Old Moaner Travel
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list
Pas de Calais
Calais is where most Brits first set foot on French soil, with the town being the closest to the UK.
Most visitors tend not to stop in the town and head elsewhere and, frankly, who can blame them. Calais is a depressing town, full of refugees, with few redeeming features.
The same can be said of the other main port, Dunkirk.
Coquelles, just outside Calais is the French terminus or Eurotunnel. Coquelles is a small village and the main attraction (for passing tourists) is the Cité Europe shopping centre.
The "flagship" store at the centre which attracts gullible tourists by the thousands is the Carrefour Hypermarket.
I say gullible tourists because the shop will rip you off. It ply's its trade on the basis of convenience, however many of their prices are inflated.
A short 2km / 5 minute drive away is the Auchan hypermarket - almost the same size at Carrefour but with most prices 25-33% less than Carrefour ..... you have been warned.
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Boulougne used to be a thriving cross-channel port but now, no longer, has a service which is a shame as it is a much more likable town than Calais or Dunkirk. It has a pretty harbour surrounded by cafés and restaurants. The town is home to the largest aquarium in Europe and there are plenty of Napoleonic sites.
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Saint Omer is as delightful market town with a Gothic Cathedral. It is a river port and the port area is lined with cafés and restaurants
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Montreuil-sur-Mer is a beautiful coastal town, surrounded by 3km of ramparts. Known as the town of flowers it is a floral delight and there are plenty of narrow streets to explore.
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