The department of Pas-de-Calais in the north of France is where most British visitors will first set foot in the country. Not only is it home to Calais, the main ferry port, but it also the arrival point of the Channel Tunnel. There are plenty of beautiful and historic towns in the area that are worth visiting while you are passing through while there is also enough of interest for those who prefer to explore the great outdoors.
The other ferry port in the Pas-de-Calais area is Boulogne, which is also a pretty and historic town, once you have driven away from the industrial port area. The old town, on the upper cliffs, is protected by medieval ramparts and is home to old churches and historic architecture. The lower town, by the sea, is not only home to the ferry port, but also the traditional fishing village, which is still used by French fishermen. Families shouldn't miss the Nausicaa centre, a large aquarium that will give kids the chance to meet some strange underwater creatures face-to-face. You can also learn about marine conservation on the French coast and see what it's like to work on one of the fishing trawlers that are moored in the harbour outside. The Opal Coast stretches from Berck-Sur-Mer to Calais, featuring over 100 kilometres of fairly wild and unspoilt beaches. You may not be guaranteed the sunshine of the Cote d'Azur, but the dunes are great to explore on foot and if you are looking for some sophistication, then you can always visit the 1920s resort of Le Touquet, which is still popular with visiting Parisians today.
The Pas-de-Calais region was the site of many battles and wartime incidents in both the First and Second World Wars, and the area is still home to a number of memorials and museums dedicated to this time period. There is a large military cemetery at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette and a memorial specifically dedicated to Canadian troops who gave their lives at Vimy. The 22 metre high Eperlecques bunker, which was used to launch rockets during the Second World War, can still be visited and today is a memorial to peace. If you want to learn more about this area during the two conflicts, there are a number of museums in the region, including at the Coupole d'Helfaut-Wizernes; this too was a rocket base during the Second World War, but has now been turned into a large museum telling the story of local towns and local people in the early part of the twentieth century.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Pas-de-Calais? Then below is a selection of gites in Pas-de-Calais and villas in Pas-de-Calais that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
