THE SUBMARINE BASE (BASE SOUS-MARINE)

Historic site and monument
Boat and submarine

Boulevard de la Légion d'Honneur, 44600 Saint-Nazaire

Visite guidées Base-St Nazaire-44-PCU (2) — ©©Andrea-Klose

Visite guidées Base-St Nazaire-44-PCU (4) — ©©V BAUZA

Visite guidées Base-St Nazaire-44-PCU (5) — ©©SNAT

Visite guidées Base-St Nazaire-44-PCU (7) — ©©D MARCEL

Visite guidées Base-St Nazaire-44-PCU (1) — ©©Andrea-Klose

Imposing and surprising, the former German submarine base has left its mark on the town of Saint-Nazaire. Long neglected, it has now been integrated into a new urban environment.

Labelled "Remarkable Contemporary Architecture" by the French Ministry of Culture (formerly 20th Century Heritage), the submarine base was built by the German army during the Second World War to house its submarines, the famous "U-Boote". For a long time, it was an obstacle, cutting the town off from its original port.
Since the end of the 1990s, thanks to the City-Port urban project, the city has made the base its own, turning it into a gateway to the port site and creating cultural and tourist attractions befitting this extraordinary place. Take a stroll through the cells and admire the spectacular view of the port and estuary from the roof.
Roof opening times:
- 1 January to 29 February: 9am to 5pm.
- 1 March to 30 April: 9am to 7pm.
- 1 to 31 May: 9am to 9pm.
- From 1st June to 31st June: from 10am to 6pm.
- From 1st July to 31st August: from 10am to 8pm.
- From 1st to 30th September: 9am to 9pm.
- From 1st to 31st October: 9am to 7pm.
- From 1st November to 31st December: 9am to 7pm.

Guided tours are offered from time to time. Calendar and bookings at: www.saint-nazaire-tourisme.com.