To that end, the ancient medieval castle constructed in 1229 which defended Calais, (and which also served as the site of the assassination of the uncle of Richard II, the Duke of Gloucester), and which formed a square fort of six towers with a donjon located northwest of the city, was razed to build on its ruins a new citadel, better suited to the necessities of war during time period.

The northeastern stronghold, assaulted by the enemy, fell in turn despite the fierce resistance led by Michel Patras de Campaigno, nicknamed "the black knight".

The city remained under Spanish control until May 1598, the date of the Treaty of Vervins, which returned Calais to the crown of France.

Above all, these governors were the object of attentive care on the part of the monarchs of France because of Calais' geographically privileged location.

[1] During the French Revolution, some wanted to raze the citadel, claiming that it could serve as a base of support for counter revolutionaries.

Before being transferred to the Tour du Guet, the citadel is where Claude Chappe performed the first tests of his semaphore telegraph.

In the 19th century, the citadel had a barracks with a capacity of 1,000 troops, two tanks, many underground bunkers, powder magazines, grocery stores and stables.

The southern rampart, built in the Middle Ages, was doubled to include stables and, in wartime, to house troops.

The 25th was a dark day during which heavy artillery of the enemy fell on the citadel: the stables burned with all their horses, the barracks collapsed to a large extent, and the emergency stations were overwhelmed.

The ditches and curtain walls of the citadel as well as the half-moon defending the entrance to the city were listed as a historic monument on April 27, 1990.

[2] In the 1960s, the citadel was converted into a sports stadium and school, including athletic fields for football, rugby, tennis courts, shooting stands, and archery.