Batterie Oldenburg
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Batterie Oldenburg
582 Chemin des Dunes - 62100 CALAIS
The Oldenburg Battery is a massive German bunker from World War II. It is located east of Calais, in the Fort Vert Dunes Natural Area, on the coast facing England. In the summer of 1940, the German Operation Sea Lion (Sea Lion) began, its objective being the invasion of the British Isles. The Oldenburg Battery was built to attack Allied ships in the Strait of Dover. This battery was equipped with two French cannons captured by the Germans during World War I. Their range was 28 kilometers, with 150-kilogram shells. The turning point of the war came in 1942. The Allies regained ground, and the Third Reich had to revise its plans. The Oldenburg Battery took on a defensive role and became part of the Atlantic Wall. Ancillary buildings were added, providing accommodation for a small garrison. The two original bunkers each had around forty rooms spread over several floors! The Canadian army captured it during the Liberation of Calais in September 1944, and the site was partially dynamited. The remains of the Oldenburg Battery are located within the protected natural area of the Dunes du Fort Vert, a popular walking area along the coast and dunes. A wooden walkway provides access to the top of the Oldenburg Battery, offering panoramic views, including a view of the sea. Our tip: The most convenient parking option for visiting this site is the free Eden 62 car park, located at 582 Chemin des Dunes in Calais.
