Cyclists' Corner
With its flat land and a few not so insignificant hills (*), wind blowing head on or at your back, the region around Calais is a playground suited to cyclists.
Several itineraries 30 - 42km (18.5 - 46 miles)
Calais Côte d'Opale Tourist Office also recommends that you visit the Calais Cyclotourism Club's webpage details several routes starting from Calais. Feel free to contact them for advice or to join one of their organised tours when travelling with your bike in Calaisis - you will be very welcome!
Alain Lenain is a inhabitant of Pas de Calais area who loves riding with his bicycle. We propose you to discover his "Great war Remembrance cycle trail", a suggestion of 240 miles round trip on the path of the major sites of the Western Front. From Calais, let's take a ride towards Saint Omer, Vimy Ridge, Arras, The Ring of Remembrance in Notre Dame de Lorette, Etaples and to head back to Calais via Cap blanc nez Cliff and its Dover Patrol Memorial
Local cycling clubs also organise outings: "Les Bourgeois de Calais" (the Burghers of Calais), "Brevet circuit des monts et marais d’Opale" (circuit of the heights and marshes of the Opal), "La ronde verte" (the green circle), which are another way to discover the landscape and distinctive features of the Opal Coast.
(*) within 40km (25 miles) of Calais: Cap blanc nez (134m / 440 ft), Ventus d’Alembon (181m / 594 ft), Val d’Yeuse (171m / 561 ft), Mont de Fiennes (140m / 459 ft), vigneau de Licques (169m / 554 ft), Mont Saint Louis (112m / 367 ft)
Cycling Over Borders
The "pioneer" trail
The North Sea Trail (La route de la Mer du Nord / Noordzeeroute) links the Opal Coast and the Netherlands. This itinerary, which is also called LF1, is the first trans-border bike trail in Europe, and is waymarked in both directions. It was opened in 1989 and passes south of Calaisis.
Future trails
Calaisis is involved in EuroVelo, a project aiming to develop and promote 12 touristic bike trails over Europe.
EV 4 Roscoff-Kiev and EV 5 Londres – Brindisi will cross in Calaisis.
Offroaders' Corner
In a largely urban area, such as the Calais metropolitan area, there are no waymarked off-road bike trails. But during your stay here you will not have far to go to find bumps, paths through woods or fields and more. Calais is at the edge of the Caps et Maraîs d’Opale Park which has several trails.
As for road cycling, local clubs organise trail events ("Roc Opale", "Calquella", "Défi vert des polders") which attract hundreds of enthusiasts every year!
Do you need repairs, advice or to buy something for your bike?
- Brame Sports (+33 (0)3 21 34 55 48) has specialised in bicycles in Calais since 1934.
- Opale Vélo Services (+33 (0)3 21 00 07 41) offers several services including bike hire and repairs.
Horse Riders' Corner
Riders will find lots of space on Calaisis' wide expanses of sand! The area's equestrian centres are situated to the east of Calais, never far from the sand.
Centre équestre de Calais / 390 route de Gravelines / Calais
+33 (0)3 21 19 29 38
Haras des Claines - Poney Club des Hemmes / 220 Avenue de la Mer / Marck
+33 (0)3 21 36 87 22
Poney Club "Jules Vernes" / 133 rue Jules Verne / Marck
+33 (0)3 21 82 90 13 and +33 (0)6 77 66 05 82
Ferme équestre de la Haute Maison / 460 Avenue de l'Aéroport / Marck
+33 (0)3 21 82 46 58