Cherbourg

Cherbourg has the largest artificial roadstead in France, and it is protected by a series of land and sea forts. The latter protect the main breakwater, and are so placed so as to command the entrances and to stop any enemy ships entering the main harbour. Work on these defences began in the late eighteenth century but was not fully completed until the middle of the nineteenth century.

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A: Pelée Island Fort

B: Eastern Fort

C: Central Fort

D: Western Fort

 E: View of the breakwater looking east

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© Robert George Cordery (2009)