​​Fort Risban, located at the entrance to the port of Calais, has played a strategic military role since the Middle Ages. Its origins date back to the mid-14th century, when King Edward III of England, following his conquest of the city, ordered the construction of a wooden fortress to secure access to the harbour. Around 1403–1404, the structure was replaced by a stone tower known as the Lancastre Tower. By 1450, the site was further fortified within a polygonal wall, equipped with a thick curtain wall and casemates, and became known as Fort Risban.

​The fort changed hands multiple times. It was taken by the French in 1558, briefly became Spanish in 1596, and returned to French control in 1604. That year, under Dominique de Vic, it underwent significant alterations, including the addition of half-bastions and the loss of its maritime function. Later, in 1689, the military engineer Vauban proposed modernisation works—such as underground passages and converting the tower into a powder magazine—but most were never carried out at the time.

​During the French Revolution, Fort Risban suffered major damage when an explosion destroyed its chapel, tunnels, gunner lodgings, and part of the southern wall. In the 19th century, the fort was restructured: the ramparts were reinforced, a new powder magazine was built with a vaulted ceiling, and defensive features like a drawbridge and ditch were added. By 1906, however, it was decommissioned and officially downgraded two years later.

​In the First World War, the fort was looted and left in ruins. During the German invasion in 1940, it became a temporary command post for Capitaine de frégate De Lambertye and a shelter for civilians in northern Calais. A German artillery strike caused a collapse, trapping civilians for several hours. The fort was evacuated under threat, and soldiers were taken prisoner.

​After the war, Fort Risban was neglected before briefly serving as a water sports base. In 2005, it underwent partial restoration by the city of Calais, preserving it as a historical site reflecting centuries of military and civilian use.