Calais

Calais (/ˈkæleɪ/ CAL-ay, traditionally /ˈkælᵻs/; French pronunciation: ​[kaˈlɛ]; Picard: Calés; Dutch: Kales) is a town and major ferry port in northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's prefecture is its third-largest city of Arras. The population of the metropolitan area at the 2010 census was 126,395. Calais overlooks the Strait of Dover, the narrowest point in the English Channel, which is only 34 km (21 mi) wide here, and is the closest French town to England. The White Cliffs of Dover can easily be seen on a clear day from Calais. Calais is a major port for ferries between France and England, and since 1994, the Channel Tunnel has linked nearby Coquelles to Folkestone by rail.

Due to its position, Calais since the Middle Ages has been a major port and a very important centre for transport and trading with England. It was annexed by Edward III of England in 1347 and grew into a thriving centre for wool production. Calais was a territorial possession of England until its capture by France in 1558. The town came to be called the "brightest jewel in the English crown" owing to its great importance as the gateway for the tin, lead, lace and wool trades (or "staples"). In 1805 it was a staging area for Napoleon's troops for several months during his planned invasion of the United Kingdom. The town was virtually razed to the ground during World War II, when in May 1940, it was a strategic bombing target of the invading German forces who took the town during the Siege of Calais. During World War II, the Germans built massive bunkers along the coast in preparation for launching missiles on England.

Calais (disambiguation)

Calais is a city in France. The name can also refer to:

Carilef

Carilef (French Calais, Latin Calevisus; died 541) was a hermit who founded the monastery of Aniole. The town of Saint-Calais takes its name from him. According to his ancient biography, the Vita Carileffi, King Childebert I granted him lands after encountering the hermit in a forest where the king was hunting.Laumer was his successor and Siviard, another successor, wrote the Vita.

In the Roman Catholic Church, his feast is celebrated on 1 July.

Notes

External links