The population of the city proper is 67,; that of the urban area is , The White Cliffs of Dover can easily be seen on a clear day from Calais. Calais is a major port for ferries between France and England, and since , the Channel Tunnel has linked nearby Coquelles to Folkestone by rail.
Because of its position, Calais has been a major port and an important centre for transport and trading with England since the Middle Ages. Calais came under English control after Edward III of England captured the city in , followed by a treaty in that formally assigned Calais to English rule. Calais grew into a thriving centre for wool production, and came to be called the "brightest jewel in the English crown" because of its importance as the gateway for the tin , lead , lace and wool trades or "staples".
Calais remained under English control until its recapture by France in During World War II , the town was virtually razed to the ground: in May , it was a strategic bombing target of the invading German forces who took it during the siege of Calais. The Germans built massive bunkers along the coast in preparation for launching missiles at England.
The old part of the town, Calais-Nord, is on an artificial island surrounded by canals and harbours. The modern part of the town, St-Pierre, lies to the south and south-east. In the centre of the old town is the Place d'Armes, in which stands the Tour du Guet, or watch-tower, a structure built in the 13th century, which was used as a lighthouse until when a new lighthouse was built by the port.
Arguably, it is the only church built in the English perpendicular style in all of France. Today, Calais is visited by more than 10 million annually.
