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Fortification

The Fort des Dunes in Leffrinckoucke

Leffrinckoucke, Opal Coast

About this place

Following the War of 1870, the Fort des Dunes de Leffrinckoucke was built between 1878 and 1880 to protect the port of Dunkirk. Designed in the Séré des Rivières style, it is the only inland fort on the coast and covers 50,000 square meters, an impressive site steeped in history.

This site was the scene of Operation Dynamo during the Battle of Dunkirk in 1940, a true tragedy in which many French, Belgian, and British soldiers perished as a result of the German bombardments on June 2 and 3. Four years later, eight members of the Resistance were killed there and are buried in the cemetery at the foot of the fort.

Its German occupation left its mark; for example, the powder magazine was converted into a performance hall.

There’s much to learn about this fort through guided tours lasting about 1 hour and 30 minutes, an audio-guided tour of the entire outdoor site, or temporary exhibitions inside the fort. An animated model will also help you better understand Operation Dynamo.

A must-see destination that serves as a true memorial site.

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Fortification

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Fortification

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Fortification

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Fortification

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Fortification

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Located on the coast, Fort Risban is one of the last coastal forts on French territory. Designated a historic monument in 1990, this fort was long a strategic stronghold for the city and has undergone numerous modifications since its construction during the Hundred Years’ War. In 1346, upon the arrival of the English in the Calais region, King Edward III decided to build a heavily armed wooden tower on top of Calais’s existing fortifications. The sole purpose of this was to prevent any supplies from entering from outside and thus to besiege the city through starvation. Having taken control of the city, the English replaced the wooden tower with a tall stone tower equipped with cannons, the Lancaster Tower. Situated on a sand spit, the fort was gradually separated from the dunes by ocean currents, eventually becoming entirely surrounded by the sea. After 1450, the Lancaster Tower took the name Risban and was enclosed by a polygonal wall that also included two other towers. In 1558, Risban returned to French control, and the governor of Calais decided to lower the height of the Lancaster Tower, which at the time posed a threat to the city. Two bastions were added, and in 1622, the fort served as the starting point for the construction of a seawall extending to Sangatte. In 1799, a gunpowder depot exploded, causing significant damage, but this did not prevent the fort from serving as the port’s main defense in the 1850s. During World War II, it sheltered many residents of Calais fleeing the bombings. Beginning in 1950, the fort’s ruins were opened to boaters; today, it serves as the headquarters of the Calais Yacht Club.

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