The Fortifications
A large number of towns located in northern France have been fortified. Firstly, in order to protect themselves against any attacks, secondly to slow the progression of invaders to Paris. Calais, first Port of access for England, long seen as an hereditary enemy, used to be till the early XIXth Century as a true stronghold.
As mentioned by the Marquis of Vauban in his Memoirs, Calais was an ideal town to be defended because on all sides were present some natural elements that came to strengthen the fortifications : the sea in the North, wetlands on the South, sand dunes in the East, and canals in the whole territory.
Although the medieval ramparts of Calais and its castle have disappeared, some core elements of this historical and architectural heritage are still present. The town mainly possess three forts : the citadel where was the medieval castle, the Risban Fort that mainly defended the harbor from incursions, and lastly the Nieulay Fort through which passage for a long time was compulsory to reach Calais.
Furthermore, in addition to the Risban Fort, Calais used to have five smaller batteries or maritime forts that completed the fortifications built to defend the harbor and the bay of Calais: the red and green forts, and the Estram’s and the Rabbit forts that will be presented in a page about the disappeared fortifications…
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PHOTO : on this drawing of 1597, we can distinguish :
- In the North, in the front of the sea and on the dune end, the Lancaster Tower that preceded the construction of the Risban fort
- In the West, the Citadel before the changes made by Vauban, but after the destruction of the castle that was ordered when the town was retook from the English
