Innovative exhibits trace the history of lacemaking – the industry that once made Calais a textile powerhouse – from hand knotting (some stunning samples are on display) through the Industrial Revolution. The highlight is watching a century-old mechanical loom with 3500 vertical threads and 11,000 horizontal threads bang, clatter and clunk according to instructions provided by perforated Jacquard cards. Signs are in English and French.
Cité Internationale de la Dentelle et de la Mode
Calais
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
26.56 MILES
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Nearby Calais attractions
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Inaugurated in 1925, Calais' Hôtel de Ville (city hall) melds Flemish and Renaissance styles, as does its 78m-high, Unesco-listed beffroi (belfry) topped…
0.34 MILES
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This broad, gently sloping sandy beach stretching for 8km is safe for swimming and gets packed in summer.
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7. Brasserie Artisanale des 2 Caps
11.21 MILES
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