Day
trips from the UK to France have been popular for a long time. Throughout my
childhood my parents would regularly bundle my brother and I into the car to
head over to France to fill the car with booze...er, introduce us to France’s
wonderful culture and food, ahem. Read on for some great spots to visit on your
next daytrip.
Getting
there
There
are several ways to get to France for the day. You can zoom under the Channel
using the Channel Tunnel or take a cross-Channel ferry such as DFDS Seaways Ferries.
It is possible to take your car on either and I would really strongly suggest
this because it gives you the freedom and opportunity to explore more.
Obviously if you are going to stock the larder then you will need the car to
transport your purchases too.
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| Yummy French cheese! |
Calais
The
nearest town when you hit France is Calais and the population is well-practiced
at helping non-French-speaking tourists. Along with the large supermarkets and
booze shops Calais has a charming town centre, leading from a large square to
the train station, featuring lots of independent shops such as bakeries,
patisseries and haberdasheries. There is a cast of a magnificent Rodin
sculpture outside the Town Hall, depicting the Burghers of Calais, and an
impressive war museum housed in an underground bunker. The clock tower in the
Place d’Armes is protected by UNESCO. With its old architecture, some of which
pre-dates the Second World War, Calais has a lot of character. Combined with a
plethora of bars and cafes you could find yourself in a far worse situation
than only getting as far as Calais.
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| Rodin's Burghers of Calais statue in front of the Town Hall, Calais, France. |
Boulogne
Only
30 minutes drive south of Calais, Boulogne is a medieval port. The old town is
the only part of the town to have escaped major damage during the bombing of
World War Two. The castle on the hill is now a museum and home to a rich
collection of artefacts and the cathedral contains some of English King Henry
VIII’s canon balls. Thirteenth century city ramparts provide an atmospheric
backdrop as you explore the many shops and other opportunities the town offers.
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| Boulogne Cathedral dome, France. |
Le
Touqet
A
gorgeous expanse of golden sand awaits visitors to Le Touqet that lies just
across the Etapes Inlet. The beach is a real highlight and has features to keep
everyone happy. International fairs visit regularly and all the usual amenities
are available by the beach, such as changing facilities and an ice cream van.
Facilities around the beach accommodate children especially well with fenced
off play areas, tricycles for hire and that French favourite, the carousel. The
town itself is built back from the beach and boasts lots of interesting shops,
cafes and restaurants. There are also some great eats.
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| Le Touqet Beach, France. |
Montreuil
sur Mer
Deceptively-named
Montreuil sur Mer is a small inland hilltop village. A receding tide has left
it inappropriately named. The village itself is charming in its design with
picturesque views around every corner and, on a clear day, some marvellous
views. The town celebrates being the inspiration for Victor Hugo’s famous story
Les Miserables and puts on an open-air performance each summer. If you fancy
venturing a bit further afield and experiencing a genuine French town that many
don’t get to, Montreuil sur Mer should satisfy you.
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| People-watching in the cafe on the main square of Montreuil sur Mer, France. |
Dunkirk
Situated
almost as far north as possible within France, Dunkirk is about10 kilometres from
the Belgian border and full of history. Dunkirk has seen many battles, with the most famous
military presence being the Allied Landings in 1940. Having been bombed heavily
towards the end of World War Two, the Dunkirk of today has a very modern
atmosphere. There is a museum dedicated to the port and an art gallery
containing a large collection of paintings and sculptures.
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| Dunkirk Beach and Harbour Wall, France. |
Have
you visited France on a daytrip from the UK? If you have any suggestions,
please share them in the comments below.
Photo credits: openroads, garybembridge, Clive Jedi Roach, yannboix
