Vauban Tower of La Hougue
About Vauban Tower of La Hougue
The Vauban Tower of La Hougue is a 17th-century coastal defense fortification built between 1694-1699 following the disastrous Battle of La Hougue in 1692, where twelve French warships were burned by Anglo-Dutch forces. Designed by Benjamin de Combes under Vauban's direction, this 20-meter tall truncated conical tower stands on a granite promontory with walls 4 meters thick at the base. The tower forms a defensive pair with its twin on Tatihou Island, designed for crossfire protection of the strategic anchorage. Visitors can climb the internal spiral staircase through three levels to reach the panoramic terrace with six artillery embrasures offering coastal views. The site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 as part of the Fortifications of Vauban. Access is free during summer months (July-September, Tuesday-Sunday afternoons); the tower remains closed in winter. Note that exterior fortification walks have narrow paths without guardrails - not recommended for those with vertigo. A 20-minute walk from the town center is required to reach the site.
Interesting Facts
In 1985, diver Christian Cardin located five shipwreck sites from the 1692 battle between Tatihou and La Hougue. Archaeological excavations from 1989-1994 recovered weapons, tools, dinnerware, and artillery from the sunken French warships, now displayed at the Maritime Museum on Tatihou Island.
Each tower was designed to be completely self-sufficient, capable of housing 40-80 soldiers and withstanding a siege with its own cisterns for water storage and magazines for ammunition. The garrison could hold out for weeks without external supply.
Vauban himself declared in 1699 that 'the La Hougue anchorage is the best in France' - ironic given it was the site of one of France's worst naval defeats just seven years earlier when Admiral Tourville's fleet was destroyed by the combined English and Dutch navies.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
9 rue de Choisy, 50550 Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, France
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