Cherbourg Roadstead (Rade de Cherbourg)
About Cherbourg Roadstead (Rade de Cherbourg)
The Rade de Cherbourg is the world's second-largest artificial harbor, covering 1,500 hectares of protected water. Construction began in 1783 under Louis XVI and took over 100 years to complete, with Napoleon envisioning it as a strategic naval base against Britain. The main breakwater stretches 3,750 meters, featuring three 19th-century forts now classified as Monuments Historiques. During WWII, the harbor proved vital for Allied operations after D-Day when storms destroyed the temporary Mulberry harbors. The central breakwater and forts are closed to the public since 2021, but visitors can walk along the Digue de Querqueville or take boat tours from Pont Tournant for close-up views. Fort du Roule offers panoramic views of the entire harbor from 117 meters elevation.
Interesting Facts
In 1786, King Louis XVI made his only provincial journey as monarch specifically to witness the sinking of the ninth cone during construction. The initial engineering approach used 90 massive conical wooden structures filled with stones, but the first four failed during storms, leading engineers to abandon this method entirely.
The breakwater absorbs approximately 75% of incoming wave energy, reducing wave height by half even during severe storms. A 2013 engineering study confirmed this protection remains effective after more than 200 years, making it one of the most successful maritime engineering projects in history.
During World War II, German forces painted the breakwater forts in camouflage patterns to protect them from Allied bombers. Traces of this wartime paint were only completely removed during restoration work in the 1990s, over 50 years after the war ended.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Rade de Cherbourg, 50100 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France