La Coupole

La Coupole is a massive concrete dome structure in Helfaut that houses underground tunnels and galleries exploring World War II technology and space exploration. The building features a modern planetarium alongside exhibits that connect military innovations with scientific achievements and discoveries.

Between 1943 and 1944, Nazi Germany constructed this bunker complex as a launch base for V2 rockets targeting London. After the war, the site was transformed into a place of remembrance and later converted into a museum preserving this complex history.

The memorial wall holds thousands of names of people from the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region who were deported or executed during the occupation. Visitors encounter personal stories that show how the war affected families and communities living in this area.

The site is located near Saint-Omer and is easily accessible by car with ample parking available on-site. Plan to spend several hours visiting to fully explore the underground passages and exhibitions at your own pace.

The site preserves the actual physical remains of Nazi-era infrastructure visible underground, allowing visitors to walk through spaces where engineers developed war technology. These subterranean rooms reveal how military innovation later shaped space exploration through figures like Wernher von Braun.