I’ve long had Calais on my list as a French short break destination. The port city is a place many visitors simply pass through, but there’s actually a lot to discover here. One thing in particular caught my attention: The Calais Dragon.
I love all things fairytale and fanciful, so when I found out Calais was home to a fire-breathing dragon I knew I had to go and see it meet him for myself. Calais turned out to be wonderful, and the dragon did not disappoint.
What I discovered was a fun and lively seafront, a spectacular dragon and a welcoming city that offers a fun short break in Northern France.
Why A Dragon in Calais?
So. Why a dragon and why in Calais? The answer to that seems to depend on who you ask, but here’s the version I like best.
The story goes that when developing the Port of Calais, work men unknowingly disturbed a standing stone that was actually a portal to another world, one that lies between the land and the sea. A curious dragon ventured out to explore and found his way to Calais where he took a walk along the beach. Side note: He found a good spot, Calais beach is absolutely lovely.
The people of Calais found his gigantic dragon prints in the sand and tracked him down, but rather than being afraid, welcomed the dragon warmly. So much so, that he decided to stay. Following an official decree, the dragon made the city by the sea his home, officially becoming the Calais Dragon.
That’s probably one of the best explanations I’ve heard for why there’s a giant fire-breathing dragon wandering about on a French sea front. Given that you’ll also find dragons on the weather vane and walls at the City Hall, I’m sure there’s also other explanations…but this is the version of events I like best!
The Calais Dragon
The Calais Dragon is the creation of François Delarozière, Artistic Director of La Machine, a company that combines art and mechanics to create giant performing machines that are often mythical creatures.
Made from carved wood and steel, this enormous dragon stands 12 meters high and stretches an impressive 25 meters from nose to tail. He also has a pair of thick canvas wings which, when fully extended, span about 17 meters.
But, this is not a dragon to be scared of. He’s a playful, mischievous sort, who loves putting on a show, playing to the crowds and generally being the star of the show on Calais’s seafront. As he makes his way about, you’ll see him breathing fire, flapping his wings and spraying onlookers with steam and smoke. You never really know what he’s going to do next.
If watching the Calais Dragon whets your appetite for a dragon adventure, you can actually climb aboard for a dragon ride. Climb up his tail to reach the covered platform up on his back and then settle in for a 45 minute journey, dragon style.
A truly unique sight seeing tour with spectacular views the coast and one of the most fun things to do in Calais.
Cité du Dragon: Home of the Calais Dragon
Every dragon needs a place to call home, and in Calais, they built him a lair right by the sea. Cité du Dragon– Dragon City-is where you’ll find the dragon between tours.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stop for a drink or bite to eat near the Dragon, you won’t need to go far. Flamme sits right inside the Cité du Dragon, with a terrace overlooking the sea, making it the perfect place to add to any Calais Dragon plans.
The thing I really enjoyed about Flamme was the dedicated Elixirs du Dragon menu, with a range of drinks inspired by the fantastical world of the Calais Dragon.
I couldn’t resist trying the Ouef de Dragon or Dragon’s Egg cocktail. It was delicious and served in such a fun way. And, frankly, since I’d travelled to France to hang outwith a 12-meter-high fire-breathing dragon, I figured I might as well go all in.
The restaurant itself serves a range of meals all day and plays into the Cité du Dragon location without feeling overly themed. The big windows and sea-front setting mean you can enjoy views out to see and along the promenade, as well as having a front row seat when the Calais Dragon himself makes his way past
Ready to Meet The Calais Dragon?
You’ll find the Cité du Dragon at the end of the promenade on Avenue Winston Churchill. This is where the dragon lives when he’s not out exploring so it’s a great spot to see him between tours. You’ll find a gift shop here too, alongside with Flamme.
There are several tours a day in the summer, following a few different short routes along the seafront. Tours last around 45 minutes with commentary in both English and French, so you’ll get plenty of dragon facts and a bit of background on how this magnificent creature actually works.
The Calais Dragon operates throughout the year, with a reduced timetable in low season. You can check dates and book tickets here.
I definitely recommend booking tickets in advance, particularly if visiting in the school holidays. This is one of the most popular things to do in Calais and it gets busy! Tickets for the dragon tours currently cost €9.50.
If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy reading about my travels in another French port city:
Exploring Le Havre: The French City I was Wrong About!
Or sticking with the mythical theme, how about going on the trail of some giants in Northern Ireland?
Discover Northern Ireland’s Amazing Sperrin Giants
Helen x
On our regular trips to France, Boulogne was always our port of choice when that was a possibility. And we made sure to get to know it. We haven’t offered Calais the same courtesy. More fool us! Thanks for putting us right!
Glad you enjoyed a look at Calais. It’s another place I’ve often passed through but never taken the time to explore. Glad I put that right!
Never met the dragon but maybe I should?
Absolutely! He’s the star of the show. Great fun.