Mont-Canisy Batteries (Batteries du Mont-Canisy)

The Mont-Canisy Batteries are a preserved German WWII artillery fortification located 110 meters above sea level near Bénerville-sur-Mer. Built between 1941-1944 as part of the Atlantic Wall, this was the most important artillery support point between Cherbourg and Le Havre, designed to protect the Bay of Seine and Le Havre port. The site features multiple concrete casemates, gun emplacements for 155mm cannons, Tobruk defensive positions, and a unique 250-meter underground network with 25 barracks cells and ammunition storage rooms at 15 meters depth - the only such underground complex on over 150km of Normandy coastline. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the batteries exchanged fire with British warships HMS Warspite, HMS Ramillies, and HMS Roberts. The site is freely accessible year-round for self-guided exploration of surface structures, while guided tours on selected Mondays (April-October) provide access to the underground galleries. Managed by the Association Les Amis du Mont-Canisy since 1993, the natural site also hosts over 200 plant species including 13 orchid varieties and offers panoramic views over the Côte Fleurie. Bring a flashlight for underground exploration.