From the owner: Les grands hommes de Calais Récemment restauré, ce bronze, commandé par la ville en 1885 à…read morel'artiste Auguste Rodin, rend hommage au courage des six notables calaisiens qui se dévouèrent pour livrer les clés de la cité assiégée par les Anglais en 1347. Depuis peu, le Musée des Beaux Arts propose des visites autour de cette oeuvre ainsi que de sa restauration.

Reculver Towers is the remains of a 12th century church, which is located on the remains of Roman…read moreand Saxon buildings. The Towers themselves are perched on the top of a large cliff, which has been heavily eroded in the past and is the reason why there are only partial remains of the church left standing. Due to its location on the north coast, the towers lend themselves to some lovely photographs with the sunset to their rear and the sea to one side. There is a large stony beach at the base of the cliffs, which is ideal for dog walking rather than bathing, as the Thames Estuary leaves it somewhat muddy. Also be aware that the tide can come rather far in at certain times of the year, partially cutting off some areas at the base of the cliffs!! There are reputed to be a decent number of fossils to be found along the beach, especially following storms, though me and the dog have never found anything exciting. There is ample parking in the vicinity of the towers, good paths suitable for wheelchairs and buggies along the cliff top. There is also a pub very close by and a small shop/amusements arcade associated with the nearby caravan park. All in all, a nice place for a picnic or for a stroll.

A beautiful area to have a picnic on a sunny day. About 3k walk from Herne Bay. Not easily…read moreaccessible by public transport. Very good toilet facilities though, which is important on a picnic! Worth a visit if you're in the area, as it really is a beautiful spot.

The is one of several impressive sites from World War Two in northern France, connected to the…read moredevelopment and construction of the V2 rocket-bombs by the Nazi regime. The site at Éperlecques was designed and built by the Todt Organisation, initially using voluntary labour, but later using large numbers of forced labour. Essentially, the site consisted of a series of enormous bunkers, intended to include a liquid oxygen plant for the V2 rocket propellant, an assembly plant to load on the explosive warhead, and a firing facility. 35,000 labourers worked at the site between 1943 and 1944. However, the Allies were alerted to its existence before it was completed. A series of bombing raids, using the then newly-developed 'Tallboy' bunker-busting bombs, caused severe damage to the facility (as well as huge loss of life to the construction workers). Thereafter, V2 construction was moved to a new site at La Coupole, and the bunker was used only to manufacture liquid oxygen. The site to-day is surrounded by woods, and the most of the tour takes place out of doors: displays explain the concept of forced labour, the Todt organisation, and the background to the V1 and V2 rockets. But the highlight is the bunker itself. It's a huge construction - over 90,000 tonnes of concrete were used, and the Blockhaus rises over 25m from the ground. It's a sobering thought to think that it is only a third of its planned size. The atmosphere is chilling, almost eerie: much of the lower section is under water, as without pumps the groundwater has flowed back in. The impact of the tallboy bombs is made clear by huge holes in the bunker roof and masses of twisted metal reinforcement. Part of the interior is accessible: a video presentation in the largest chamber inside describes the construction and operation of the facility, and the lives (and deaths) of the labourers. The tour finishes with outdoor displays of a V1 launch pad and other military items. There's no cafe but there is a small shop on site, selling books and momentos. There is specially reserved (level and firm) parking for motorcycles, and motorcyclists get a reduction of 1EUR on the entry fee. The whole site is now a French national memorial, dedicated to the victims of forced labour.

Dark. Concrete. Austere. Concrete. Twisted metal. Concrete. Concrete and more concrete. This is Le…read moreBlockhaus. It's also an immensely interesting place which in one foul swoop shows the strength and the evils of war. Situated in northern France, not far from the equally excellent La Coupole, Le Blockhaus is a war site, left untouched from its abandonment, standing as a monument to all. The bunker of Eperlecques was (and is) the largest WW2 bunker in Northern France. One cannot fail to be amazed at the scale of the construction, largely hidden from view until you're at its feet. There's a real sense of desolation here, despite other tourists walking round and chatting. The evil that was felt at La Coupole was not felt in such quantities here although it's hard to state why. Perhaps that Le Blockhaus was discovered by the Allies before too much evil was allowed to form here. Who knows? Evidence of warfare lies all around. The V1 doodlebug is on display, sitting atop its launch rails. Shells, rails, trains and did I mention the twisted metal and concrete? Le Blockhaus is more of a monument than a traditional museum. There is facility for guided tours but this place stands on its own and speaks far more loudly than any guide could. You'll only need an hour or so to visit here and it makes an ideal companion visit to La Coupole in nearby St Omer. Recommended.

So I visited Cap Gris Nez after being to Cap Blanc Nez and frankly I did find Gris Nez as beautiful…read moreas Blanc Nez. The two things that this outcrop did have that was different from the other Cap was a better and closer view of the white cliffs of Dover and also tons more of the German bunkers put around the coastline by Hitler during World War II. Otherwise it's another pretty charming outcrop along a gorgeous coastline!