Ardres, ville fleurie et ville nautique...
Origins
It is towards 928 that it is necessary to locate the origin of Ardres. The path which connected Saint-Omer to Guînes côtoyait a small sandy eminence at the top of which was a cabaret. The travellers came to drink liquor of Cérès there. This place was called Arde which meant " grazing ground ". Raised on a sandy hillock of a score of meters of altitude, the old borough was reconnait with its silhouette: the slate and tiled roofs, staged on the slope bury the Gothic tower of the church (1503) and the bell-tower of the vault of the Carmelite friars (1679). Ardres place head of canton, is located halfway of Saint-Omer and Calais. This small town of 4000 inhabitants, famous for his lake, is composed of an old borough, and the two modern hamlets of Wood-in-Ardres and Bridge of Ardres. The hamlet of Wood-in-Ardres is spread out main road 43 on both sides, and its grounds argilo-chalky are particularly favourable with the culture of cereals, the flax and beet. In Pont of Ardres begin the drainage works; it is there that was built the Without-Similar Bridge in XVIIIème century, it became a place of pleasant holidays.
History
Occupied only during 17 years by English, Ardres becomes capital ardrésis or " country conquered " (1377). A first and sumptuous interview were held halfway of Ardres and Guînes into 1396 between the English and French kings (Richard II and Charles VI) for the marriage of Richard and Isabelle de France. Louis XI concedes the country in large bastard Antoine of Burgundy, which built the tower of the church (1503) and the Vault Saint Louis de Guémy. In 1520, François 1st remained in our city on which it conferred to his well deserved " brave man and faithful " currency. Under Louis XIV, during the sling (1653), Ardres was illustrated by the revolt of Rambures. It is the glorious episode of François known as " beautiful Roze " and the heroic death of Tassencourt... In 1657, the Large Cop failed the gates of Ardres defended by Rouville, Blaise of Saint Just and celebrates it of Artagnan. Visited 2 times by the " sun king ", Ardres are seen, at the XVIII century, to close the era of its warlike exploits.