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Calais
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{{about|the town in northern France}} {{redirect|Kales}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox French commune |name = Calais |native name = {{native name|pcd|Calés}}<br>{{native name|vls|Kales}} |commune status = [[Subprefectures in France|Subprefecture]] and [[Communes of France|commune]] |image = {{multiple image |perrow = 1/2/2 |border = infobox |total_width = 300 |image1 = Jielbeaumadier Calais 2008 35.jpeg |caption1 = Calais skyline |image2 = Burghers of calais.jpeg |caption2 = ''Burghers of Calais'' and [[Hôtel de Ville, Calais|Hôtel de Ville]] |image3 = Calais tour du guet.JPG |caption3 = [[Tour du Guet]] |image4 = Église Notre-Dame de Calais 2012 1.jpg |caption4 = [[Église Notre-Dame de Calais|Notre-Dame de Calais]] |image5 = Calais Nord phare.JPG |caption5 = [[Calais Lighthouse]] }} |caption = |image flag = Flag of Calais.svg |image coat of arms = Coat of Arms of Calais.svg |arrondissement = Calais |canton = [[Canton of Calais-1|Calais-1]], [[Canton of Calais-2|2]] and [[Canton of Calais-3|3]] |INSEE = 62193 |postal code = 62100 |mayor = [[Natacha Bouchart]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=6 June 2023|language=fr|access-date=11 December 2020|archive-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628030259/https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|url-status=live}}</ref> |term = 2020–2026 |party = [[The Republicans (France)|LR]] |intercommunality = [[Grand Calais Terres et Mers|CA Grand Calais Terres et Mers]] |coordinates = {{coord|50|56|53|N|01|51|23|E|display=inline,title}} |elevation m = |elevation min m = 0 |elevation max m = 18 |area km2 = 33.5 |population = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}} |population date = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}} |population footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}} |population_demonym = Calaisiens |website = [http://www.mairie-calais.fr City]; [http://www.calais-port.com Port] }} '''Calais''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|k|æ|l|eɪ}} {{respell|KAL|ay}}, {{IPAc-en|US|k|æ|ˈ|l|eɪ}} {{respell|kal|AY}},<ref>{{cite LPD|3}}</ref><ref>{{cite EPD|18}}</ref> <small>traditionally</small> {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|l|ᵻ|s}} {{respell|KAL|iss}}, {{IPA|fr|kalɛ|lang|fr-Calais.ogg}}){{efn|{{langx|pcd|Calés}}; {{langx|vls|Kales}}.}} is a French port city in the [[Pas-de-Calais]] [[Departments of France|department]], of which it is a [[Subprefectures in France|subprefecture]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/commune/62193-calais |title=INSEE commune file |access-date=23 August 2024}}</ref> Calais is the largest city in Pas-de-Calais. The population of the city proper is 67,544; that of the urban area is 144,625 (2020).<ref name="pop2020">[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/1405599?geo=AAV2020-073+COM-62193 Comparateur de territoire: Aire d'attraction des villes 2020 de Calais (073), Commune de Calais (62193)], INSEE</ref> Calais overlooks the [[Strait of Dover]], the narrowest point in the [[English Channel]], which is only {{convert|34|km|mi|abbr=on}} 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. Because of its position, Calais has been a major port and an important centre for transport and trading with England since the [[Middle Ages]]. Calais came under English control after [[Edward III of England]] [[Siege of Calais (1346–1347)|captured the city]] in 1347, followed by a treaty in 1360 that formally assigned [[Pale of Calais|Calais to English rule]]. Calais grew into a thriving centre for wool production, and came to be called the "brightest jewel in the English crown" because of its importance as the gateway for the [[tin]], [[lead]], [[lace]] and wool trades (or "staples"). Calais remained under English control until [[Siege of Calais (1558)|its recapture]] by France in 1558. During [[World War II]], the town was virtually razed to the ground. In May 1940, it was a strategic bombing target of the invading German forces, who took it during the [[Siege of Calais (1940)|siege of Calais]]. The Germans built massive bunkers along the coast, in preparation for launching missiles at England. The old part of the town, Calais-Nord, is on an [[artificial island]] surrounded by canals and harbours. The modern part of the town, St-Pierre, lies to the south and south-east. In the centre of the old town is the Place d'Armes, in which stands the Tour du Guet, or watch-tower, a structure built in the 13th century, which was used as a [[lighthouse]] until 1848 when a new lighthouse was built by the port. South east of the Place is the [[Église Notre-Dame de Calais|church of Notre-Dame]], built during the English occupancy of Calais. Arguably, it is the only church built in the [[Perpendicular Gothic|English perpendicular style]] in all of France. In this church, former French President [[Charles de Gaulle]] married [[Yvonne Vendroux]]. South of the Place and opposite the Parc St Pierre is the [[Hôtel de Ville, Calais|Hôtel-de-ville]] (the town hall), and the [[Belfries of Belgium and France|belfry]] from the early 20th century. Today, Calais is visited by more than 10 million annually. Aside from being a key transport hub, Calais is also a notable fishing port and a centre for fish marketing, and some 3,000 people are still employed in the [[lace]] industry for which the town is also famed.
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