The old Citadel

The Citadel was built on the foundations of the medieval castle, which had itself been built in 1228 by the Count of Boulogne, Philippe Hurepel, in order to protect Calais against any English attack.
But after the 1346/7 siege, the castle was eventually captured by the English, who then began to reinforce it.
King Louis XIV’s royal engineer and later Marshal Vauban (1633 – 1707), improved on the work carried art by the English, turning the place into a Citadel built in the same style as those of Brest and La Rochelle.
The former castle was razed to the ground in the 19th century.
You may paddle along the Citadel walls in a canoe or sail on the water of the moat in silent, safe and easily steered boats propelled by electric engines.