Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode
Cité internationale de la dentelle et de la mode
A museum in a converted former lace factory, with live demonstrations of a 19th-century Leavers machine weaving lace and displays of high fashion.
Calais has been famous for machine-made lace since the 19th century, and 'Calais lace' is still supplied to high-end fashion houses. The museum is housed in an old factory. Its highlight is staff starting up a huge Leavers lace machine for live demonstrations, where the noise and precision are astonishing. There are also exhibitions on the history of lace and on fashion. A visit takes about 1.5 hours, and admission is about €6.
Opening hours
10:00–18:00; closed Tuesdays
Nearby sights
- Calais Town Hall & The Burghers of Calais
- Le Dragon de Calais
- Cap Blanc-Nez
- Wissant Beach
- Atlantic Wall Museum (Batterie Todt)
- Cap Gris-Nez
- Dunes de la Slack
- Audresselles