window smashed - they didn't get anything, but didn't look hard enough - probably would-be assylum seekers.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. We visted Gravelines, had a walk and saw the impressive fortifications there, returned to Calais and had an excellent lunch. A good day out and still plenty of other things left to do when next winter's special deals are on offer again.
 
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