Mont Canisy battery, Military fortification in Benerville-sur-Mer, France.
Mont Canisy battery is a military fortification in Benerville-sur-Mer comprising six casemates, bunkers, and shelters connected by underground passages. The underground sections extend several hundred meters beneath the surface in a network of reinforced concrete structures.
The French Navy began construction in 1935 to defend the Normandy coast, but German forces captured and repurposed it in 1940 as part of their Atlantic Wall defensive system. This transformation marked its shift from French to German military control.
The site reflects how coastal defenses changed hands and purpose over time, shifting from French naval operations to German military use during World War II. Visitors can observe these different building approaches when exploring the fortification.
The surface grounds are open year-round as a nature reserve where you can walk freely. To explore the underground sections, you need to join a guided tour organized by local groups.
The fortification sits at an elevation that allows sweeping views across the Seine estuary and far along the coast toward the port of Le Havre. This high vantage point was strategically valuable for monitoring the approaches to the river.
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