La Rade artificielle de Cherbourg-En-Cotentin
Cherbourg harbor is the 2nd largest artificial harbor in the world (1,500 hectares). A military and now maritime bulwark, it protects the port and town of Cherbourg from the elements.
On the initiative of Louis XVI, the dike and forts were built in 1784, to shelter 80 ships in the event of an English attack. The work was subsequently continued by Napoleon I, with the construction of a military port and arsenal, before being inaugurated in 1858 by Napoleon III and Queen Victoria.
It comprises two roadsteads: the Grande Rade, further out to sea, and the Petite Rade, which protects the port and the Arsenal.
The Grande Rade is made up of 6 forts (from east to west):
– Fort de l’île Pelée is located on the rock from which it takes its name. It was a prison during the French Revolution. Its dike joins the Collignon beach, but is not continuous: it can be crossed by boat.
– Fort de l’Est is a former naval battery. It was completely destroyed before the arrival of the Germans in 1940. Together with Fort Pelee, these two forts frame the eastern pass.
– Fort Central was first named “Batterie Bonaparte”, then “Batterie Napoléon”. It features two ports and barracks. During the Second World War, it witnessed the harsh fighting that led to the liberation of Cherbourg.
– Fort de l’Ouest consists of a harbor and a lighthouse.
The central dike joins the eastern forts, Fort Central and Fort de l’Ouest, closing off the harbor along the entire waterfront.
– To the west, Fort Chavagnac is named after the engineer who discovered the rocky spur on which it was built in 1854. Its distinctive feature is that it was not built at the end of its dike, which was built later. The dike joins the coastline at Fort Querqueville. Fort Chavagnac and Fort de l’Ouest protect the passe de l’Ouest, the main passage for ships.
– Fort Querqueville housed 53 casemates and two batteries. Now privately owned, the fort is patiently awaiting restoration so that it can be opened to the public.
The Cherbourg roadstead remains the ideal shelter for any ship caught in a storm. The Abeille Liberté, a salvage tug and sister ship to the Abeille Bourbon, is a regular sight.
The gateway to America, it has seen the departure of the world’s greatest liners: Queen Mary (1937-1967), Queen Elizabeth (1948-1968), Queen Elizabeth 2 (1972-1996), Queen Mary 2 (since 2004), France (1974)…
The Titanic made her last stopover in Cherbourg harbor, on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. On April 10, 1912, the Titanic arrived in Cherbourg from Southampton at 6:35 pm. The liner remained in the harbor, as her draught did not allow her to come alongside. Two White Star Line ferries, the Nomadic and Traffic, took charge of transferring the 274 passengers. At 8:10 pm, the liner sets sail from Cherbourg for Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland.
The harbor is also a playground for yachtsmen and water sports enthusiasts, such as kayaking and rowing.
It is also home to France’s leading producer of farmed salmon.
Since August 2021, the dykes and forts of the Rade de Cherbourg have been protected as Historic Monuments. They are off-limits to the public.
