Ardres


Ardres is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.

Geography

Ardres is located 10.1 mi by rail S.S.E. of Calais, with which it is also connected by a canal. It is one of three towns known as the Les Trois Pays, the other two being Guînes and Licques.

History

Ardes, the first town in the French king's land, has a rich and vibrant history as a military and trading post for the English from 1347 to 1558.
The "Field of the Cloth of Gold", where Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France met in 1520, was at Balinghem in the immediate neighbourhood. The town has been an important market for cattle.

Population

The inhabitants are called Ardrésiens.

Sights

Major tourist attractions at Ardres include the Chapelle des Carmes and the Eglise Notre Dame de Grâce.
There are also some lakes which provide fishing and sailing.

Personalities