Fort Risban

The existence of the fort was first mentioned when Calais was besieged by the English in November 1346.

Edward III of England's troops, finding the defences of Calais impenetrable, decided to erect a small fort to prevent any supplies reaching the town by sea, with a view to starving the inhabitants into submission.

In 1596, the fort was captured by the Spanish Netherlands until May 1598 when it was returned to the French following the Treaty of Vervins.

[3] Vauban, who visited the fort some time in the 1680s, described it as "a home for owls, and place to hold the Sabbath" rather than a fortification[4] and let the fortress be altered.

The sea-fortress was dismantled in 1908 but fortified again during World War II, when it served as an air-raid shelter.