The crossing of the Channel sea is swifter today than at Sigeric’s time. Boarding in Dover and landing in Calais, we quickly see the gorgeous belfry classified by the UNESCO and various other monuments. Don’t hesitate to visit the city, its museum of and fashion, and climb the belfry to discover terrific views over the coastline.
The official starting point of the Via Francigena on the continental ground is located in front of Our Lady Cathedral, architectonic jewel of perpendicular English style and Tudor style gardens. The symbol of the pilgrim lays against the building. To validate your step locally by making stamp it, you can go the Fine Arts museum, to the tourist office or to the entrance for the city hall belfry, if the church is closed. A blessing of the pilgrims is possible in Our Lady Church on demand just before Sunday evening mass: 6.30 pm in July and August, 6 pm in other months.

To keep on travelling the Via Francigena, head for the beach. You will discover the lighthouse, the fort Risban and the memorial to the submarine Pluviôse, vous découvrirez le phare, le fort Risban et le mémorial du sous-marin Pluviôse. Walk along the soft sandy beach whose colours throughout the seasons give the coast its deserved name “Opale Coast”. You will get to Blériot Plage passing through the beach. At the end of your marine trek, you get to Wissant, passing through Sangatte.  On a clear day, England can be seen from the monument to the “Dover Patrol” on top of the cape Blanc-Nez.

This step is 20,400 km long. Follow the red and white striped signs of the route GR 145. The website is under construction, you can find more information about the route on the official website of the county’s branch of the French Federation of Hiking, region Hauts-de-France.

To stamp your pilgrim’s passport with the official mark, in Calais:

• Our Lady Church, in opening hours.
• Fine Arts museum, 25 rue richelieu Calais. 13h-18h closed on Mondays (2 minutes walking away from the church).
• Intercommunal tourist office, 12 boulevard Georges Clemenceau. 10-18h (5 minutes walking away from the church).
• City hall belfry, place du soldat inconnu 10-12h-13h30-17h30 (10 minutes walking away from the church).
• Saint Peter Church, place Crèvecœur (20 minutes walking away from the church) from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 7 am to 8.30 am et 44 rue du four à chaux (parish) on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 12 pm.

How to get to Calais from Dover:

By ferry:

Since the end of the pandemics, P&O Ferries has reopened its foot passengers service. Non-British citizens travelling from the continent to the UK should be aware that they will need a valid passport to enter Britain in order to depart from Canterbury.

On the Dover to Calais crossings, P&O Ferries welcomes foot passengers and pilgrims on its departures scheduled as per follow (local time, GMT):

10.05 am  |  1.45 pm  |  5.25 pm

• Travellers should join the Dover Passengers Terminal 90 minutes before the departure.
• Tickets can be purchased directly at the port Terminal or on the website of the shipping line (https://www.poferries.com/en#route).
• Travellers will arrive at the P&O Ferries shuttle at the Calais port Ferry Terminal where they will find terminal facilities and services (WC, vending machines, cafeteria, money exchange, etc.). At the terminal, travellers will also find a free shuttle to the city center, except on Sundays (for more information on shuttle schedule https://zenbus.net/publicapp/web/sitac-calais).
• The P&O Ferries shuttle can also bring travellers to the city train station located in the city center directly from the ship.
• Travellers will of course also be able to begin their journey on foot starting directly from the terminal.

Cyclists can also embark on P&O ferries departures at :

3.10 am  |  6.55 am  |  8.25 am  |  10.05 am  |  12.05 pm  |  1.45 pm  |  3.25 pm  |  5.25 pm  |  7.05 pm  |  8.45 pm  |  10.40 pm local time (GMT).

Cyclists can also use the other shipping operators (DFDS and Irish Ferries).