Batterie Todt was named after Fritz Todt, the founder of the Organization Todt, who died in a plane crash in 1942.
The battery’s four massive bunkers were designated as 'Turm' (Tower) I through IV.
The site was originally equipped with 380mm guns capable of firing shells across the English Channel toward Dover.
The bunkers were built using thick, reinforced concrete, with outer walls reaching up to 3.5 meters in thickness.
The K5 railway gun displayed at the site is a piece of heavy artillery that could be moved along coastal tracks to evade detection.
The site is located in the commune of Audinghen, which was almost entirely destroyed during the war.
The construction of the battery required the forced labor of workers from occupied territories.
The bunker on display is the only one of the original four to be fully preserved and turned into a public museum.
The Museum of the Atlantic Wall is housed within the remains of Batterie Todt, a former German coastal artillery battery constructed during World War II. It features one of the four original bunkers that made up this fortification, which was part of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall defense system. The structure retains its massive reinforced concrete walls, designed to withstand Allied bombing raids. The museum exhibits an extensive collection of weaponry, including a K5 railway gun, one of the few surviving pieces of its kind. Visitors can explore the interior of the bunker, which includes original crew quarters, ammunition storage areas, and command posts. The site provides insights into the strategic importance of the Pas-de-Calais region during the occupation of France. The battery was captured by the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division in September 1944. Its location on the French coast offers a direct perspective on the narrowest point of the English Channel.
The massive railway gun positioned outside the bunker entrance offers the most dramatic scale perspective.
Wear sturdy, comfortable footwear as the concrete floors are uneven and parts of the bunker may feel damp.
Bring a light jacket even in summer, as temperatures inside the thick concrete bunker remain cool year-round.
Combine your visit with a walk along the surrounding coastal cliffs for views of the English coast on clear days.
Do not attempt to climb on the exterior artillery equipment or touch the rusted metal surfaces to prevent injury and damage.
Closed annually during the month of January.
