The V-3 cannon was intended to have a barrel length of over 100 meters, utilizing multiple side-charges to accelerate projectiles.
Joe Kennedy Jr., the older brother of John F. Kennedy, was killed in 1944 when his drone aircraft exploded prematurely during a mission targeting this site.
The complex was built deep into a limestone hill to protect it from traditional aerial bombardment.
The site was abandoned by the German army in September 1944 following the Allied advance through France.
Remains of the massive concrete launching tubes are still visible within the galleries.
The Mimoyecques WW2 Fortress, known as 'Festung Mimoyecques', was a secret Nazi underground complex designed to house the V-3 supergun. The facility features a network of tunnels and shafts built to fire long-range artillery shells toward London across the English Channel. Allied bombing raids, including one involving a remote-controlled 'Aphrodite' drone plane, severely damaged the site before it could become operational. Post-war, the tunnels were partially demolished by Allied forces to prevent reuse. Today, the site operates as a museum dedicated to preserving this subterranean military engineering marvel. Visitors can explore the main galleries and witness the scale of the concrete fortifications.
The dramatic entrance to the main tunnel gallery provides the most impressive scale for photographs.
Bring a sturdy jacket as the temperature inside the tunnels remains consistently low regardless of the weather outside.
Wear comfortable, non-slip footwear to navigate the gravel paths and occasionally uneven tunnel floors.
Allow extra time to read the detailed historical placards located throughout the tunnels.
Do not attempt to touch or climb on the structural remnants or unstable walls within the tunnel system.
The site is typically closed during the winter months; check local schedules for exact seasonal reopening dates.
Maintain a respectful tone as the site is a former military location associated with significant historical loss.
