Cherbourg Things to Do

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The Cité de la mer ("city of the sea") is a maritime museum in Cherbourg, France.

It was opened in 2002 as a scientifical and historical museum, around four axes:

- the Redoutable, first SNLE submarine of the French Navy, now a museum and the largest submarine in the world open to the public.
- a permanent exposition
- A cylindrical Aquarium, 8 metre wide and 10 metre high, which displays the successive marine life forms according to the depth
- a great hall where temporary expositions are held.

MUSEUMS IN CHERBOURG: Make sure you pay a visit to the 'Musee Thomas-Henry', located behind the port. This interesting museum contains work by Fra Filippo Lippi and Fra Angelico. An eclectic collection in the 'Musee d'Ethnographie', set in tropical gardens, illustrates cultures and societies from around the world, including the life of the Inuit.

Above the town, Fort du Roule, the scene of fierce fighting in 1944, houses a museum about the war years.

In the public gardens under Fort Roulle is a large war memorial in pink granite from Fermaville. It was inaugerated in 1924. The statue is the work of Descatoire. Today it is adorned with a beautiful crown of grandiflora magnolias.

In the public gardens under the shadow of Fort Roule lies this statue. Built in marble and bronze on its base of granite , it was the work of Chapu and Bouteiller. It was inaugurated in 1892 to the glory of the painter of the Hague.

La Basilique de la Ste. Trinite

Dating from the 11th Century the church is situated between the centre of the old town and the sea.
Construction took place between the 11th and 19th century which may explain the contrasting styles and materials that can be seen in the design and fabric of the building. The overall effect for me was of a rather dead but flamboyant gothic style.

It does however possess a rare 15th century Font, some fine alabaster relief work, a famous organ and some stained glass by the 20th Century artist Jean Gaudin.

So do not be put off by its gloomy exterior - it is well worth taking a look inside.

The oceanographic museum was created within the old Transatlantic Liner Terminal and will be of interest to boys and girls of all ages. It included the opportunity to experience the sensation of being inside a submarine and to view relics from a ship sunk off Cherbourg during the American war of Independence.

Admission for adults is about 14euros 50, about 9 euros for children . A full visit takes 3 hours so a good one for a rainy day.

We love to visit parks, gardens and castles but unfortunately did not have time on this short trip so here are a few we have earmarked for a future visit.

http://www.ville-cherbourg.fr/uk/tourism_discovery/cultural_heritage/monuments/the_chateau_des_ravalet/default.asp

Seems you also get a bit of historic aristocratic scandal at the Chateau (above).

http://www.ville-cherbourg.fr/uk/tourism_discovery/parks__gardens/the_emmanuel_liais_garden/the_emmanuel_liais_garden/default.asp

http://www.ville-cherbourg.fr/uk/tourism_discovery/parks__gardens/the_montebello_botanical/the_montebello_botanical/default.asp

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Cherbourg used to have several small harbours along it's coastline, however, the architects of Napoleon saw possibilities to create a huge bassin. Large enough to house now-a-days a whole fleet of cruiseships or then a full armada of warships. On the seabed a half circle of submerged rocks, made it possible to make artificial islands with in between stone harbour walls. Few gateways secured a deep and safe entrance into the bassin, where ships could anchor safely from large waves, storm winds or enemy ships. In Cherbourg itself the enormousness of the harbour can be best seen from the olf fortress terraces, but from view points near Anse-du-Brick (Maupertus) in the East and the old church of Querqueville in the West, the seize of the harbour also can be witnessed.