Medieval War Torn North-West France : Battle of Dunkirk

The quaint, quiet town of Dunkirk.

Dunkerque and Calais were particularly important beaches in World War 2. Dunkerque was the site of Operation Dynamo in which 338 000 British and French soldiers were evacuated in early June 1940 as the Germans bore down on Flanders, displacing them from the rest of their rank and file.

Ships of all sizes made the daring trip across the channel time and time again braving Luftwaffe strikes in what is known as the Miracle of Dunkirk (the English spelling).

Swimming in the Channel where the Miracle of Dunkirk happened.

Military memorial to those that died in WW1 and WW2.

Both towns have various memorials commemorating the dead of WW1 and WW2, indeed almost all French towns do as well as military cemeteries.

Originally founded by Saint Eloi in the 7th century the Church of St. Eloi burned down in the 1500s and this edifice, built in the 18th century in a Neo-Gothic style, holds the tomb of Dunkirk’s most famous son, Jean Bart. He was a great soldier and sailor in the 1600s and is credited with saving his country from starvation by capturing Russian ships laden with wheat.

St. Eloi Church.

The French towns in this rural area are largely agriculturally orientated and are almost all Medieval in appearance. Calais has a watchtower built in the 13th century – the only remaining aspect of medieval Calais.

13th century watch tower in Calais.

South-east of Calais, the town of Boulogne (used by the Roman Emperor Claudius as his base for Roman invasions of England) has a 53 meter high monument to Napoleon called the Colonne de la Grande Armee. The other popular land mark of this town is the Basillica Notre Dam de Boulogne.

Basillica Notre Dam de Boulogne

Colonne de la Grande Armee.

St. Omer lies inland south of Dunkirk and Calais, and dates from about the 7th century. The Cathedral was built between the 13-14th centuries. The hauntingly beautiful ruins of the Benedictine St. Bertin Abbey, built in the 14th century, are also a great tourist attraction in this town.

St. Omer Cathedral

Ruins of the St. Bertin Abbey (14th century).

Looking across the Channel at Cap Gris Nez.

Between Calais and Boulogne is Cap Gris Nez with its 70 meter high lighthouse (visible from 30 miles away) and radar and German bunkers.

Radar outpost at Cap Gris Nez.

The south coast of England is visible on clear days from here and has been a watch-point for centuries of war-fare across the channel.

German bunkers built into the cliffs.