Unique World War Two Bunkers - Exploring France

One of the few remaining WW2 bunkers in this area

You cant live in Normandy without some history of World War Two.  This week, we went to part of the Atlantic Wall just outside of Bayeux. We’re both very interested in this history of the war and Normandy as we now live here, we plan to make our way around the coast to see as much of the memorials and remains as possible. This is our first stop.

The Battery at Longues-Sur-Mer is the only one in France where the posts have their original guns, there are 3 remaining and 1 that has collapsed. Of the three one is almost totally in tact, it is rusted and decaying but you can still walk around the guns and walk in the footsteps of the soldiers that were trying to maintain the capture of France. The other two hit home a little more. The doors of the gun houses have been forced open and the other has a lot of bullet holes caused by the British Army.  
One of 3 remaining original canons in the whole country
These guns were capable of firing shells as far as 13 miles (22km) and they weighed up to 45kg (99lb). They were all aimed into the English Channel to stop the British gaining access to France. As well as these 4 gun posts, we also came across ammunition storage. These were dug underground and consisted of two concrete rooms. We couldn’t get in them all as they were flooded but it was very eerie to see where the ammunition that killed so many people was held. The largest and most impressive structure we came across was the Fire Direction Post Bunker. This is fully open and we got the chance to go inside and see the rooms where the soldiers would have been. It was pitch black so a bit creepy but very grateful we got the opportunity to see inside. 
Inside the Fire Direction Post Bunker.  It was completely pitch back inside 
From the Battery we headed towards Cerisy-la-Foret, we knew there was an Abbey there so thought it was worth a look and it was on the way home. After a dull dreary morning, the sun came shining through! There was a service happening in the Abbey so we didn't get to have a look in but its an impressive building from the outside.  At the front there is ruins of a very old Abbey, one has been on this site since the 6th century.  The one you can see now is much more modern.  Although we couldn't see inside, we did find a lovely little duck pond which had granite art sculptures around it.  These were made by art students from all over Europe.  Matt even managed to get some stunning photos of the Abbey.

Cerisy-la-Foret Abbey



If you're loving Matts photography, check out his page - mattjphotography.wixsite.com/home 
If you want to see more of the bunkers check out our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN4kJcoKsnk&t=1s


What 3 Words Parking for the battery (this is temporary) - ///fleeced.performs.revive Parking for the Abbey in Cerisy-La-Foret - ///unchecked.challenge.peelings

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Location: 14400 Longues-sur-Mer, France

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