Presentation
Cherbourg harbor is the 2nd largest artificial harbor in the world (1500 hectares). Military and today maritime rampart, it protects the port and the city of Cherbourg from bad weather.
It was on the initiative of Louis XVI that the dike and the forts were built in 1784, in order to be able to shelter 80 vessels in the event of an English attack. The work was subsequently continued by Napoleon I, with the construction of a military port and an arsenal, to be inaugurated in 1, by Napoleon III and Queen Victoria.
It is made up of two harbors: the Grande Rade, the furthest out to sea, and the Petite Rade, which protects the port and the Arsenal.
The large harbor is made up of 6 forts (from East to West):
– Pelee Island Fort is located on the rock whose name it bears. It was a prison during the French Revolution. Its dike joins Collignon beach but is not continuous: a passage is possible by boat.
– The Eastern Fort is a former Marine battery. It was completely destroyed before the arrival of the Germans in 1940. With Fort Pelee Island, these two forts frame the Eastern Pass.
– Fort Central was first named “Bonaparte Battery”, then “Napoleon Battery”. It has two ports and barracks. During the Second World War, he witnessed the harshness of the fighting for the liberation of Cherbourg.
– The West Fort consists of a port and a lighthouse.
The central dyke joins the eastern forts, the central fort and the western fort, closing the harbor on the entire part of the seafront.
– To the west, Fort Chavagnac, bears the name of the engineer who discovered the rocky spur on which it was built in 1854. It has the particularity of not having been built at the end of its dike, the one - this having been built later. This joins the coastline at Fort Querqueville. Fort Chavagnac and Fort de l'Ouest protect the West Pass, the main crossing point for ships.
– Fort Querqueville housed 53 casemates and two batteries. Today a private domain, the fort is patiently awaiting its rehabilitation in order to be able to welcome the public.
Cherbourg harbor remains the ideal shelter for all ships surprised by the storm. You can regularly see the Abeille Liberté there, a rescue tugboat, twin of the Bourbon bee.
Gateway to America, it has seen the departure of the largest liners in the world: Queen Mary (1937-1967), Queen Elizabeth (1948-1968), Queen Elizabeth 2 (1972-1996), Queen Mary 2 (since 2004 ), France (1974)…
The Titanic made its last stopover in the harbor of Cherbourg, during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. On April 10, 1912, from Southampton, the Titanic arrived in Cherbourg at 18:35 p.m. The liner remains stranded because its draft does not allow it to come to the dock. Two White Star Line ferries, the Nomadic and the Traffic, were responsible for transshipping the 274 passengers. At 20:10 p.m., the liner set sail from Cherbourg to reach Queenstown (today Cobh), in Ireland.
The harbor is also a play area for boaters and water sports enthusiasts, such as kayaking or rowing.
It is also home to the leading producer of farmed salmon in France.
Since August 2021, the dikes and forts of the Cherbourg harbor have been protected as Historic Monuments. They are prohibited to the public.
It was on the initiative of Louis XVI that the dike and the forts were built in 1784, in order to be able to shelter 80 vessels in the event of an English attack. The work was subsequently continued by Napoleon I, with the construction of a military port and an arsenal, to be inaugurated in 1, by Napoleon III and Queen Victoria.
It is made up of two harbors: the Grande Rade, the furthest out to sea, and the Petite Rade, which protects the port and the Arsenal.
The large harbor is made up of 6 forts (from East to West):
– Pelee Island Fort is located on the rock whose name it bears. It was a prison during the French Revolution. Its dike joins Collignon beach but is not continuous: a passage is possible by boat.
– The Eastern Fort is a former Marine battery. It was completely destroyed before the arrival of the Germans in 1940. With Fort Pelee Island, these two forts frame the Eastern Pass.
– Fort Central was first named “Bonaparte Battery”, then “Napoleon Battery”. It has two ports and barracks. During the Second World War, he witnessed the harshness of the fighting for the liberation of Cherbourg.
– The West Fort consists of a port and a lighthouse.
The central dyke joins the eastern forts, the central fort and the western fort, closing the harbor on the entire part of the seafront.
– To the west, Fort Chavagnac, bears the name of the engineer who discovered the rocky spur on which it was built in 1854. It has the particularity of not having been built at the end of its dike, the one - this having been built later. This joins the coastline at Fort Querqueville. Fort Chavagnac and Fort de l'Ouest protect the West Pass, the main crossing point for ships.
– Fort Querqueville housed 53 casemates and two batteries. Today a private domain, the fort is patiently awaiting its rehabilitation in order to be able to welcome the public.
Cherbourg harbor remains the ideal shelter for all ships surprised by the storm. You can regularly see the Abeille Liberté there, a rescue tugboat, twin of the Bourbon bee.
Gateway to America, it has seen the departure of the largest liners in the world: Queen Mary (1937-1967), Queen Elizabeth (1948-1968), Queen Elizabeth 2 (1972-1996), Queen Mary 2 (since 2004 ), France (1974)…
The Titanic made its last stopover in the harbor of Cherbourg, during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. On April 10, 1912, from Southampton, the Titanic arrived in Cherbourg at 18:35 p.m. The liner remains stranded because its draft does not allow it to come to the dock. Two White Star Line ferries, the Nomadic and the Traffic, were responsible for transshipping the 274 passengers. At 20:10 p.m., the liner set sail from Cherbourg to reach Queenstown (today Cobh), in Ireland.
The harbor is also a play area for boaters and water sports enthusiasts, such as kayaking or rowing.
It is also home to the leading producer of farmed salmon in France.
Since August 2021, the dikes and forts of the Cherbourg harbor have been protected as Historic Monuments. They are prohibited to the public.
Linked offers
Sightseeing boat
Hague à Part – Balade de la Rade de Cherbourg
Plage
Plage de la Saline
Location & suggestions
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