The English occupied Calais for over 200 years but that was a while ago, now they just pop over to pick up some attractively priced alcohol or cigarettes or pass through to sunnier climes. Maybe a day trip to Bruges or a few days in Amsterdam and the Dutch bulb fields. It seems that way back in the 1340’s the English merchants complained to the King that the old port was a ‘den of pirates’ who constantly raided their ships. After a year long siege Edward III’s men captured the town and drove out all the French. A nice touch, just to prove that chivalry wasn’t entirely dead, 6 leading townsmen offered their lives to Ted III in exchange for the freedom of the people of the town. Ted’s missus, the Queen, asked that the King spare these brave men. Ted agreed and citizens of Calais were allowed to leave without further bloodshed. You can see Rodin’s statue of the 6 Burghers outside the town hall. For just over 200 years it was populated with English merchants, townsfolk, sailors and a defending army. It was a very handy staging post for brief forays into France. It’s different now, the French only allow illegal immigrants to accumulate in the area around Calais prior their attempting to enter England unlawfully. Explore Calais when you have time, it’s just across the water | 
