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Port cities and towns on the French Atlantic coast

  • CalaisThe Strait of Dover narrows to just 21 miles between Calais and England. On a clear day, the White Cliffs of Dover stand visible from the French coast.
  • Brest, FranceThe Penfeld river cuts through the slopes of two hills, dividing Brest into distinct parts. The left bank holds what locals call Brest proper, while the…
  • Boulogne-sur-MerIn 39 AD, Emperor Caligula ordered the construction of a tall lighthouse at Gesoriacum. This structure stood for over sixteen hundred years before coastal…
  • Rochefort, Charente-MaritimeIn December 1665, Jean-Baptiste Colbert chose a quiet spot on the Charente river to build a new naval base. He needed a place of refuge and supply for the…