Hi
We%26#39;re going on a day trip to Calais on Saturday to buy some wine but probably won%26#39;t spend much time shopping and we%26#39;re looking for somewhere nice to drive to and perhaps have lunch.
My husband thinks that he once went to a pretty medieval type village not far from Calais but can%26#39;t remember what it was called.
Does anyone know of somewhere like this close to Calais or any other recommendations.
Many thanks.
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The town of Ardres is a short drive from the coast . It has a wide choice of restaurants and has been a favourite with our family for many years. Guines is also interesting and a circuit linking these two towns would make a pleasant drive.
theotherside.co.uk/tm-heritage/towns/ardres-…
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The town to which your husband refers is without doubt Bergues, head to Dunkirk A26 and the A25 towards Lille and it%26#39;s the first junction.
If you%26#39;ve time the pretty way Vieille-Eglise, St Folquin %26amp; Bourbourg on the D2. This route takes you along the canals of the area.
Or try the D940 this is the coastal route between Calais and Boulogne and runs through little fishing villages along the cliffs and beaches.
Alan
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Hi,
Thank you both very much for the helpful advice and the quick response.
From reading this forum it seems that Le Channel and La Sole Meuniere are good restaurants.
If possible could Alan (bengodog) let me know if these are far from the Eurotunnel as we might go for lunch before setting off on our drive. Is it easy to drive to them and get parking.
We will leave buying our wine until the evening.
Many thanks again
Regards
Siobhan
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The village you may be thinking of could be Montreuil about an hours drive from Calais see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreuil-sur-Mer for detils. Setting for part of Victor Hugo%26#39;s novel Les Misérables.
The restaurants are a short drive away with plenty of parking in Calais.
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Le Channel %26amp; Le Sole Meuniere are next door neighbours on Blvd de la Résistance, these are both excellent restaurants located about a 5-10 minute drive from the tunnel. Don%26#39;t know if you know Calais but they are close to the Holiday Inn and not far from the lighthouse or Place d%26#39;Armes.
Parking isn’t a problem at these locations if you cannot park on Blvd de la Résistance I will be surprised but plenty in and around the area.
Another favourite is the Aquar%26#39;Aile 255 rue Jean-Moulin this is on the top floor of a residential block of flats on the sea front with fantastic views of the channel, port and the White Cliffs, same quality as the 2 you already mentioned.
I’ve sent you directions direct to these direct to you
Regards
Alan
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Thanks to everyone who answered my wife%26#39;s question. Just for the record it turns out that the place I was actually thinking of was Cassel but based on the recommendations here I%26#39;%26#39;ll probably drive a loop round:
Calais-%26gt;Dunkerque-%26gt;Bergues-%26gt;Cassel-%26gt;Saint-Omer-%26gt;Ardres-%26gt;Calais
(probably won%26#39;t visit Montreuil-sur-Mer this time as it%26#39;s a bit further out)
This%26#39;ll be a good test of the European maps in my Tom-Tom!
Cliff (husband of SiobhanL)
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I am going to do something I never thought I would do and that is to recommend a restaurant in Calais other than the Chanel. We have dined there for more years than I care to mention but since their recent refurbishment we have been sadly disappointed. The prices have gone up and the menu has stayed the same. If you have never been before then fine - be prepared for a room full of Brits, many of whom are on personal name terms with the family who, by the way, are charming.
We now have lunch at a restaurant not far from the Chanel, next to where the fishing boats come in. Since last year there has been a change of hands and we have found the chef to be inspirational. It%26#39;s much smaller than the Chanel so perhaps in the summer it%26#39;s advisable to get there early for lunch. The prices are much lower and therefore offer better value. Although there are a few occasional Brits it%26#39;s mainly frequented by locals.
www.legrandbleu-calais.com/intro.php?id=437
So pleased you%26#39;re including Ardres in your trip. If you still have space for more wine when you get there we can recommend a good wine shop, run by a Brit:
.http://www.boursot.co.uk/
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Didn%26#39;t think of Cassel as Burgues came to mind straight away, did you know the hill at Cassel is the hill of the Grand Old Duke of York marched them up to the top and down again etc etc
Agree with Grand Bleu restaurant in Calais too, but cannot see what everybody raves about Ardres for? I%26#39;ve lived here 17 years and cannot say I would go out of my way to see it. Nice lake but that%26#39;s about it.
Have a nice day
And Ardres lovers - enlighten me!
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For someone who is coming on a day trip from the UK Ardres is the first %26quot;traditional%26quot; French town you reach after leaving the coast. It has local life unlike some others which seem like ghost towns - where is everybody? There are good restaurants, bars to sit outside and enjoy a drink and watch the world go by without noisy traffic. The locals are friendly and seem genuinely pleased to see you and offer a choice of shops that contrast with the hypermarkets. The architecture is pleasing and not just rows of modern housing without character. Unlike Calais it is a relaxing place to visit with safe and easy parking and an ideal final stop before heading home.
Yes I accept there are far more interesting places to visit further afield but Ardres is an easy drive and gives Brits a flavour of French life that is so different from the other side of the channel. If they enjoy Ardres it may entice them to venture further next time - St. Omer, Arras or Montreuil-sur-mer - who knows......
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Hi All
Thanks again for all your help especially the info. about the Grand Old Duke and the other restaurant choices.
Looking forward to tomorrow.
Regards
Siobhan
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