About this place
Having survived bombings and several construction projects, Calais’s oldest building now stands on Rue de Croy.
When construction began in the 13th century, Adrien de Wissant had the church built on the site of the current transept. Extensive expansion projects were then undertaken through the 16th century, and it was during the English occupation that the upper sections of the nave, the choir, and the bell tower were built.
Built in the Tudor style, this church drew on its British influences to reach its final form in the 17th century; a chapel and a Baroque altarpiece were added at that time.
A testament to medieval architecture, the Church of Notre-Dame de Calais also features a massive tower supporting the bell tower at the intersection of the transept and the nave.
As you head toward the north side of the nave, you’ll notice a cistern with a capacity of 1,800 m³ that was used to collect rainwater; it was built by Vauban in 1691 to meet the population’s needs in the event of a siege.
It was in this building that General de Gaulle and Yvonne Vendroux were married in 1921.
Nothing could prevent the Allied bombings during World War II, which occurred one week before the city’s liberation; as a result, the bell tower collapsed onto the transept, and the altarpiece sustained severe damage.
Since then, the church has undergone extensive restoration, which will allow visitors to appreciate the full originality of its architecture.