When people think of Calais Côte d’Opale, they typically think of endless beaches with fine sand, but this region also has an exceptional history. The English occupation lasting from 1347 to 1558, the lace industry, which enabled Calais to experience great transformations in the 19^th century, the exploit of Louis Blériot, the first man to cross the English Channel by aeroplane, the destruction of a large part of Calais during the Second World War: the history of this area is sometimes turbulent but always fascinating.